Blogger: Rachelle Gardner
I have a lot of conversations with clients about their writing careers. Often they tell me, “I want to be in this for the long haul.” It’s given me the opportunity to have some great discussions about what helps a writer accomplish this goal – and what can sabotage their efforts.
It’s an important topic for consideration, because sometimes we have to make difficult decisions on a day-to-day basis, and we don’t always know which way to go. But if we’re always looking at those decisions in light of the long haul, it’s easier to know what to do.
This doesn’t just apply to writers, it can be a good way for anyone to look at their situation. I want to be in publishing for the duration, so I came up with a bunch of questions and answers to help me stay focused on a long-term approach to my work. I’ll share just a few of them:
What can I do to increase my chances of being in this for the long haul?
- Establish and maintain a good reputation in the industry.
- Keep a positive attitude despite the constantly changing and challenging business environment.
- Always be looking ahead to new ways of doing business and new technologies, and be open to changing my business model as needed.
What would sabotage my ability to stay in it for the long haul?
- Pay too much attention to critics, allowing them to discourage me.
- Fail to learn from mistakes.
- Treat people badly or disrespectfully.
What are specific things writers can do to develop “long haul” writing careers?
- Pay attention to where your passion intersects with the market.
- Keep refining your appeal to readers by developing a uniquely compelling voice.
- Hone your ability to write page-turning books that readers can’t help talking about.
- Keep a positive attitude about the business.
- Build a brand that readers will recognize and seek out.
- Be open to new technologies and new ways of getting your work out there to readers.
Now it’s your turn…
What are some things that can help YOU be in this for the long haul? What are some things that could sabotage your career?
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Writers: are you in this for the long haul? Some things to consider. Click to Tweet.
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Iwrote a lot of poems when I was going through a bad time and not sure if they are good enough to publish would you be iterested in taking a look
Hi Helene,
Thanks for visiting! Unfortunately we don’t represent poetry, and most literary agents don’t. Here is a terrific post from Victoria Strauss that gives a ton of resources for poets looking for publication:
http://accrispin.blogspot.com/2007/07/victoria-strauss-literary-agents-for.html
All the best to you!
I’m in healthcare–for the long haul. There are similarities between publishing and healthcare–both are changing so rapidly and both are affected by technology. Back in the late 80’s we were taught “hi-tech needs hi-touch” that in essence we need to be all the more in-touch with relationship care to keep the growing technical world from overrunning us. Sometimes we are tempted to believe that all the red tape is bigger than our passion to cure and care–but in reality nothing can stop our ability to care. Care cannot be legislated or data driven, because I think there are two kinds of care–the kind that diagnoses and treats and gets reimbursed, and the priceless kind no one but GOd can measure. The same is true in publishing and the written word. In Christ, we are over-comers. Slow and steady, with Him in our hearts and at our sides, we fight the good fight, we can win this race! And what a joy to run it with so many other amazing men and women!
I love your thoughts here, Anne.
What an interesting comparison! Thanks for your thoughts, Anne.
Where do I start? Allowing myself to think of my writing career as a hobby. Yes, I have a full time job and the writing is done in the evenings. But I have to approach it the same way I would any other career. I spent 4 years in college before I earned my engineering degree, so I should reasonably expect a long education process before my writing career takes flight. Even longer, since I don’t have the option of studying for six hours a day. I’ve had to make the decision that I am a writer, and it’s not about some hope of getting published. It’s knowing that I will get to that point and that is only the beginning. Just like getting my first engineering job was only a stepping stone in that career. Take it seriously. Treat it like a job, though one you love.
Ron, these are great thoughts. I love the distinction you made between thinking of it as a job rather than a hobby. I do a hobby in my spare time — tinker at it. But my job? I do that every day, whether I have “time” in my schedule or not. It is a priority.
I like, “Take it seriously, treat it like a job.” Great advice.
