Does it help to know that very few bigger name authors are happy with their careers? With the winning of plaudits and sales comes the desire for more plaudits and sales. There is not much peace in this job.
I want to say it does help, but then I feel like I'm happily swimming in someone else's misery pond. My theory has always been that it's a symptom of creative endeavors, but I don't know the true reason why the correlation and it's probably just anecdotal. If someone gave me a million dollars tomorrow for a novel, instead of happily accepting it, I would probably question their motives and a world of doubt would sweep in regarding my abilities. It's why I can't focus on the financial aspects anymore. I'll write, and if something happens as a result then it happens.
Brian, I genuinely appreciate reading about your literary adventures. Being able to hold a physical book you wrote, reading at your local school, setting up at a book fair - all these things / events I admire and wonder if/when/how I can do my own. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Wil, I'm happy that it's helpful. You can definitely do all of those things, and more/different things as well! The interesting part of all of this is that I didn't plan any of it. I just wrote and published and got feedback and then I had enough for a collection. All of these occurrences like talking to the kids, the author fair, etc., I could have decided not to do, I suppose. But I would say if you're writing with even just an inkling of what you want to publish, then it will happen. Just keep writing. 👍
I’ve not long been on my journey and it seems like an impossible, narrow path beset with monsters and only snacks to eat along the way. Right now my shield is shiny and my sword is true, but my heart feels old and weak. Thanks for the read here.
I've gotten so tired lately of worrying about how I'm going to "make a living" as a writer, that I recently made something resembling a decision to stop doing that. Easier said than done, but at this point in my journey, knowing that the words I write are being READ is far more valuable to me that the miniscule possibility that I might earn a paycheck for writing something someday. There's SO much uncertainty in traditional publishing, and SO much heartbreak, and that's before anyone even reads the damn book!
I'm going to keep trying new things. Making different stuff. Writing more books. And reaping the rewards of having an audience, even a small one. Because reaching a hundred people with my work will always make me happier than reaching no one while trying fruitlessly to reach a million people.
Thanks for inspiring us to see the bigger picture!
You're welcome, Meg, and I'm happy that it helped you! You've already written so much that has been read and appreciated, and one day you might just land a contract and make a living writing. I don't think that's unreasonable at all, but it does take a lot of mental energy to focus on that. Your approach sounds fantastic. Write, experiment, interact and enjoy it all. At some point you could look back on one of your novels and decide to self-publish it or start sending out to agents and publishers again. There are so many opportunities and I look forward to seeing your progress!
Enjoyed reading that. I’ve not focused on the financial aspect mostly because I’ve come late to writing but every once in a while I wonder if I should be more ambitious- whatever that means - but that goes nowhere except to give me more anxiety which just dulls my writing. I’ve even decided i can’t write it I’m too worried about my audience. Not sure that’s entirely ok. But for now I’m just writing for myself and working out my need to write ! Not sure where it’ll all go but - perhaps for the first time in my life - I’m letting it lead me...
Thank you, Reena! I know what you mean about ambition, in any form that it takes. It's the constant push and pull between wanting to write more, be more consistent, but not wanting to set goals that I know eventually won't be met. I've tried instead to be more intentional and focused, which usually means when I want to write a short story, I will set aside time to finish it over a few days, never content to put it down until it's finished. But to say I will write every day, or a certain number of words, or that I will get published by a certain date or age or make a certain amount of money doesn't do much but disappoint. I think the approach you're taking, letting the writing lead you is the best one.
What an amazing experience for you, Brian. It sounds like the connections made and time spent with other authors was invaluable. And to think two people, two new readers, are sifting through your stories is still pretty damn cool to me. Congrats on the win, my friend. Keep going!
Thanks, Justin! One of my favorite things is when I see that someone is reading pages on Kindle Unlimited. It will go from like 20 to 240 pages in a few days, and it's so satisfying because it means they liked everything enough to keep reading. They already have unlimited, so they could stop any time they want and go read something else, but they chose to read my short stories. It's a great confirmation. To add more readers to that from the author fair is pretty cool. I'll keep writing and hopefully they'll keep reading.
Like the first chapter in your book. I really like your rhythm of your writing. It's comfortable to read even for a 77 year old lady that likes sci-fi.
Does it help to know that very few bigger name authors are happy with their careers? With the winning of plaudits and sales comes the desire for more plaudits and sales. There is not much peace in this job.
