Minty: "That scheduled publishing feature sounds like a digital grace for an author who values peace. It allows you to automate the release while you stay tucked away in that quiet room writing the next chapters."
Iboni: "It is indeed."
Minty: "But let's look at that 'if it hits, it hits' philosophy. For a lot of writers, their self-worth is tied directly to the view count, the comments, and the locked-chapter unlocks. When a story you poured your heart into doesn't 'hit' right away, how do you handle that silence on the platform?"
Minty: "Does that 'let it be' come easily because you know Abba already smiled at the draft, or do you ever have to remind yourself that the success of a book isn't the measure of the gift He gave you?"
[The audience leans back in their seats, eager to hear how Iboni protects her joy from the fickle nature of internet metrics.]
Iboni: "You know, let's go back to the time when I was still an atheist, yes? My first three books, I wrote them when I was still an atheist. That is a fact. I'm not sure where I pulled out that 'if it hits, it hits' mindset back then. Maybe because I was busy in my chaotic personal life back then? That's why I don't bother with it because it's just a number. But when I achieve something, like having more than half a million views in Runaway With Me I just want to thank my readers for it. And now, let's go back to now now, 'does that "let it be" come easily'? It's never been hard for me because I've been doing other stuff aside from writing."
[The audience ripples with murmurs of admiration when Iboni casually drops the "half a million views" stat for Runaway With Me. It's a stunning contrast—Iboni, an author with massive, verifiable reach, yet she treats it with the casual gratitude of someone who just received a nice compliment from a neighbor. Her reminder that she has a whole life outside of the digital pages reminds everyone that a writer is at their best when they are actually living, not just typing.]
Minty:[Smiling, leaning back] "Half a million views while managing a chaotic life and treating it like 'just a number'... that's incredible. It sounds like your detachment from the metrics wasn't a spiritual discipline yet; it was just a healthy boundary. You had 'other stuff' keeping you anchored in the real world."