Did I make a big mistake with my author career?

Summary

In this video, the creator reflects on a major decision made in 2021 about shifting their writing focus, which led to both successes and regrets. They share insights into the challenges of managing a creative business, making pivotal choices, and dealing with potential mistakes. While grappling with feelings of embarrassment about past works conflicting with their current fantasy writing, they embrace the journey of learning from errors and moving forward. The video touches on personal growth, the unpredictability of life, and the importance of making mistakes while also celebrating progress. A heartfelt reminder that mistakes are part of growth and moving forward.

Takeaways

• 😀 Creative businesses often involve difficult decisions where the right path isn't always clear. Mistakes can happen, but they’re part of the process.
• 😀 Hindsight can make decisions feel like mistakes, but it’s impossible to know how the alternative would have turned out.
• 😀 Sometimes you have to stick with a decision even if you have regrets. Adapt and move forward with the choices you’ve made.
• 😀 Decision-making can be even more complicated when financial resources are limited, adding pressure to get things right.
• 😀 It's okay to make mistakes; they are an inevitable part of running a business and growth. You learn and adapt from them.
• 😀 Maintaining focus and clarity while making decisions is important, and tools like Magic Mind can help manage energy and anxiety during those times.
• 😀 The decision to republish books under a new pen name seemed like a good idea at the time but had unintended consequences with reviews and audiobook linking.
• 😀 A financial opportunity, like selling a relative’s collectibles, can open new doors, allowing you to pivot into other areas, like YouTube or personal creative endeavors.
• 😀 Making less money now doesn’t mean failure if you’re living your dream and doing what truly excites you. Passion matters more than immediate financial gain.
• 😀 There's embarrassment in having different genres or pen names associated with one’s work, but it’s too late to change it without significant consequences.
• 😀 Mistakes in business and life are inevitable, but they offer valuable lessons. You can often bounce back as long as you're willing to acknowledge your growth and keep moving forward.

Q & A

What was the big mistake the speaker is referring to from 2021?

The speaker is questioning whether their decision to republish the 'Cursed Soul' trilogy under a new pen name was the right choice. This decision involved rewriting the books, which led to losing the original reviews on platforms like Amazon, causing some unintended consequences.

How did the speaker's decision to change the pen name affect their audiobook sales?

While the speaker lost reviews when the audiobooks were unlinked due to the revised versions, the audiobooks continued to sell at a better rate than before, especially after being moved to the new pen name. This suggests the decision was ultimately beneficial despite the initial setback.

What lesson does the speaker highlight about making decisions in a creative business?

The speaker emphasizes that decisions in a creative business often come with uncertainty, and there’s no way of knowing if one choice is better than another. Even if a decision later feels like a mistake, it’s important to accept it and learn from it, as making mistakes is a natural part of the process.

What personal factors influenced the speaker’s decision to pivot to YouTube and focus on fantasy writing?

The speaker’s father-in-law’s passing in January 2022, coupled with the opportunity to sell his collectibles, gave the speaker time and financial resources to pivot away from writing paranormal romance and towards creating a YouTube channel and focusing on their passion for fantasy writing.

What impact did the speaker's decision to write to market have on their creative work?

Writing to market initially helped the speaker build an audience, but it eventually led to burnout. In 2021, after writing 10 books a year for four years, the speaker felt exhausted and realized they needed to shift towards writing what they truly loved—fantasy fiction—rather than following market trends.

How did the speaker feel about the transition from writing paranormal romance to fantasy novels?

The speaker felt excited but also somewhat embarrassed. They were thrilled to finally be writing in their true genre of fantasy but were self-conscious about the juxtaposition of their earlier paranormal romance works with their new, more involved fantasy world.

What role did financial resources play in the speaker's decision-making process?

Limited financial resources were a factor in the speaker's decisions, especially when considering the cost of making big business changes. However, after receiving funds from selling their father-in-law’s collectibles, they gained the ability to take a break and make a strategic pivot towards YouTube and fantasy writing.

What advice does the speaker offer for dealing with mistakes in business and life?

The speaker advises that making mistakes is a normal and inevitable part of life and business. It's essential to accept them, learn from them, and move forward with the understanding that mistakes can lead to growth and that there’s always room to recover as long as they’re not majorly damaging.

Why is the speaker embarrassed about the overlap between their different book genres?

The speaker feels embarrassed because their earlier works in paranormal romance and spicy fairy tales have a very different tone and style from their current fantasy series. They feel that these books don't align well together and are self-conscious about having them all appear under the same author name.

What was the impact of the pandemic on the speaker's writing projects?

The pandemic had a significant effect on the speaker’s writing. They were working on a dark vampire series when the pandemic hit, which led to feelings of depression. As a result, the speaker took a break and shifted to writing lighter, more fun stories, such as 'Paranormal House Flippers,' reflecting the mood and stress of the time.