I want to say it does help, but then I feel like I'm happily swimming in someone else's misery pond. My theory has always been that it's a symptom of creative endeavors, but I don't know the true reason why the correlation and it's probably just anecdotal. If someone gave me a million dollars tomorrow for a novel, instead of happily accepting it, I would probably question their motives and a world of doubt would sweep in regarding my abilities. It's why I can't focus on the financial aspects anymore. I'll write, and if something happens as a result then it happens.
Brian, I genuinely appreciate reading about your literary adventures. Being able to hold a physical book you wrote, reading at your local school, setting up at a book fair - all these things / events I admire and wonder if/when/how I can do my own. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Wil, I'm happy that it's helpful. You can definitely do all of those things, and more/different things as well! The interesting part of all of this is that I didn't plan any of it. I just wrote and published and got feedback and then I had enough for a collection. All of these occurrences like talking to the kids, the author fair, etc., I could have decided not to do, I suppose. But I would say if you're writing with even just an inkling of what you want to publish, then it will happen. Just keep writing. 👍
Keep the faith.
I’ve not long been on my journey and it seems like an impossible, narrow path beset with monsters and only snacks to eat along the way. Right now my shield is shiny and my sword is true, but my heart feels old and weak. Thanks for the read here.
Thank you, Niall! It is easy to get worn down, but I'm encouraged by other authors on Substack and their journey.
Thank you for this, Brian.
I've gotten so tired lately of worrying about how I'm going to "make a living" as a writer, that I recently made something resembling a decision to stop doing that. Easier said than done, but at this point in my journey, knowing that the words I write are being READ is far more valuable to me that the miniscule possibility that I might earn a paycheck for writing something someday. There's SO much uncertainty in traditional publishing, and SO much heartbreak, and that's before anyone even reads the damn book!
I'm going to keep trying new things. Making different stuff. Writing more books. And reaping the rewards of having an audience, even a small one. Because reaching a hundred people with my work will always make me happier than reaching no one while trying fruitlessly to reach a million people.
Thanks for inspiring us to see the bigger picture!
You're welcome, Meg, and I'm happy that it helped you! You've already written so much that has been read and appreciated, and one day you might just land a contract and make a living writing. I don't think that's unreasonable at all, but it does take a lot of mental energy to focus on that. Your approach sounds fantastic. Write, experiment, interact and enjoy it all. At some point you could look back on one of your novels and decide to self-publish it or start sending out to agents and publishers again. There are so many opportunities and I look forward to seeing your progress!
Enjoyed reading that. I’ve not focused on the financial aspect mostly because I’ve come late to writing but every once in a while I wonder if I should be more ambitious- whatever that means - but that goes nowhere except to give me more anxiety which just dulls my writing. I’ve even decided i can’t write it I’m too worried about my audience. Not sure that’s entirely ok. But for now I’m just writing for myself and working out my need to write ! Not sure where it’ll all go but - perhaps for the first time in my life - I’m letting it lead me...
Thank you, Reena! I know what you mean about ambition, in any form that it takes. It's the constant push and pull between wanting to write more, be more consistent, but not wanting to set goals that I know eventually won't be met. I've tried instead to be more intentional and focused, which usually means when I want to write a short story, I will set aside time to finish it over a few days, never content to put it down until it's finished. But to say I will write every day, or a certain number of words, or that I will get published by a certain date or age or make a certain amount of money doesn't do much but disappoint. I think the approach you're taking, letting the writing lead you is the best one.
What an amazing experience for you, Brian. It sounds like the connections made and time spent with other authors was invaluable. And to think two people, two new readers, are sifting through your stories is still pretty damn cool to me. Congrats on the win, my friend. Keep going!
Thanks, Justin! One of my favorite things is when I see that someone is reading pages on Kindle Unlimited. It will go from like 20 to 240 pages in a few days, and it's so satisfying because it means they liked everything enough to keep reading. They already have unlimited, so they could stop any time they want and go read something else, but they chose to read my short stories. It's a great confirmation. To add more readers to that from the author fair is pretty cool. I'll keep writing and hopefully they'll keep reading.
Like the first chapter in your book. I really like your rhythm of your writing. It's comfortable to read even for a 77 year old lady that likes sci-fi.
Thank you so much, Linda! That makes me feel wonderful. 😁
Absolutely, I wanted that to be complementary. And it means I will get to reading. 🧐
The ART drew me in, haven’t read yet.
Hopefully in a good way. 😁
Keep going brave soul!
Thanks, Tom! I really appreciate all of your support this past year.