I used to say I was in this for the long haul, but I’m questioning that idea. Oh, I’ll keep writing as it’s a deep part of who I am. I have no fear of critics, I do learn from mistakes, and I’m a kind and respectful person. But I’ve spent close to two years attempting to promote my self-published work through blogging. I’ve spent countless hours attempting to build my blog and gain traffic at http://www.danerickson.net. Very little has changed. It feels like I’m just spinning my wheels.
So what could sabotage my long haul? Life. Time. The fact that I have a teaching job to consider. Raising an eight-year-old girl as a single dad. Gaining 10-20 extra pounds form sitting on my butt trying to promote my work that prompts me to exercise instead of blogging as often. Buying a new house and moving next month.
I won’t quit, but the amount of time required to “make it,” takes away from real life. My sense of balance is telling me it’s time to tip the scales back toward living.
Dan, I hear from established authors that one book doesn’t make the difference, doesn’t matter how much you market it. They start to see real succes after several books.
Thanks for your honesty, Dan. I think having a good life depends on our ability to figure out when we need to keep going on something, and when it’s time to turn our attention in a different direction. Sounds like you’re clear on that.
I was just at my first writers conference where I met aspiring authors like myself, best-selling authors, and authors with some success who’d been dropped by their publishers and were now scrambling for book deals. It’s a difficult industry–no doubt. I think an author must walk that fine line of not letting the criticism, the waiting, the rejections and the setbacks get to her, but somehow remaining open enough to keep continually learning and growing with the needs of the industry and her own goals.
Challenging, for sure. I’m curious to see how my career will evolve from this point!
Great thoughts, as usual, Rachelle. I have one question: What’s the best way to figure out where my passion intersects the market?
I think one way I can help myself stay in this for the long haul is to remain teachable. Humility and a willingness to learn and receive critique and suggestions from those who know more than I do.
Also, making sure I stay engaged on an intimate level with my family, which means I don’t write as much as I might want to.
The biggest saboteur to my long haul is a negative mindset. When I start to get too introspective about my lacks as a writer, then I end up in trouble. I’ve got to keep my mindset in a right place, if that makes sense.
Hey Jeanne,
I am going to do a whole post on this someday soon, but finding where your passion meets the market means you look at what’s going on out there and figure out what seems to be selling… that will always turn up a list of several genres and categories that are doing well. Then you look at what genres/categories interest YOU. If you’re like most writers, you don’t just write one thing, you can write in various areas. Then choose to write in a genre that is on both your lists.
Thanks for this, Rachelle. 🙂 It’s very helpful.
I appreciate so much your blogs, Rachelle. I’ve been a paid writer since I was eighteen, have made a great living as a writer, an editor of magazines, newspapers, as the corporate PR director of agencies and collaborator of nine books. I have been lucky and successful.
But about 10 years ago the Lord suggested that I put my seminary degree to work and write about my faith while making a great salary in my secular writing jobs. Haven’t earned a dime in the Christian market yet from the four attempts – a YA novel, a murder/suspense novel, a stunning memoir and a current late-life romance novel. I’ve been published in the Christian market, but not paid.
Now I am turning 62. It has been a long haul and a great career. But I’m not sure I will live long enough for Christian publishing to
value what I can do with words. We’ll see.
Wow, Francine, you’ve already done the long haul! Congratulations. Sounds like you’re going to keep going. All best to you!
The thing that helps me keep a “long haul” perspective is the story of Joseph in the Bible. He kept turning terrible situations into opportunities, which then ended in terrible situations, made into opportunities. A lot of years later, he becomes a very powerful man and saves his family from famine. Okay, maybe my family won’t need me to save them from famine (you never know ;o)), but I need to believe that if I follow Him, and persevere, He will be faithful with my calling.
I love reading your blog posts, Rachelle, because they always encourage me to reassess my writing and my career.
For me, and I think for many, many writers, the interruptions and lack of time to write are the most discouraging aspects of trying to be “in it” for the long haul. However, I wouldn’t value my career as a writer as much if I didn’t have to fight so hard to make it all work!
