I have to be honest with my readers and let them know what I think about writing, social media, and publishing.

You may not agree with me, but that’s OK since I’m shifting gears and direction. I just hope you keep reading my blog, especially as I’m starting a mid-life gap year, jam-packed with new adventures. I’m going against blogging protocol, and writing when I want to, rather than when I have to. Besides, I’ve never been incarcerated by the blogging police.

I’m Fed Up

• I don’t have time to read blogs and write comments.
• I want time to read what I want to read, and not feel “guilty” or “forced to read” books that don’t interest me.
• I’m fed-up with reading books and writing reviews, especially if I’m not interested in the book.
• How many times can I write about the same topic, and still make it sound fresh?
• Writers keep supporting writers, but “Where are OUR READERS?” (Please don’t lecture me on signing up for another course for $999, that guarantees I’ll find new readers.)
• I’m tired of being bombarded with sales pitches from people I respect in the industry who are now becoming “used car salesmen.”
• I’m fed up with receiving offers to sign up for courses on “how to increase my book sales” when I’ve become cynical about this process (Read Do You Want the Truth below)  or another honest post I wrote. “Do Authors Make Money: Here’s the Truth.”
• I’ve done my best to follow all the rules writers keep hearing about regarding blogging, social media and marketing from the “gurus.”
• I’m tired of coming up with the perfect SEO friendly headline for my blog post. Now titles are supposed to appeal to readers first. What a concept!
• I’m fed up with requesting people to submit a “My Gutsy Story®” each week. I don’t like begging or bugging.
• I missed my 1st blog post in 7 years last Thursday. Will I be forgiven by Google, search engines, and more importantly, by my “billions” of fans? 🙂
• I’ve promoted so many book events, library events, indie book signings, Costco appearances, Webinars, Workshops, public speaking, radio, local TV, given freebies, reviews, contacted movie producers etc…BUT…

Do You Want the Truth

Most authors, especially non-fiction authors, who want to make money, turn towards writing, coaching, presenting, and selling books about “The Dream.” 

They sell books on:

• How to write
• How to market and promote your book
• How to become a best selling author by following these steps.

They also take classes, hire a business coach, team up with their peers, start promoting one other, offer free webinars laden with sales pitches to sign-up for their “expensive workshops,” to sell “The Dream.”  How do I know?  Because I did that myself. 

Selling the Dream

Here’s what I call, “Selling The Dream.” All the promises and offers that “fall” into my inbox daily. For example:

• “In less than a year I’ve made over $150,000 from self-published books.”
• Sign-up for my 6-week course on how to make it to the Bestseller list for only $999
• Pitch your book to producers from “Good Morning America,” and other major TV producers for only $5,000.

Are Today’s Online Strategies Changing?

I believe things have changed.  There is TOO MUCH COMPETITION and too many people offering the same services. The market is saturated with indie books. There were over 450,000 indie published books in 2013.

Authors are getting fed up with blogging, overwhelmed with social media, and most ask themselves WHY? I’m making less than $100/month in royalties. Is it worth it? (Please don’t lecture me on signing up for another course for $999, that guarantees I’ll make $150,000 in one year. Maybe you’ll make that much with all of us DREAMERS signing up for your course, but not us: the writers.)

My Conclusion

Write with no expectations. Do what you want, take classes to improve your writing skills, sign-up for Webinars if you’d like to, but be realistic. I’ve tried many different approaches since 2009, and I don’t want to sell “The Dream.” I  am happy, because I believe “The Dream” is not about money. 

 What Next?

I hope you keep reading my blog, as I embark on a divorced woman’s mid-life gap year, jam-packed with new adventures. My focus will be on:

• Gutsy Living®
• Exciting opportunities for women
• What’s it like to be a divorced woman after 28-years of marriage
• Re-inventing yourself as a woman over 55
• Travel in Europe and anywhere else I go
• Learning new skills
• Teaching abroad
• How to save money
• Gutsy dating

Any suggestions as to other topics you’d like me to write about during my GAP YEAR(s)