You start out writing a lean, beautiful horse, something with muscle, speed, and a clear direction.
Then you ask for feedback, and suddenly everyone has an opinion.
Your friend wants you to add more romance. Your cousin thinks you should ‘make it more commercial.’
The writing group suggests twelve different endings.
Soon, your lean horse has sprouted humps, awkward legs, and a face only its mother could love.
When this happens, committees make safe books. Beige books. Stories that offend no one and excite no one. They file down the edges until there’s nothing left worth holding.
That’s why the power of one matters: you own the damn thing. You take the risk. You carry the vision from your head to the page without watering it down to please the peanut gallery.
Steve Jobs didn’t design the iPod by taking a neighbourhood survey. He guarded his vision with focus and determination.
That’s what you have to do as a self-published author.
Otherwise? You’re just another camel in the Kindle store.
So, stop crowd-sourcing your creativity.
Listen if you want, but filter everything through your gut.
This is your book, your voice, your risk.
Write and publish your book your way.
Whatever happens, it’ll be worth your name.