Thank you, Sue, for your encouragement here today. It does seem that it’s usually a struggle to fit in writing time. We all have other obligations. But I keep at the struggle, and I’m successful most days. That demonstrates value, because it would be so easy to let life crowd out the writing.
Sue, you’re one of those writers who has already seen a great deal of “long haul,” and with a sharp turn & steep grade in the middle! You definitely have it in you. Even with the interruptions, you persevere. I love that!
I’m reading Stephen King’s book, On Writing. He wrote, and submitted, on a regular basis for 15 years before his first successful novel. That’s the long haul…
Yes, Stephen King knows something about long haul! He was interviewed yesterday on NPR, talking about “Doctor Sleep,” the sequel to The Shining, which he wrote 36 years after the original novel! Pretty cool.
http://www.npr.org/2013/09/24/223105565/stephen-king-on-getting-scared-nothing-like-your-first-time
I believe Steve Jobs said it best, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”
The biggest saboteur to many, in my opinion, is focusing too much on the market instead of focusing on what you want to say and experience through a character or nonfiction. That can cause burn out.
Yes, you have to be market savvy, but don’t lose the vision of your heart in the process of trying to sell your work. When you stop loving what you are doing, it’s time to rethink and pursue another direction until that love returns. “Distance makes the heart grow fond”, at least that’s what Granny used to say.
Marketing can be just as fun if you apply the same principal, market the way you enjoy marketing. Don’t look at it as a burden, but as a connection game, like Connect the Dots, or Tic, Tac, Toe. Keep it light and creative. There will be those that naturally connect back with you, and those are the ones you nurture.
I have a couple of notes by my desk that help keep me focused. One of my favorites is; “You can’t please all of the people all of the time, but you can please some of the people some of the time. Instead of striving against those you can not please, strive for the ones you do.”
Another one is from Mel Gibson’s movie, Signs, “Swing away Meryl, Swing away.”
“You’re bound to hit something Cindy”, I say to myself. So swing away writers, swing away.
Steve Jobs had it right: “love what you do.” A great quote for this topic!
I knew when I saw the title for today’s post that I would read the comments and immediately question my personal stamina. My flesh is weak and my thoughts can temporarily set me back. But I am learning to recalibrate quickly. How? The long haul is different for every writer, for every person. We have to keep in mind that the journey itself has deeply personal rewards. As a Christian, I must keep my focus on Christ. Yes, He longs to give me the desires of my heart, but even more, He longs for me to mature and develop the characteristics that will draw men to Him. Whether my “long haul” involves writing, or parenting a special needs child, or overcoming an addiction, or surviving seemingly endless financial difficulties, I am and will be more than a conquerer. The end result may not look like what I envision, but God, who knows me best, has a a future and a hope for me. Seek wisdom. Draw near. Learn from Him everyday. That’s my long haul strategy.
Lovely Karen
A long-haul writing career depends so much on the writer’s family. I am blessed that my husband and children encourage my goal. I said in my reply to Sue above that it’s a struggle to find writing time. And yet, if I stopped to write down how many minutes every day I have to write, it adds up. It’s just not an eight-hour stretch like a “regular” job. 🙂 When time is essential, my husband and children give me what I need. They saw the value of the ACFW conference as well as the volunteer opportunities in the days before, and my husband carved time out of his work schedule to be home with the children so that I could be gone.
You’re so right Meghan — one’s support system is crucial. It’s wonderful that your family supports your dream!
Getting practical from a different angle: I need to stay healthy. I’ve battled a back problem all year long. It went from my “Yeah, I have a bad back” ongoing problem to ” Oh My Word! I can’t even sit up and I’m not going to make my deadline” disaster. If I’m in this for the long-haul — and I am — then I need to figure out how to heal, how to handle a bad back, how to write through the pain. Sometimes I have no choice about whether I’m healthy or sick, but I can make choices that prevent illness and injury.
Beth, I think “staying healthy” should be at the TOP of all of our lists when it comes to having a good life, successful career, positive relationships. As you well know, when you don’t have good health, everything else can go right out the window. Thanks for sharing this all-important insight.
