I did a silly four word author fear thing recently, thought you might like the see some of the ones I came up with, Gentle Reader.
Gail’s Author Fears in Four Words
- Two day turn around.
- Stock art cover design.
- Not getting copy edit.
- Document recovery has failed.
- Typo on first page.
- Editor is moving houses.
- Do your own marketing.
- No Oxford commas allowed.
- Editor is moving houses.
- No rights revert clause.
- Amazon is changing algorithms.
- Your release pushed back.
- Your agent is retiring.
- e-book price is $13.99
- Typo in viral Tweet.
- Amazon sent wrong preorder.
- They decided no reviews.
- Your deadline moved up.
- Brutal non compete clause.
- They want basket accounting.
And fears from others…
- Writing on spec forever.
- Pirated on release day.
- No one at signing .
- The movie was better.
- How is your platform?
- Someone else wrote it.
- NaNo is next month.
- No moderator for panels.
- Not sure it’s marketable.
from Jamie “Pajamazombie” Wyman @Pajamazon
Ran out of tea.
from Joline ScottRoller @JScottroller
Document did not save.
from suzanne lazear @suzannelazear
No payment, good exposure.
from Suna Dasi @Suna_Dasi
Need short story tomorrow.
from Maria E. Schneider @BearMntBooks
Running out of ink.
from Piper J. Drake @PiperJDrake
What genre is this?
from Leanna Renee Hieber @Leannarenee
I’ve forgotten character’s haircolor.
from EddieLouise @EddieLouise
Your book is remaindered.
from Adam Rakunas @rakdaddy
My laptop just died.
from Mike Headley @BowTieWriter
Author photo: tooth spinach.
from Isabel Cooper @ICooperAuthor
Please write a synopsis.
from Asa Maria Bradley @AsaMariaBradley
Please critique my manuscript.
from Aaron Corpsewin @CapnCorwin
Error: document not found.
from Cass Morris @CassRMorris
Accidentally clicked “Replace All”.
from Aaron Corpsewin @CapnCorwin
Awesome. Now rewrite it.
from Jess Scare-a-day @jessfaraday
Keyboards with sticky keys.
from Nick Thames @ThamesWriting
Coincidentally, these are all fine funny authors to follow on Twitter, if you were interested in such things.
Many hugs,
Your,
Miss Gail
P.S. If you’re a new author who’d like any of these fears explained please leave a comment at my blog and I’d be happy to explain. Or, there’s google.
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- Coop de Book for October is The Sumage Solution (in preparation for The Omega Objection‘s release). (Discussion here.)
OUT NOV 4, 2018!
Amazon | Kobo | B&N | iBooks
Direct from Gail
Can a gentle giant with a trampled heart
show a man who’s been running all his life that
sometimes there are monsters worth running towards?
UPCOMING SCRIBBLES
- The 5th Gender (a tinkered stars sci-fi under the G. L. Carriger pen name). No links as yet, wait for it…
- Secret Project Ommm, coming October 2019 to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Soulless.
- Need to know more about what Gail is writing right now? That’s in the Chirrup.
GAIL’S DAILY DOSE
Your Infusion of Cute . . .

Do I spot Sophronia?
Eighteenth-century doodles of a chicken in trousers
Your Tisane of Smart . . .
Quiz: Which Jane Austen Heroine Are You?
I got Anne Elliott, my least favorite Austen protag and I object most strenuously.
Your Writerly Tinctures . . .
50+ Puntastic And Fun Book Club Names
Book News:

Spotted by a fan in Florence!
Quote of the Day:

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Questions about Gail’s Parasolverse? Wiki that sheez!