Today is my official 1st year authorversary!
Which is kind of a big deal because I have been published for aย whole year and have not (1) screamed myself into a million moths and vanished, or (2) eaten any hats, or (3) looked back at my book with horrible regret. I am very proud of A Thousand Perfect Notes. I am very proud of me. ๐ This whole author life is the opposite of “easy” (spoiler alert: it actually gets harder haha…oh) and while I’ve had some depressing setbacks, I am just ferociously pleased with the fact thatย I did it.
I have not one, but two books in bookstores, and my heart is forever filled with gratefulness!!
Author Milestones Achieved So Far!
(some of these are sarcastic shhh let me laugh)
walked into a bookstore and seen my book on the shelf!!!! โ
had my debut novel featured in a book box (Illumicrate!) โ
been tagged in negative reviews ๐โ
actually told someone NOT to read my book haha (but for their mental health reason!) โ
seen my book in a library! โ
had BOTH my books featured by BookDepository.com
A Thousand Perfect Notes got written up in a UK newspaper โ
I signed my name G.C. Drews and I just….๐ โ
had some favourite authors buy copies of my book (Brigid Kemmerer, Elizabeth May, Nadine Brandes, Helene Dunbar!! AHH) โ
been told, many many times, that someone “won’t be reading your book unless you send it to me for free” which I just…hmm. โ
had someone review my #ownvoices autism book and call it “bad rep”๐๐ โ
BROKE HEARTS. SO MANY HEARTS. WITH BOTH MY BOOKS!!!! โ
had people say “I usually don’t like contemporary but…I loved yours!!!” โ
hit #1 amazon bestseller list twice!! โ
The Boy Who Steals Houses ranked in the 30s on the Book Depository bestseller list! โ
have had people do twitter chats and book club meetings featured around my books โ
been able to encourage autistics and people with depression after reaching out to me to say how much they connected with my books and I just ๐ญ๐ am so honoured โ
A Thousand Perfect Notes reached 10,000 adds on Goodreads! โ
been asked desperately to write sequels which, while it’s out of my control, is really sweet and I appreciate it more than I can say โ
had a book cake recipe inspired by ATPN โ
HAD FAN ART MADE โ
had my books read in one sittings โ
found typos in both books ๐ฌโ
had an inbox filled with encouraging messages from readers!!!!!! day after day!!!! โ
petted my author copies and whispered “preciousssss” โ
And so so many more things…honestly I can’t list them all. But I’ve been loved on and supported by the book community, but strangers, by friends, and by other lovely authors…and I couldn’t be more grateful.
Today is for celebrating good things but I *DO* want to say — no it’s not all been perfect or easy.
In fact, as we speak, things areย really not easy and I’ve had more setbacks than I have teacups to fill with all my tears. I say this because it’s really easy to only talk about the highlights. Otherwise we sound ungrateful, right?! I strive to be honest, professional, and realistic with what I tell you about the publishing world, but I can’t always tell you the slumpy parts.
But if you’re a writer, sitting there amongst piles of setbacks and depression and listlessness –– You AREN’T alone and all authors go through this! To be honest, it’s like the author life 65% of the time.
Like I said, though, I am here to do a happy shimmy today because ๐ค look I survived a year of being a published author. And as crushing as this career often is, today is for flailingggggg.
๐ other posts you might like
>> What It’s Like To Write #Ownvoices Autism Rep
>> What It’s Like Having Your 2nd Novel Published
>> My Publishing Journey! How I Got An Agent And A Book Deal
Which also brings me to the second part of today’s post…
in my 1st year as an author!
I’m officially no longer a debut! I’m a veteran (me @ chokes on my soup) and definitely want to pass on some of the knowledge I’ve gleaned which (a) might help other future authors out there, or (b) be absolutely of zero help which is totally on brand for this blog. Who knows which it will be? IT’S A SURPRISE.
1. Celebrate yourself!
Like I’m so guilty of always looking ahead, piling up new goals, gazing at what others have achieved while I fell short and being like “oh…I have not worked hard enough.” When in reality!?!? I have a freaking book out. Not everyone gets the opportunity to do that!! So sure maybe I have a Quiet YA and I’m not a bestseller but I still have worked super hard, tumbled into some luck, and I’m in BOOKSTORES.
