Often you just need the confidence of a mediocre white Roomba.
We occasionally help our writers with side projects—in this case, helping one record and edit her first face-on-camera video. She was terrified. She even asked if everyone on the internet was doing all of their videos in one take! (They’re not, any more than going to the grocery store the way they wake up.)
They’re just showing you their very best, and that may be 50 takes or more.
Many writers feel uncomfortable with technology. We tend to have creative, not STEM brains, which makes things like video editing and social media and creating websites intimidating. (Need help with yours? Our members have access to author site audits!)
But all you need is the confidence of a Roomba stuck in a corner. Just keep running into stuff until you find your way out of the problem.
You can’t really break anything, unless you knock your well-earned coffee into your keyboard. Control (or command, on a Mac) Z is your friend and will undo a multitude of sins. (Now, if only it could unsend that query with a typo in it! Another reason we suggest scheduling your queries for a time in the future.)
So, think of that Roomba. Keep trying stuff. Click on everything (except, unless you mean to, Delete). Eventually you’ll find your way. You’ll remember it later, because you’ll remember what didn’t work, and what did.
And then you can help your writer friends with your newfound “I can do it!” confidence.
It all gets easier over time. It took us years before we felt comfortable podcasting, editing, making everything on our site. We still know there’s plenty to learn.
You don’t have to be perfect.
You just have to keep trying.
Looking for the perfect agents to query? Check out our sister site, ManuscriptWishList.com.