Art and Commerce

When I published my essay collection Write Within Yourself: An Author’s Companion, I had no plan for how to promote it. My publisher was quite small and expected to do most of their sales online, so they made no effort to sell it to bookstores. I had a vague notion that the regular readers of this column would be excited to learn of the book and would simply hype it of their own volition on social media. That honestly was my entire plan. It didn’t happen.

It didn’t happen because no one knew the book was coming out until it was published, and even then, I didn’t want to make a big deal about it. That would be unseemly. I didn’t mention it on my podcast, or in my essays, or on Author. Somehow, I believed that when the book was published, its existence would become magically known to readers. Then I looked at the sales numbers the first week after its publication. No one was buying it. No one.

I staggered into my living room and sat across from my wife. I didn’t think it would be bestseller, but it shouldn’t have been a not-seller. “Those numbers,” I told her, referring to what I’d seen on Amazon, “do not reflect the book’s value.” To my own surprise, I’d begun to cry. And I was right, by the way. Those numbers didn’t reflect the book’s value. But they did reflect my willingness to publicly acknowledge the book’s value; I wanted someone else to do that.

Until they didn’t, and I couldn’t deny what I knew was true. I wasn’t crying because the book wasn’t selling. Tears always come when I become aware of pain I had been denying. There is nothing more painful than not acknowledging that I love what I love, and I loved that little book.

It would go on to sell plenty of copies, many by my own hand. It was good therapy for me, those “back of the room” sales. Every time a new reader happily made the exchange of their money for my book, I felt firsthand the natural relationship of art and commerce, of love and value. My role in that business was simply to let what I know is true be true, and share with others what I can’t help but love myself.

If you like the ideas and perspectives expressed here, feel free to contact me about individual coaching and group workshops.

Everyone Has What It Takes: A Writer’s Guide to the End of Self-Doubt available for pre-order now!
You can find William at: williamkenower.com