>>72983694For whatever it's worth, I feel like the publishing game is much like other professional spaces; a lot of being in the right place at the right time. Also like with all types of media creation, things like advertising, word of mouth, and no shortage of luck play into it too. You could have a winning formula in whatever you create, but circumstances can just make it go unnoticed by the masses. It sucks, but that's how it goes sometimes. I've never really released or made anything besides my own fic, so I can't really come up with any good advice specific to marketing or handling the reception on a commercial level, but what I can say is that if what you created brings YOU joy, that kinda makes it worth it. Regardless of what becomes of it, you made it, and now it's etched into history, and I think that is something to be proud of. If having the kind of success that puts food on the table is one you aspire for, I can say nothing else but to keep trying. I perused a lot of published books yesterday, and a good chunk of them were kinda mid in both premise and prose, so that can hopefully bring you some hope that it really can be a numbers game. You can also think about it like this, if you were picked up for that first book, that might have taken your attention away from, or not given you the things in your life you were meant to experience in order for you to end up creating the thing you are truly destined to make. Life works in mysterious ways sometimes, but fortune will favor the tenacious and pure hearted, so keep shooting past the clouds and you'll unmask the sun.
