IWSG

It's time for IWSG! The Insecure Writer's Support Group is the creation of Ninja Captain Alex, and is a great way for writers to share their worries, support and encouragement.

Well, I have my fifth (!!!) book coming out in five days! *flailpanics* You'd think I'd be used to it by now, but it never gets any less nerve-wracking. And I've been playing this crazy publishing game since 2010 and published since 2013. It always feels weird when people ask my advice, especially about marketing, because really, none of us know what we're doing. :P But I do have a few observations as a publishing veteran:

You will never not be terrified the week before a book comes out.

You will always freak out when someone posts on social media that they're reading your book.

You will always wonder if other writers spend their release day rocking in a corner thinking they're a fraud and should never have published (usually around the time that first inevitable cutting review hits the book's Amazon page the instant it goes live).

You will always get up and write again anyway.

You will never know how to adequately answer the question how are your books selling? at family gatherings...

You will always freak out when you have to update your book page on Goodreads, and do so with one hand over your eyes to avoid looking at the rating. Or maybe that's just me.

It will never not feel awesome when you get an email, tweet or message from someone who enjoyed reading one of your stories.

It will never not feel awesome to see a row of books on your shelf with your name on them. Even if it's in your room and not a bookshop. :P

And no matter what's happening in the mad world of publishing, the writing is always the best part. :)