“If I could go back and do something different, I would….”
One of the hardest things to do is reflect and criticize your' work. It's human nature to believe the work you do is right and done to the best of your abilities. But self-criticism can lead to growth and maturity. The Nearby Resident, when it was all said and done, was completed to the best of my abilities but there are a few things I would and will do differently as time moves forward:
Less-concrete deadlines – In the beginning, I had set deadlines and dates I wanted things done. Because of this, I created too much pressure, and the quality of work began to dive. Quickly changing, I removed hard deadlines and worked at a pace that was better suited for me. It made a world of difference.
Understanding Self-publishing Technicalities – On the surface, self-publishing seems straightforward. But through countless hours of research and reading, there are plenty of details that get overlooked. For my future projects, I will make sure even the smallest of details are accounted for and checked.
Marketing – It seems odd to say, but I overlooked marketing and promotion before the release of The Nearby Resident. Marketing is essential when you're trying to generate buzz for goods or service. I did small promotions here and there, but not nearly enough as I should've. The next time around, I will need to make marketing a priority.
To summarize, it’s important to NOT nick-pick when attempting to do something the first time, especially if your knowledge on the subject is limited. What is important is to learn and grow from past experiences. The concept can be applied to many aspects of life and writing and creating a novel is no different.