I love the intentionality of your questions, Rachelle. I definitely want to be in this for the long haul, and I think it’s important to realize that there WILL be ups and downs. So, being realistic about the writing journey and what I can expect is one way to help me stay in it for the long haul — because the bad times do get better, and knowing that makes them easier to get through.
As for things that could sabotage my goal, not resting when necessary is a big one for me. I tend to go, go, go, but have learned that I have limits. If I get burned out, and don’t stop to rest, that would be like starting a race at an all-out sprint and not finishing because refused to slow down at the beginning.
So true, Lindsey! Rest is crucial — but so difficult for many of us.
An enthusiastic attitude about my writing and the writing life is something that helps me with the long haul approach.
Get something published every year. Whether that’s a full length novel, a novella, multiple e-shorts, traditionally published, self-published or both. And fiction as well as non-fiction.
I think it’s important to remember that baby steps can result in big things. A page a day can result in a book a year. Think how many e-shorts, or novellas I could write with the page a day accomplishment. Continuing to learn new things is paramount.
Sabatoge comes in various forms. The biggest one is allowing a couple of weeks or even months of not writing to paralyze me. I’ve been there and it’s not fun. Another is disorganization when trying to juggle to much of what life hands me.
Thoughtful post, Rachelle. I appreciate it.
Jill
Baby steps — yes! Jill, I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. Persevering one little step at a time, and not letting long periods of time go by without pursuing your goal. Thanks for pointing that out!
“Pay attention to where your passion intersects with the market.”
In my opinion, this is the best piece of advice you offer in this blog, Rachelle. Its value increases because this market is evolving, however reluctantly, because it HAS to. I am very interested in the future of CBA in particular, and ABA and publishing in general. Thanks for an insightful blog post. NLBH
I’ve been writing for almost ten years. I will be self-publishing the first book in my mystery series in November, 2013, and the second book in the series in June, 2014. I’m getting ready to edit an unrelated historical mystery/time-travel book and hope to publish that in Fall of 2014. It’s been a twisty road to get to this point–actually a rollercoaster might be a better description. I was working with an indie publisher, but left because of contract issues. I almost gave up. I guess writing is too much a part of who I am, so I keep working at it. I hope my books will sell well. It’s scary publishing alone, but I can do it.
Your title set warning bells off. At my age, what’s a long haul? For agents or publishers who look for commercially viable clients, have I already missed out?
I’ve been writing for many years, getting occasional NF pieces published but not trying to do much with the novels I enjoy constructing. ‘The long haul’ might mean different things to different writers, depending on how actively they pursue it from a career perspective. I expect to be writing until the day I die. I’m hoping that will be for a long time yet.
Oh my word, great post and EVERY one of the comments was so thought-provoking! Ron’s idea that this IS a career is so true–you have to go for it, no holds barred. And Anne’s thoughts about being overcomers and the examples of Stephen King and Joseph in the Bible…yes. In the end, if you stick with it, it will happen, though it may take years.
Five 1/2 years and three agents down the road, I am so happy to finally be getting my novel out there–even if it’s via self-pubbing. I know the market and my passion (Vikings) is intersecting in a big way in the coming year, and I would be an idiot if I didn’t knock myself out to get my book out at this time, especially after giving it all kinds of traditional “opportunities” to get picked up.
You are SO right, Rachelle–the forward-thinkers are truly the ones who will survive and move on in this publishing climate. Be willing to embrace new things…years ago, that was blogging. Nowadays, it might be self-publishing or even just a smaller step like joining twitter! Who knows what taking risks will look like in a couple years? All I know is that I can’t sit back and wait for opportunity to come to me. I have to give it my all and not stop unless God stops me!
At first, I sort of poo-pooed e-readers, preferring hard copies of books. But once I got a Kindle in hand, I realized it was like having your own personal library! I love living in this writing climate, where you can take your publishing career into your own hands in some ways and get your books out to the new gatekeepers: the readers.
Great post!
