What If You Didn't Have to Get It Right?

(Prefer audio? Click here to listen to the podcast episode.)

I’m going to share a phrase that will help you be bolder, stronger, and more confident as an author, whether you’re writing, considering publishing options, or marketing.

As authors, we think a lot because what we think is literally what we sell. Those ideas, concepts, scenes, characters, stories, and all of that analysis during edits are what get stories on the page and out to readers. But also, that hyper-thinking can be a major Achilles’ heel when it comes to creativity. It can stop us right in our tracks when in comes to actually doing the thing - the writing, the editing, the publishing, the marketing.

Y’know, all of that fun stuff that authors do because we’re authors. Sure, we go through dry spells and rest periods, but then we come back to that page or to that spreadsheet and we do the thing.

Except sometimes it can be hard to take that next step. The stress over “what’s the right answer,” or “what’s the right way,” or what’s the right move?” can be super-paralyzing. And this can happen to long-time authors as much as to first-time authors. After seventeen years into this industry, I’m still always facing new opportunities, new decisions, new chances as an author, and it can be a massive overload.

So here’s what I tell myself, the phrase that unlocks my brain so that I can act and do and have that data to assess:

“I can always change it later.”

Seriously, I can.

-Don’t like the cover? Change it - and I have. Sometimes you have to embrace the rebrand and relaunch.
-Need to tweak the content? Change it - and I have. Again, rebrands and relaunches have been my jam for the last three years after closing down my publishing company.
-Used the wrong keyword or platform, or marketing angle? Change it - and I have. Pivoting is crucial in the chaotic publishing industry.

That small phrase, “I can always change it later,” means that I don’t have to get it perfectly right this time. I can do the best job possible at that moment. I can make my best guesses and predictions about the market. I can go with the book cover in front of me.

Again, I’m not talking about slacking off. Strive for excellence. Dream expansively and plan thoughtfully for where you are and what you know. Don’t just go around ignoring all sage advice. That sage advice can help you avoid common pitfalls. Trust me, you’ll still learn plenty through mistakes and hard-won experience without looking for trouble.

Do the dreaming. Do the planning.
Then take imperfect action.

You can always change it later.

Now this comes with one caveat: If you’re signed with a tradition publishing house, you’ve signed away some of your control and ability to shift with the market. The publishing house has those rights. This is why it’s vital to review publishing contracts and publishing houses extremely carefully and go with someone that you trust. In that situation, the power to change is often in their hands, not yours (again, depending on the publishing house and your specific arrangement with them).

But even if you’re a trad author, eventually you get those rights back, and so if you don’t like something, guess what? You can always change it later. Really really. All is not lost.

What the phrase “I can always change it later” does is free up your brain to try, to move, and to grow as an author. It frees up your creativity to try that next thing. It clears out any anxiety or breath-holding of “but what if? What if?” This phrase gives you mental margin to act - and we’re all about healthy margins here.

So authors, take that next step with this phrase in mind: “I can always change it later.”

Let this encourage you today, friends - and share one big, crazy action you need to take in your author life! I’d love to hear it.