I didn't want the headache of having a publisher reviewing everything I wrote in advance.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
As much as I encourage communication with my readers, I don't want reviews from them, simply because I don't need to be hamstrung in the middle of working on something.
But if I worried too much about publishers' expectations, I'd probably paralyze myself and not be able to write anything.
My first book was published without any editorial advice. Nobody said, 'You might do this or that,' or 'Why don't we see more of this.' I merely took the book and published it.
At first my publisher had reservations about publishing it in the form you are familiar with.
I read every review online, and I want to respond to those, but I resist the urge to do that.
Publishers just want you to write the same book over and over again. But why would I want to do that? It would be like putting on a threadbare dressing-gown day after day.
I didn't think I would be an exceptional writer, and I thought I might be a useful publisher. I've never regretted it.
I wrote a novel for my degree, and I'm very happy I didn't submit that to a publisher. I sympathize with my professors who had to read it.
I thought, well I can do that. I couldn't be bothered writing a book review, because I'd have to read the book, I haven't got time to read a whole book for a fifty dollar write-up.
I don't write for publishers, certainly not for critics, and not for readers, But I am delighted that so many people have found my books enjoyable and want to continue to read them.