This? This is good and worth celebrating. You do not have to be the Next JK Rowling to deserve celebrating.
Also 100% going to keep dreaming up big goals. BUT. Celebrate everything. Absolutely everything. ๐ค
2. Get yourself some author friends.
You know what’s lonely?! Being in the publishing career without friends. My son, you need them. To understand what you’re going through, to flail with you, to offer candid feedback, to motivate you and scrape you out of meltdowns. I’m not even joking — my author-life became 1000% better and more bearable once I met @cosyreads. And now I’ve added on a ton of amazing author friends on instagram that I chat to regularly and I just ๐ญ๐The best thing you can do for yourself is — don’t do this alone.
Also so much love to @lettuce_read @authorcrrhillin @anovelescape @daleydowning @helenedunbar @nadinebrandes ๐๐๐I can’t thank them all enough!!! (And pfft of course there are dozens more blogging and bookstagram friends I have and I would list you all if I could.)
3. Don’t assume someone else has an easy publishing journey.
I fail at this often. I admit! It’s really easy to see another author only list their highlight reel on social media and not see the behind-the-scenes…where they probably have dozens of breakdowns, rejections, monetary issues, and things going sour. Don’t ๐๐ป ever assume ๐๐ป anything.
4. Did you stockpile some chocolate? Get twice as much.
Just…trust me. Whatever you thought you’d need, it isn’t enough.
5. Learn to listen and collaborate.
Because prior to being a published author, we pretty much are in charge of everything ourselves. From our self-imposed deadlines to exactly what we decided to take vs discard from edits. THEN you start working with your publishing team. THEN you start pitching books before you’ve written them. Taking advice from agents/editors/industry professionals. Learning to listen and collaborate and be flexible is invaluable.
6. Thank bloggers!!
A like! A tweet of thank you! A share!! DO IT ALL. Bloggers (and bookstagrammers, booktubers and reviewers) actually will change your life and your book’s life. So ๐๐ป thank them, treasure them, be polite. FYI I love all all all you book community creatures who have supported me. It has, absolutely, made such a difference and I am FOREVER in your debt!!!
(And yes they’ll overstep and you’ll get tagged in negative reviews. Go back to #4 and eat that chocolate. Then cry/yell with your friends in private DMs. Not in public.)
7. Don’t worry if you can’t do everything the “other authors are doing”.
Like a book event? School talks? Book signings? Tours? Maybe your publisher won’t even give you that opportunity or maybe you CAN’T DO IT. I am a socially anxious wreck who can’t even talk to my agent on the phone. Yet I got here. You can get here too.
8. Writing is probably going to get harder and that’s ok.
You’ll feel both buoyed and terrified by your success. “PEOPLE LIKE MY BOOK!!!!” vs “omg they will expect more what if that one time was a fluke.”
Panic. You are allowed to panic. You know what I’m doing right now? Probably panicking. I have had the worst writers’ blocks of my life after getting a book deal. There’s nothing like the validation of “You’re a good writer!” to actually suspect you’re not. Lol @ how that works.
But see? Controlled panic. Panic efficiently. Panic any day you want. Do a weird like panicky shimmy dance. All we debut authors are doing it, it’s ok.
And no I don’t have a cure. I just have the words — it’s ok. You’reย allowed. (Just don’t stop writing.๐)
9. DON’T READ GOODREADS REVIEWS.
GET OFF. GO. RIGHT NOW.
do you know what idiot reads reviews?? Me. I read all of ATPN’s reviews until I hit the most debilitatingly harsh one ever, cried for like 3 days, and then swore of reading reviews. Things would be different for my second book!! I would learn!!
lmao
Anyway the exact same thing happened with TBWSH. I read all the reviews until I stumbled on one that gutted me to the core. Now I don’t read reviews. ยฏ\_(ใ)_/ยฏ Cait. There are easier ways to cure yourself, you intolerable onion.
