According to the New York Times, ninety-eight percent of all books released by traditional publishers last year sold fewer than 5,000 copies. If you’re a professional writer, the gruesomeness of that statistic should drive you straight to the liquor cabinet or a suicide hotline. But if you’re a reader, it might depress you, too. In a capitalist society, when something isn’t profitable, it’s usually eliminated.
Write. The fear is not your enemy. Write your fear. Let it inform, infest, and humanize your writing. And remember what Frank Herbert said about fear: “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
Fear sits like a gargoyle on my shoulder every time I write. I freely acknowledge its presence there, feeding it occasionally, but mostly just humoring it. ***breathing heavily on the side of my neck*** FEAR: "No one's ever going to read this. You can't plot a book! Why even try? Hey, are those Doritos? Can I have one? Let me have a sip of your water."
That just shows that you're thinking about it properly! Writing books IS a daunting, terrifying process. But...think of the books you, of all people, could write! MY GOD. You have actual bestseller potential. So there's that to consider, too.
Not really a friend of the term 'writer'. 'Story Tellers' for sure, and those who are outstanding spin a yarn that ensnares the readers heart. There is the writing/typing, putting down on paper/digitizing, of the story and the spreading/selling of it.
So 'Story Sellers' maybe.
About the self evaluation of a 'Story Seller', what springs to my mind is
My friend Toni spoke about the impossibility of trying to write while working full time. Took me over 15 yrs to get a finished 1st draft of my first piece of fiction. Close to 2 yrs for the one I just completed (again, 1st draft), but that time was hammered by major depression from the almost simultaneous hits of Toni's death and the pandemic. Still, this one is way better, in no small part because I fall under the "retired" heading now, and social security is enough for me to live on. The scholarly works were, again, while I was unemployed and sneaking through the cracks on savings & student loans.
I've a friend who is a painter. She was a successful business woman for many years, specializing in forensic art for lawyers presenting cases. She sold the business and moved to a new place closer to her husband's work, and has been able to go full time with her art & teaching. Not exactly luck, but a life time spent making this era possible.
"Forensic art" for lawyers presenting cases sounds like a COOL gig! Damn, I would love to do that. And your friend Toni was so generous and so wise. I can see why you were and are so devoted to you. She was right, of course. And I am over the damn moon that you are "retired" to a life of full-time writing now. This is as things should be.
I want to write books. I'm terrified of writing books. The End.
Write. The fear is not your enemy. Write your fear. Let it inform, infest, and humanize your writing. And remember what Frank Herbert said about fear: “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”
Fear sits like a gargoyle on my shoulder every time I write. I freely acknowledge its presence there, feeding it occasionally, but mostly just humoring it. ***breathing heavily on the side of my neck*** FEAR: "No one's ever going to read this. You can't plot a book! Why even try? Hey, are those Doritos? Can I have one? Let me have a sip of your water."
That just shows that you're thinking about it properly! Writing books IS a daunting, terrifying process. But...think of the books you, of all people, could write! MY GOD. You have actual bestseller potential. So there's that to consider, too.
Not really a friend of the term 'writer'. 'Story Tellers' for sure, and those who are outstanding spin a yarn that ensnares the readers heart. There is the writing/typing, putting down on paper/digitizing, of the story and the spreading/selling of it.
So 'Story Sellers' maybe.
About the self evaluation of a 'Story Seller', what springs to my mind is
Franz Kafka with 'The Way Home'.
Even 'The Way Home' was surreal to me. Definitely deserving of the word "Kafkaesque!" I'm an Edith Wharton fan myself. HUGE Wharton nerd.
Loverly kiddo. ❤️
My friend Toni spoke about the impossibility of trying to write while working full time. Took me over 15 yrs to get a finished 1st draft of my first piece of fiction. Close to 2 yrs for the one I just completed (again, 1st draft), but that time was hammered by major depression from the almost simultaneous hits of Toni's death and the pandemic. Still, this one is way better, in no small part because I fall under the "retired" heading now, and social security is enough for me to live on. The scholarly works were, again, while I was unemployed and sneaking through the cracks on savings & student loans.
I've a friend who is a painter. She was a successful business woman for many years, specializing in forensic art for lawyers presenting cases. She sold the business and moved to a new place closer to her husband's work, and has been able to go full time with her art & teaching. Not exactly luck, but a life time spent making this era possible.
"Forensic art" for lawyers presenting cases sounds like a COOL gig! Damn, I would love to do that. And your friend Toni was so generous and so wise. I can see why you were and are so devoted to you. She was right, of course. And I am over the damn moon that you are "retired" to a life of full-time writing now. This is as things should be.