It's A Mystery to Me

Actually, a lot of things are, some to do with writing, more to do with just living life. I'll concentrate on the writing things now.

Why, when I'm really revved up about the book I'm writing, do I have a million interruptions and all sorts of things that need to taken care of right now?

Why can't I remember the name of a new character I've just created, even though I've written it at least a dozen times? (I'll chalk that one up to age, or having too many things going at once, and I have the solution and that's to keep the names of all characters written down along with all important aspects about them.)

Why do I have such a hard time making a simple phone call to arrange an event? (This is a phobia I've had nearly all my life. I don't really like to make phone calls. Thank goodness for emails. What really frustrates me is when I can't find an email for someplace or person.)

Why, when I've just figured out how to use a new piece of software or my iPhone, do they invent something else that I have to learn how to use? Thinking back over the years I've had to exercise my brain so many times, first learning how to use a portable typewriter, then an electronic typewriter, then a computer with two floppy disks, then a new one with a little square diskette, all kinds of printers and copy machines, then copiers right in the printer, new email programs, and on and on. Makes by brain hurt just thinking about it.

Why, when I've learned to love blogging are people saying studies show that blogs don't sell books? That's not the only reason, I blog, but sure interesting people in my books is one reason I blog. Am I wasting my time?

The same goes for blog tours. That was the hot new thing--and now they (who the heck is "they" anyway?) say that blog tours don't work. They've worked for me--when ever I'm on a tour the Amazon numbers go way down which means something. Besides, blog tours are fun so I don't think I'll give up on them just yet.

What about Facebook and Twitter? Do they sell books? I enjoy doing both, but I've never really thought of them as a real selling tool--maybe for those who are on there over and over, but I don't have time for that. So that's another mystery? Why do we do Facebook and Twitter?

And why does a crowd come sometimes to a book launch or signing and only a few the next time? One thing I've learned if you serve food and drink, more will come--or if you give a talk about publishing, which brings up another mystery. Why are so many people writing books when it's so hard to sell them?

My answer to that mystery is I can't seem to help myself. I write two series, when I've finished a new book for one, I feel compelled to start a new book for the other. I always want to see what's going to happen next to the people I've created. I can't just leave them hanging, can I?

What are your personal mysteries?

Marilyn
http://fictionforyou.com