Feeling Confident About Your Writing, Even If You Have To Lie To Yourself

I recall seeing some novel writers at a comic book convention three years ago. Their displays were immaculate, their covers attractive and eye-catching from many paces away, and they appeared to have a splendid selection of ancillary products for sale.

And each and every one of those authors huddled behind their displays, shivering like a baby robin in its nest. Their eyes scanned each potential customer and gave off waves of terror that rendered them unapproachable.

Who wants to approach someone like that, let alone buy from them? I was worried that mere eye contact would make them burst into flames from the sheer terror of human contact. Then the fire sprinklers would have gone off and who wants that? I mean all those ruined books ...

Anyway, one of the appealing aspects of Stan Lee (if I have to explain who he is, you're at the wrong blog) has been his total confidence in himself, while never failing to make the occasional self-depreciating joke, as well as his product. Sure, he might come off like a carny pitchman ... but what's wrong with that? He's got a product he's PROUD to put his name on! In fact, he put his name on stories before it became standard industry practice. Heck, HE was the one who MADE it the industry standard.

Not only that, but Stan Lee also gave his artists credit too, even back in the Golden Age of Comics. He recognized the worth in building THEIR brand too. For instance, if you liked Stan's story with Dick Ayers drawing it, then you might like Ayers on the westerns he illustrated for Larry Lieber.

And decades after Stan built the Marvel Universe, long after he regularly worked on a comic book series, Stan Lee is still one of the most beloved and requested guests at comic conventions. And it all boils down to CONFIDENCE.

So what if you're the writer who's cowering behind your book displays, sweating profusely at the idea of saying hello to the strangers who pass by your display? Well, level up, okay? There are numerous books on self-confidence and salesmanship. I highly recommend the work of Dale Carnegie, Les Brown and Zig Ziglar. Read those books for 30 minutes a day and see if their confidence in you doesn't seep into your psyche. If nothing else, it'll do you some good to have some positive thoughts in your life.

Consider taking a course on public speaking, which is usually the #1 terror of any grown adult. Heck, there are studies that prove this so don't just take my word for it. Also, if there's any sort of community theater near you, get involved, even if it's just working backstage. But make your way onto a stage, perhaps starting in the ensemble. You might find that you like it.

And if you are uncomfortable around people, GET COMFORTABLE. Step out of your comfort zone and start introducing yourself and your work. You don't like doing that? Do it anyway!

Being a professional author means you must change. After a while, you might be glad you did it. I did. I'm glad. I sell books as a result.

Always remember that YOU are your best salesperson for your work. YOU are the brand. If you've got enough confidence in your talent to get the results into print, then you should have the moxie to talk to people about your work, to share it with the world.

And if you don't have that confidence, find it!

NEXT WEDNESDAY: Think About Your Book Cover

NEXT THURSDAY: Building Your Network of Allies

NEXT APPEARANCE: On March 24th, I will be at the ART IN EQUALITY CON at the Savoy Recreation Center, 402 Graham Drive, Savoy, Illinois. In addition to my own publications, I'll be joined by former wrestler/actor Bishop Stevens, transgender cosplayer Alexa Heart, animator Philo Barnhart, Silver Phoenix Entertainment's Creative Director Charles D. Moisant, writers Monica O'Leary, Austin Malcome, Ariana R. Cherry, and J.W. Wright, artist Candice Comelieri, cosplayer Victory Born Cosplay, and great friends such as Sage Stafford, Zitania and Amaris Moon, and Action Jackson Comics.

For more information and tickets, go HERE!

SPECIAL NOTE: My newest book, The Haunting Scripts of Bachelors Grove​, is currently on sale. It's part memoir, part grimoire. The first half deals with my entry into writing indie comics and joining Silver Phoenix Entertainment. I print four of my comic scripts for The Haunting Tales of Bachelors Grove, three of which have not been produced yet. Then I add four horror prose tales, three of which are NEW. All this behind a great cover by my Art Sherpa, Trevor Erick Hawkins, over 300 pages of terror and history for only $19.95 in paperback, $2.99 in e-book (FREE if you belong to Amazon Prime). If you have any questions for me, write to me at Brian@RisingTide.pub. No attachments, please, for security reasons.

Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to this blog. We're going to put out something every WEDNESDAY morning or you'll know the reason why. We plan to beef up our output to five times a week this year. Yeah, that's another goal and we've already included THURSDAYs now.

As if this isn't enough, I send out a monthly e-mail newsletter around the first week of every month. There's news, graphics (when I have them), personal appearance information, and the occasional cool money-saving offer. You can sign up HERE!

And of course, I'd love for you to purchase my books.

I'm also on Twitter and Instagram.

As long as you're at it, give a LIKE to my Facebook page for Vulcana.

And every Monday and Thursday at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, I host a live interactive broadcast entitled NEVERMIND THE FURTHERMORE (yes, it's all caps). You type in the comments, I read those comments, you type back, we have a conversation. Also, if you are present during the LIVE broadcast, you may post a link to your business/blog/website/creative endeavor/charity. Then we SHARE the show and get YOUR message out to MORE PEOPLE! Pretty cool, huh? See you on Wednesday!