Anyway, please just remember: Goodreads thrives off negativity. You get more likes for being salty. I know! I am a book reviewer (I’ve since stopped doing negative reviews of my own choice though…for this reason lol. I can’t handle getting them; I can’t give them now.) And also star-ratings mean nothing. I once read a 4-star review that was 90% hate and criticism…but they gave it 4-stars and I’m still like ??????????? Anyway.
Readers will be wrong. Readers will be right. You are not here to learn from them (you can’t write a book that solves every negative reviews issues because one person will hate your pacing and one person will love it!). They are forย the readers. Not the authors.
And, authors? Don’t engage. Never never never.๐Your book is up to them to interpret and book reviewers can be problematic just like authors can be. It’s just best to stay out of each other’s spaces when it comes to opinions on your book.
10. Allow yourself grace to struggle with changes.
Now I’m reallyย really bad at things changing. Being faced with change (and I’m also autistic, so this plays into it) sends me into a tailspinย all the time. And like publishing a book is a HUGE thing. Suddenly I had less time to blog, my relationship with the book community (as a reader not an author) changed, I could spend hours on social media just upkeeping everything?!? My writing process started to change. My internet routines collapsed. I lost friends. I made friends.
It’s been a year of unfathomableย change. And I’m still learning to cope with it.
But to my fellow debut authors? Let yourself have a meltdown over the world shifting if you need to. ๐คGive yourself time and space to refit yourself into what needs to be done. Make it work forย you. It is like putting on a new sweater when the old one was worn-in and comfy. The new one will fit soon!! Just give it time.
MY SONS.
you know I am 100% just all the grateful feels right now so…
THANK YOU.
from the depths of my inky soul. I don’t know what my 2nd year as an author will bring, but I have two books out, I have an amazing community and epically loving friends, and I have ice cream.
I survivedddddd.
AHHH CAIT. This was raw and beautiful and STILL somehow your amazing witty sassy self. I honestly connected so much to Sam and while I am not autistic I have friends/family who are and who read your book (under my shoving it u to their hands) and LOVED THE REP. So know that you have touched and made many people happy. I adored Houses and was one of those people who read it in one sitting, and I just want you to know that if you are ever looking for positivity/someone to cheer you on let me know!! I am (apparently) a great motivator? Even though I. can barely motivate myself half the time ๐ Congratulations again xxx
I loved reading all this!! I am super proud of you.
ohhh cait, i absolutely love the last picture!! Also thank you for bringing these topics to light. I have never really seen authors from this perspective and i aPPRECIATE THIS!!
Also CONGRATULATIONS ON COMPLETING 1 WHOLE YEAR AS A PUBLISHED AUTHOR (should’ve said this first). I can’t really do anything except congratulate you and give you virtual cakes and chocolates. <3
Must be nice to enter a bookstore and see your book on the shelf. Okay this is an understatement,,,,it must be very nice!!
CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN!!!
Congratulations on surviving the author life! It sounds like a lot of pressure. I donโt know if I could handle it.
Congratulations! It’s been lovely to follow your journey and you make me hopeful that one day, I will finally have the courage to put pen to paper and write a book myself. I loved ATPN, it was one of my faves of last year, and I can’t wait to read The Boy Who Steals Houses!
Ahh congratulations on your author anniversary and on not having eaten any hats XD
Why…why on EARTH would you ask an author for a free book that is not an ARC. It’s called a library, people. Or saving up your money, if your library doesn’t have it.
Quiet YA books honestly usually end up being my favorite! I don’t know why, maybe it’s because my expectations are too high for best-selling ones >_< I just usually end up liking the books that aren't talked about as much, I think!
I hope things start going better for you soon!
cOnGrAtUlAtIoNs CAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
*sends chocolate whipped pie*
(I am in the process of changing my online name so this may look a bit different- just letting you know)
OOH! Which paper?!?
I’ve never understood tagging authors in reviews, positive or negative, but that might have something to do with shyness and also the fact that I’ve been blogging way longer than I’ve had Twitter.
Something I’ve always wondered is, can you dodge your reviews of your book on Goodreads? Like, do they show up on your timeline? And, if they do, can you block them from it? Or do you only see them if you go to the book’s page? (I’m nosy.)