For me, as I’ve made the transition from hobby writer to published author over the past few years, the most important long-haul consideration has been pacing and balance.
Being a published author is a full-time (plus!) profession with many last-minute demands and tons of details. I’ve had to learn to pace myself and not take on more than I can handle. I’ve had to learn to find balance between the writing/publicity and family, friends, rest, and exercise. Okay, still working on the exercise thing 🙂
I realized early on that if I didn’t pace myself, I’d burn out fast.
Rachelle, I’m so glad I’ve found your site. What an encouragement you are! I’ve been writing for WMU’s magazine Missions Mosaic. I interview missionaries and share their stories. I love it. I wouldn’t have this job, if I hadn’t followed God’s lead and wrote a book on surviving hardships back in 2007! (that is a long story) I just published it! After all these years. I went through Crossbooks to publish. Being a no-name really … I didn’t think I’d have a great chance, and I was determined to get it off my computer and into print. I am seeing God use it … and that blesses my heart! It made the journey worth it … though it cost me greatly. But I will never regret the cost. I had already thought I wouldn’t bother writing again, but I just started on a project today … completely opposite genre! More fun! And potential for future books … even if my 13 year old daughter is the only one who loves it! Grin!
What keeps me in it for the long haul? Just loving to write. Not focusing on the financial aspect. Just do what the Lord calls us to … what He places on our hearts.
My book on hardships … I feel like God will use it for my girls, and I’m leaving them a legacy of love. If He uses it beyond that … I am just more blessed. I did the thing … I did what I felt Him calling me to do. Now, it’s in His hands.
You are a great encouragement.
My daughter was old enough when I started publicity writing two years ago, to understand my journey. She keeps me going. I don’t want her to think giving up your dream is an option. God breaths the passion of writing to make a difference into me and my work is to respond. I hope she does the same for the thing she is most passionate about later in her life.
Ooh, good point, Lisa. I’m telling you, my kids are rooting for me and believing in me more than I do myself. My kiddos pray for Mommy to get a book published all the time and it just shows they know how much it means to me. And yet, I think to everything there is a season–my season was NOT when my kids were ages five and under! For each of us it is different, but when God plants that dream, we can’t escape it and shouldn’t try to.
Great post, Rachelle. I think about this topic often.
We live in a culture of fast-paced cyberminutes. But instead of counting on things happening in microseconds that can be calibrated on a stopwatch, instead I measure progress in terms of calendar pages. Maybe even almanac pages – years. I’m building a slow but steady relational network and always seek to bring value to those I meet. I often send homemade cards of encouragement.
Great post, Rachelle.
Part of it is realizing how many famous authors wrote in obscurity for decades before they were “discovered.” That’s one thing that keeps me going.
This is great wisdom! Working on my first novel, the long haul for me means reading and studying writing, creating the discipline of the writer’s life, and brainstorming into the future: lists of story ideas and platform building practices. Also, making the most of new friendships through ACFW and conferences.
This may sound really stupid, but I try to work with the image of a water buffalo in my mind. He gets where he’s going eventually, is virtually impossible to deflect (those dudes are stubborn!), and is very, very patient. My mental boo gets me through.
(My wife is part Cherokee, and her spirit guide is an owl. When I told her about the water boo, she clapped her hand to her forehead, and said, “Marry in haste…”)
I went through the ‘sabotage’ stage by being too laid-back, and thinking self-promotion was ungentlemanly, just not cricket. Even though some consider me one of the finest minds of the seventeenth century…I can still learn, and I did.
My advice. Keep writing.
