The Author Blog by Larry B. Gildersleeve (Nov 13, 2024)

 

13th November 2024

Hello out there,

Welcome back. Decades ago, during my climb up corporate ladders on both coasts, I learned a

valuable lesson about the difference between those things I could control and those things I

might only be able to influence. That same reckoning has found its way into my author journey.

I can control what I write. I can elect to accept or reject the advice and guidance of professional

editors. I can control with whom I choose to align for publishing. I can make the final selection

of a book’s cover. But what is immensely frustrating for almost every author are the things we

cannot control.

Assuming our work product is quality, and I truly believe mine is, we cannot control outcomes.

We cannot control if an agent even responds to an inquiry, let alone agrees to representation. We

can labor long and hard crafting and executing marketing initiatives, but at the end of the day, we

have no control if readers will purchase our books. And if a reader purchases our book, we have

no control over whether or not they’ll put forth the effort to post an all-important review.

Similarly, we have no control over professional reviews except for those that are fee-based, and

that then calls into question their veracity.

I’ve come to accept that the difference between an off-the-charts bestseller and a book of

equality quality remaining undiscovered will all too often be a matter of luck or chance. But for

me, “luck” appears before “work” in the dictionary, and I’ll keep on keepin’ on, trying my

darndest to influence.

Until next week ,,, Vaya con Dios

Larry B. Gildersleeve