*all the hugs for this post* Congrats on your two books and being a published author for a year! You absolutely should celebrate, for you’ve made it this far and will go farther, and journeys are worth celebrating. I’m so sorry there’s been setbacks for you, but how hard you work and how you push through to write and keep creating really is inspirational. <3
Happy Authorversary! Enjoy your day with lots of chocolate (and cake).
CONGRATS CAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3 <3 <3 I'm so happy and proud of you! ๐ ๐ ๐
Amazing post, we need people like you promoting positivity between authors and readers/reviewers!! Just thought I’d mention that I’m one of the people who read ATPN in one sitting and loved it!๐
HAPPY HAPPY ONE YEAR AS A PUBLISHED AUTHOR CAIT ahhh, I’m so so very happy and proud of you and can’t wait for you to publish more books and bless us with more incredible stories <3 <3
Happy Authorversary to you ๐ I haven’t read your books yet, but hope to read them soon ๐
I’m so prooooouuuud <3 <3 -backs up a truck full of cake to your door-
you're awesome, cait. keep up the writing and sTaY aWaY from goodreads! I learned that one the hard way too. xD
Uhhh, wut?! No. I won’t request a book unless it is something that I am willing to pay for. And even when I get sent ARCs, I will often buy a finished copy anyway. The audacity of some people. How rude!!
AW CAIT. You deserve every bit of the happiness and celebration! And dude, publishing is HARD. The fact that you are so committed and so willing to stick with it despite that speaks volumes. And you WILL succeed because tbh you are too damn good at it not to. No matter how many downs there are, I have total and complete faith that an up is just around the corner. I am just so freaking happy for you โฅโฅโฅ
Ahh yes Cait congrats!! It’s been amazing to read about your journey so far and I know you have so much further to go. There’s always ups and downs but that’s life.
Omg Cait congrats!! I’m so happy these wonderful books are out in the world <3
THANK YOU ๐๐ it means a lot to me that so many people like them!
Congrats, Cait! Loved the post ๐
thank you for reading it!!
Congrats on that one year Cait!
Hugs, And I know you will get there. You’re a fighter. <3
๐๐๐ thank you!! I really hope I’ll be back with another book someday!
Congrats on the 1 year!! ๐ *sends you more chocolate* You’ve got this! Write more of your beautiful books for the world, and ignore all the haters! Your army against them is at your command, Queen Cait.
THANK YOU!! *eats all the chocolate so gratefully* ๐
Happy (belated) anniversary!
I just stumbled on to your blog and have fallen a smidge in love โค๏ธโค๏ธ Subscribing now.
I learned lesson #4 my first Halloween…you can never have enough chocolate! It is a universal truth.
But, #8 has been kicking my butt the last couple months. I wrote a story I adore (haven’t even published it yet!!!) and already I feel crippled like nothing else I write is as good. But, you are SOOOOO right, you’ve just gotta keep writing!
You’re only a failure if you quit, right? Until then I’m just a work in progress. ๐
Congrats again!
Aww thank you so much, Amelia! You are LOVELY and I really appreciate your comment!! ๐ And absolutely universal truth that we all need more chocolate. That just is the life rule. And the self-doubt feels are real, so you’re definitely not alone. We’ll kick the self-doubt someday (with chocolate?!)๐
i was straight up grinning while reading the author checklist bc oh my god, I can totally understand how AMAZING it must feel to have done all those things as an actual,,,, author??? I’d like to have that one day too ๐ค
congrats on making it so far, you’re an amazing author and blogger and cake person ๐
PS totally stocking up on the extra chocolate, that is excellent advice ๐
aww I totally believe in you too!! *flails* I hope you get all your authorly dreams someday. And tHANK YOU for being so kind ๐๐
CAIT CAIT CAIT CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My goodness, has it been a Whole Year already?? How time flies.
I have both of your babies sitting happily on my shelves, but I tend to put off books that I suspect will make me cry . . . and I’ve put off your books for . . . a long time ๐ I /WILL/ read them this summer though, I swear!
omg thank youuuuuu. And IT DOES fly it’s a bit wild. ๐ญ๐ (And pfft, no pressure from me!!)