Great post, Rachelle, as always! Your advice has been invaluable to me over the year and a half that I’ve been following your blog. I write a review blog for debut authors. I remember that you advised for those just starting out in writing to create a platform and to start with a blog. I didn’t know what I could be successful blogging about and you said to find your passion. Well, since I was so new to writing, the only other thing it could be was reading. I have been a avid reader since before I was 4 years old. You said to find a niche, since I was a new aspiring author, I devoted it to aspiring and beginning authors. I was only a review blog. Although I was inundated with requests to review, not many were following my blog. I was getting discouraged. Then I participated in a discussion on LinkedIn with a writing coach. I wrote about my long journey from years ago in my college days when I was into writing and taking courses in creative writing (back in the late 1980’s-early 1990’s). I lost college funding and had to quit college. I told him how I was told to “get a real job” and was discouraged, so I quit writing for many years and after 30+ years in Customer Service/Sales& Marketing, I retired early and got back into writing. Of course, now there was the digital age. Well, anyway, this gentleman advised me to write about it on my blog! Why didn’t I think of that? That post went out yesterday, and I have received more likes and even some comments. No one was commenting, so to get any was a great success. I realize that my problem with the lack of traffic was the inconsistency of my posts. So, I am going to write some “newie” from me to you articles in between my reviews. I know you a very busy, and I will understand if you can’t do it, but if you have a moment, I would love to have you stop by and comment with any pointers. Of course, no pressure! 🙂 Thanks again, Rochelle. http://rebeccavance.com
I think to make it for the long term, every day I need to do something to move forward. What I plan to do next week, next month, or next year doesn’t matter if I’m not doing what I need to do today.
Prayer.
Hi Rachelle,
I’ve enjoyed reading your blogs for awhile now and I’m learning a lot. I saw your interview on Michael Hyatt’s website and I feel as if I know you. That’s a great interview! Thank you for sharing yourself with us — your knowledge, your experiences, your insights. This is the first time I’ve joined the conversation, but today I just have to. Every comment speaks to me in some way. I relate to the physical struggles, the emotional struggles, and the desire to honor God in my writing and be led by Him. I enjoy keeping a sense of humor, too! So important.
I am just now getting back to regular writing after a year-long battle with my heart/health. Funny thing is, it’s been both a physical and emotional battle. It’s shown me exactly what can sabotage my writing. On Sept. 15, 2012, I suffered a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack or Mini-Stroke), causing temporary paralysis and loss of speech. The conditions surrounding it have been resolved (thank God!) and I’m doing fine now. The doctors say this was a “wake-up call” for me. Would y’all like to know what I was doing when the TIA hit? I was on the computer (and had been for 7 and 1/2 hours non-stop that day with no food and nothing to drink except coffee), researching ways to promote and market my first novel. Frantically researching. I loved the writing of this mystery based on a true story. But I soon became obsessed with marketing and trying to learn what to do to push it out there FAST. Looking back, I see that my physical problems were brought on, in large part, by my intense desire to be successful as a book author. I’ve been a freelance writer for several years, published in both traditional print and online. I’ve made decent money, but want to take my career as far as it can go. I love working with editors. I love learning. I love being part of a team. I don’t care about “glory”, except GOD getting the glory. But somewhere along this book journey, I developed high blood pressure, caused myself a mini-stroke, and suffered emotionally as well. When did chasing my dream become a nightmare?! I lost my perspective. In Joyce Meyer’s book, “100 Ways to Simplify your Life,” she says, “When we think about the future with all of its unanswered questions and threatening circumstances, we can feel quite overwhelmed.”
So. . .What can increase my chances of being a “long haul” writer? Keep my perspective. Stay balanced. Know that if it’s meant to be, it will be.
What can sabotage me? Becoming obsessed with “success” and derailing the rest of my life in the process.
Have a good night, everyone. And keep writing.
Sue
Sue, to me your post is probably the most inspiring of all these great ones.
Thank you, Janet! I appreciate your kind words. God bless you and yours!
Sue
My puppy, Dinozzo, is only 5 months old and he is in this for the “long haul” and so am I.
Keeping realistic expectations about the income potential of writing for a living is important for aspiring authors. I need to be prepared for the fact that most authors don’t make a lot of money.
For years, I was the biggest saboteur to my career, simply because I wasn’t taking it seriously enough.
Oh, I wanted to be a career writer. Studied, workshoppped, networked, got mentored, published a few short stories, etc. Dreamed of novels.
