This is my busy time of year. Yeah, I’ve been off kilter this year but I’ve had some personal complications that have sapped my ability to stay up on everything. Funny how some life events, even when they directly hit you, they don’t always just go away after you initially deal with them. They hang on in subtle ways you’re not aware of even months after and keep hanging on.
Such is life, I’m afraid, and chances are, most of you have had some of your own similar things to deal with.
However, that all leads me to my thoughts on how you tackle this writing game, especially if you’re an Indie or self-published author (and from what I’ve heard tell, even those authors with larger publishing houses behind them are getting more of the marketing game heaped upon them).
Anyone trying to get their name out there knows all about this, but it’s a ton of work. Writing is only a piece of it, and sadly other things keep trying to carve time out of your writing space. It can be frustrating and exhausting, and wear on you. I’ve been there this year for sure.
So what’s the secret? Is there even a secret to surviving and getting somewhere?
I think there’s two actually. One, you have to write for you. You can’t bend your stories around the trends or try to write for the publishing houses because that’s not what gives you the good feels at the end of a writing session. Writing is about creating and you’re most invested and write your best when you’re tapping out a story that really means something to you. That’s what gives you that zeal to set down at the keyboard each day (night in my case). If you’re not emotionally involved in your stories, what do you think the odds are you’re going to create your best story?
Write what makes your soul sing. Work on the stories that make you cry, rage, laugh and soar. They may not be trendy at the moment but it’s where your best tales will show up. And remember the golden rule of publishing: trends are always changing 😉
Maybe your book won’t resonate now, but in two years… 😉
#2 I’ve said this before but it’s true. You don’t give up. Ever. Period.
You write because something inside you somewhere has something to say. About life, people, the world and it’s the reason you started creating stories. Just because you’re not on top right now, or maybe had one book sale in the last month is not a reason to quit.
With each story you type “The End” on, your writing gets better. Each day you get new experiences which gives you even better ideas. Each time you start a new story, it’s that opportunity to knock one out of the park. Which is why you don’t give up because there’s a lot more going on you’re not aware of and chances are, things hit when you A–least expect it, and B–happen in ways you didn’t ever expect.
So even when you’ve had it, even when you’re sitting there grinding your teeth because you’re convinced you’ll never get anywhere, take a breath and start on the next story. Ignore the impostor syndrome and get typing. Deal with as much marketing and advertising as you can take and keep going. File away the rejections and submit again.
There’s a Samwise Gamgee quote in LOTR that I still remember, as he and Frodo were on their way to Mordor. It rings true of all our quests in life, so I’ll cut/paste it here:
“Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back only they didn’t. They kept going because they were holding on to something.”
He’s right. During all of it, you’ve got opportunities to quit writing every day, and reasons galore. But to hell with that. You were meant to be a writer, so ignore the nonsense.
Just keep going.
You got this.
Craig