Congratulations!!!! Wow! I can’t believe its already been a year since ATPN came out <3 That is super exciting!
I can’t decide if it went fast or slow haha. But YAY for surviving a year! ๐
Happy authorversary, Cait! Your pictures are gorgeous, as usual, and I’m happy your books made some bestseller lists. You deserve it.
I once misspelled my own name, so yeah, that’s a thing. Kinda glad I’m not alone, though still frustrated that it happens at all. And I know you’d advised before not to read Goodreads reviews, and I did once, and yeah, I won’t be making that mistake again.
Hope your writer’s block goes away soon, for your own sake more than that of your readers. ๐
Aw thank you!! ๐๐ And we can misspell our names together here ๐
I love posts like this. It’s so neat to get an insiders perspective. I hope you have a great 2nd year.
Eeep thank you! ๐ Everyone’s journeys are so different, but it’s good to know how different writers handle things behind the scenes!
Happy 1-year author birthday, Cait! You deserve all of these good things and more – don’t ever doubt yourself because you’re a wonderful writer ๐
Personal writer setbacks suck, but I really admire your perseverance. I find myself comparing myself to other writers all the time, and I haven’t even published anything yet, so good to know that doesn’t change! Thanks for being so open about your publishing journey, it’s super inspiring โจ
omg thank you for being so kind ๐ and yes, oh wow, there’s so much to balance with writing and having personal things slow you down too. I so hope that you get your publishing dream too though!!
LOVE AND RESPECT FOR YOU, CAIT. <3
THANK YOU ๐๐
I’m so behind, but congrats on your one-year authorversary!!!! These lessons learned are so great! i mean, especially the chocolate thing. Heaven forbid you run out. I honestly don’t know many authors who can read their reviews. It’s hard. And reviews are soooo subject and of course people prefer salty reviews, which creates a niche/culture for them. And I can confirm, star ratings mean nothing lol. Here’s to looking forward to second authorversary lessons learned! By then, just imagine, you’ll be a hardened veteran author. With, like, probably an eye patch and everything … or something. xD
eep thank you, Sammie!! It’s so kind of you and I’m so happy my books have been mostly loved by so many! (I’m hoping I become a hardened veteran soon lol.)
Wow this is a really good post Cait, thank you. Actually I recognised a lot of myself in this one, still being within that debut year at the moment. I am constantly surprised by how hard it all is, but yes, I don’t like to shout about that, because I don’t want to ever seem ungrateful for the amazing opportunities I have been given. I am so happy, but also very stressed. Like a lot! Ha!
I think reading something like this feels very soothing because it shows everyone is probably going through a similar experience of ups and downs, even if they are keeping it private.
Thank you for your honesty. It felt really good to read through this list.
And CONGRATULATIONS on surviving your debut year! ๐ You did a wonderful job!!!
Aw, Poppy!! THANK YOU ๐ญ๐ I really am so happy and proud of you too for your debut year and your absolutely amazing book!! I get happy feels when I think about it. ๐คIt is very hard to balance wanting more and being grateful for what we have? So oh wow yes, I’m with you.
A great post ๐ it’s midnight and I don’t have much more smart to say, but I wanted to say something positive anyway
I struggle with that bit about celebrating every bit – not as an author, but a blogger. I guess there are J K Rowlings of the blogging world too, eh? ๐ but I’m glad I’m still here.
And I totally read TBWSH in one sitting ๐
THANK YOU ๐ญ๐ it means a lot of a lot to me, eeeep. I don’t even know how I’d survive this without all of you epic blogging friends on my side!!!
Ah, what a sweet post, Cait! Your debut book was just beautiful and I’m so happy to see how well love it has become.
I suppose, my biggest difficulty is having to show people my writing! I’m part of a discord server for writers and have been encouraging myself to interact with the authors more. Reading about your interactions with authors is encouraging <3
Awk thank you for reading, Cam!! ๐ญ๐I’m ridiculously grateful for everyone’s love!! And YES, it is difficult starting off being vulnerable with your writing and putting it out there, but I believe in you!! ๐ค