But I treated it like a hobby. So a hobby it remained.
Then last November I took the whole month off the Day Job and spent every day as a professional, full-time writer. (NaNoWriMo) Oh, it was beautiful! Fell deeply in love with my writing career again. But come the end of November, I slid back into old habits.
Then several months ago, I reflected upon my goals. I’d been shortchanging myself and it was all, completely, totally my fault. No wonder my career was faltering. I didn’t have the right mindset.
I fixed that. I developed a 50-year plan and I got serious. Real serious. From that, I will have four books finished by December, ready to pitch, and fifth not too long after that.
How could I have been so stupid for so long? Why didn’t I do something about it earlier?
Maybe I needed to grow within myself.
So yeah. What Ron Estrada said at the beginning of the thread. One must think of it as a career, or it will never be a career.
Rachelle, you as so very right. Writing is a constant change and I’m learning that not only does writing for the long haul mean keeping my butt in the chair, but reading up on my craft is just as necessary. Wonderful blog post, thanks.
Rachelle, I’ve just recently started to read your post, and they’re awesome. You insight for writers on writing are terrific. If I ever had it in mind to give up on writing, your words of encouragement would definitely set the creative juice flowing at a rapid rate. Yes, writing is hard work but the harder one works at the craft the more rewarding the result. Thanks for such inspiring blogs.
I just found you through Twitter. Glad to meet another Coloradan!
I am definitely in it for the long haul. Since I am a late bloomer, I am like a sponge and am open to criticism, but I have my own voice and want to make sure it is not drowned out.
I like the characters and I want to see what they do. (I always think I know that, but sometimes they’ll surprise you.)
Thank you for your insights. I’m at the stage where I’m trying to figure out how to keep moving forward with my own writing career, and your tips were a big help. I have printed out the two questions you pose to help me figure out where I need to go from here. Thanks!
Having been a writer for the long haul, I can say your post is accurate. “Success” for a fiction writer is twofold. One is becoming the best writer one can be. The other is getting people to read your work. Becoming the best writer you can be is totally up to the individual, and can be obtained, mostly by hard work incorporating all the (now available) online advice in books, blogs, and posts. Plus reading everything you can get your hands on, in all genres, from all ages. Still, being that writer doesn’t guarantee you be a great writer.
Getting large numbers of people to read your work can be relatively easy if you give away everything you write and never ask money for it. Again, this is no guarantee. Marketing for a writer is generally soul-draining, and indeed can affect one’s health. As in any endeavor, there are people who are better at one thing than another. There are many online who are great at marketing because that’s in their mindset. Though marketing can be taught, as can painting and dance, those who are initially natural at it will excel with greater ease. Those who excel at something with greater ease tend to stick with those things longer. Length of time spent at doing something doesn’t guarantee success at it, but giving up certainly guarantees failure.
As for the writing aspect alone, to “succeed” in the long haul, a writer must be truly in love with storytelling. This has nothing to do with whether someone has figured out that if they write three crime thrillers a month using a standardized template with a junior high school vocabulary and sell a bazillion books. This has to do with quality of story, character, theme, and message, and resonating with your readers own emotions through those stories you allow your characters to live through.
I have been writing for over 25 years. Yes, I have had books get into the top ten on Amazon. My books get mostly 5 stars reviews, but neither of those have done all that much in the way of garnering lasting sales. My stories have been optioned and sold for movies, yet agents and managers still shy from me. I rank high in every writing contest I enter, and even win, but this hasn’t swayed my acceptance from the gatekeepers, both traditional or indie.
But none of that has swayed me from continuing to write. Why? Because my characters depend on me to tell their stories. It could be said that I have no choice in this matter. I am a conduit. I tell my writing student to allow themselves to be a conduit for the voices within them. Not to hold back or filter those inner voices. Once set free, they will continue to flow for the long haul, regardless of whether or not your writing can be monetized.
So, the basis is love. I love writing. I enjoy the whole process. Once you have tapped into that love, you too will write for long haul.