You chose writing, not selling. Maybe you hate selling. Here we call it "promotion", but it comes down to selling. Are you really into that, or does something hold you back?
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The way I look at selling is that we are constantly selling ourselves all the time anyway by what we wear, how we talk and what we talk about, and body language for example. It all says something significant about us and who we are. Everything we do carries a message about us that others can identify with so that they can potentially feel connected with us thru our personna. So it seems logical to me to just go on and be right' in the face' upfront honest with people about the very things we love-our creativity! So selling then really isn't like old school selling-it's about owning who you are and sharing your vision!
The act of asking for something and risking "no" might be what scares us the most about selling.
As a former sales and marketing manager for a national creativity consulting firm, I'm very comfortable with giving sales presentations. Yet, I agree with Kathryn about the importance of filling a need rather than trying to 'sell' books. So I now LOVE giving presentations and interviews and later hearing about how my book has provided hope, comfort and affirmed people's faith. Before any event, I pray that my message will be helpful to the audience. If it is, and they connect with me personally, they buy my books. It doesn't feel like 'selling' but more like being of service to others. As a extravert, promotion is the fun part for me. It's the writing itself that is the bigger challenge...
I wasn't keen on the selling to begin with, but I think everything in life is about selling whether it is selling yourself to your future significant other/spouse/life partner or selling yourself to a potential boss. I actually think that this is something we should be taught as children (like we're taught that socks are worn with shoes!). Having said that, what changed my mind was just adjusting my perspective. Instead of focusing on me and my discomfort with selling, I started focusing on the people I could help through my books. If I didn't promote my books, they wouldn't have the opportunity to benefit from what I had to offer - and I honestly know that my books do offer a great deal to my readers. The most awesome part of the whole process is when readers tell me that my book made a difference to them - that's what it's all about. So selling my work has become part of the process. I'm not always clued up on the best ways to do this, but I've definitely learned a whole lot from those who are!
In actuality, you sell more anyway when you're trying not to sell but to fill a need. I love talking to people and sharing with them what I do. I like hearing about what they do. If I can sell a book in the process, that's just icing on the cake.
I love the thought of helping others out with what I've written and placing that as my focus over making money. I have had more fun and sold more books since I adjusted my thinking.
Good question, Jeff. I'm an artist, not a businessman or salesman. I think even in college I saw that a creative individual is not a good technician. In essence, I believe a sharp business acumen blunts, even negates, a sharp creative soul. It shouldn't be, but for me it kind of conflicts; I love WRITING, and not selling. Thus when I'm marketing previous works, I'm not much at new creations. Perhaps why I WRITE for a period, and then do a little marketing, But I've been writing forever, as previously stated, and that's why I'm not doing all of the promoting needed.
I have to say that some of the most creative people I know are also salespeople. I don't think that any human qualities need to be in opposition with each other. We each have our own alchemy and our own likes and dislikes.