My mind changed completely before and after ‘My Book’

A middle-aged man I met the other day. At first, I thought he was a customer, but he stood in front of the window where I worked and handed me a book.

The book was a novel he had written, and he seemed to be selling it himself. He asked me to buy just one copy. Although it happened while I was working at a bank, I clearly remember the title of the book he presented. At that time, I spent 10,000 won and bought a book I didn’t even read. Making money through writing seems as difficult as ever. Why did you buy the book at that time? Because I thought it was okay if I could support someone’s dream with 10,000 won.

This is a world where publishing has become easier. We are living in a flood of books, to the point where books for books are being created to brand ourselves. However, it is said that this is not a time when books are selling well. Writers somehow publish books even without planning, and have the dream of having them published someday, so the number of books may gradually increase.

I also recently published a book. Since I also contributed to the overflow of books, it seems to be true to some extent that there are more people writing than reading (Related article: I published a book based on ‘life articles’ written for https://omn.kr/ 28ejb ).

When I heard people say, “You’ve achieved your dream at the age of 50,” I wanted to scream, “What are you talking about? I haven’t achieved my dream yet… My dream is to become a best-selling author,” but I held it in. I was afraid that he might tell me to wake up from my dream and face reality.

Still, these days are the era of ‘personal branding’ and the bigger the dream, the better, so I registered with a publishing company with big dreams. Due to the pressure of first publication, I was unable to sign up with the publisher’s name, but the dream still remains.

While preparing the book, I sent the manuscript and it was rejected four times just for format review alone. When I complained that the platform was inconvenient, the person in charge responded kindly, saying, “Publishing a book is often compared to childbirth. It is such a difficult task. We will take into account the inconveniences you mentioned and try to improve them.”

I became solemn at the expression labor pains. Looking back, there is nothing uncomfortable about the platform. I just felt uncomfortable due to my ignorance. I later found out that the odd-numbered pages of all books are on the right, so who can I blame?

In the process of creating a book, I have no choice but to expand what I know. While making a book, I feel like all my senses are mobilized, as I learn not only about technology but also relationships with people and their hearts. There was nothing easy about publishing, like giving birth.

There are things you don’t understand unless you experience them, and publishing was like that for me. My feelings completely changed before and after publication. I thought it would be great if the book came out, but when the book came out, I wanted to do promotional marketing differently than I did before. Now that it has come out into the world, I have a desire for more people to see it.

However, I couldn’t just go to the office like that middle-aged man did a long time ago. I had to promote myself on social media according to the times, but since I didn’t have that, it was like jumping into a battlefield without a weapon. Moreover, publicity had to be careful because if done incorrectly, it could have the opposite effect and be unfavorable. There was no network or branding at all, so I was at a loss.

First, I called my close friend and told her that the book had come out. She says her sister said, “Congratulations on publishing a book. But they give gifts when books come out. Don’t you do that? I heard other people just give them away for free.”

My excited mind actually calmed down due to the unexpected reaction. okay. People may think books are easy. No, people who think about books easily may just have a ‘heart’ for books. It’s like taking comfort in simply displaying an ornament called a book on a bookshelf. I think I was like that too before I published my book. I thought it was easy. Books. As if he had never used it before.

A few years ago, I received a book as a gift from an acquaintance of mine when he published his first collection of essays. He thought it was a courtesy and thought it was easy. Now that I think about it, I think I was rude due to my ignorance. Was there any courtesy toward the book that came to me on purpose and was politely handed to me?

At that time, an acquaintance said this to me. “I’m giving it to people who are interested in the book. If I give it to people who aren’t interested, will it only be a pot holder?” In hindsight, he realizes that it would have been better if he had declined the gift and said, “I’ll buy it myself.”

Now that I have published a book, I cannot give it as a gift without permission. I couldn’t easily give away my baby book for free. This is because I had a strong desire to give value to books filled with heart. But when my close friend asked for a free book… I told her honestly, “Sister, I don’t have a gift. I’ll just buy the book and read it.” She laughed. I’m glad you laughed. There may be too many dreamers for their dreams to be supported.

Would it be a mistake of coercion to think that a book has the minimum right to be recognized for its literary value? Some people ask who reads books these days. I think meeting a friend, paying for a cup of tea, meeting an independent person’s world, and writing down your own bookshelf by putting post-its on it is a great way to read.

It was amazing to see someone actually reading like that, underlining their own sentences and sharing their thoughts. He also added that the numerous books he read were his records. He is learning a lot through books.

When I tell people I have published a book, people ask me what genre it is. These questions feel sincere, so I explain the book. When I told him that it contained an essay-style lifestyle article and a unique novel, he said, “Oh, I like that type of writing.” There was someone who sent me a purchase verification while doing so. Meeting someone like that gives me strength.

When I said, ‘I’ll sell my book,’ someone said that was also the writer’s spirit. It’s still awkward to say I’m a writer. It is more convenient to use the verb ‘to write’ instead of the noun ‘writer.’ I have a desire to become a writer someday, but right now, my desire to become a bestseller is greater. Since dreams belong to the dreamer, it would be good to see them as supporting the dreamer for a while.

Today again, I am branding myself and announcing that a book has been released.