We all struggle in this business. Some of us are just good at not showing it. But I also know now not to compare myself to the big guns, the NY Times Bestsellers, the authors with agents and publishing contracts, or how much they made last year, last week, yesterday. The only person I compare myself with is the me yesterday because THAT I can control. I've even stopped comparing myself to the me from 10 years ago, 7 years ago, or even last year because the landscape during those times were definitely nothing like it is now. Life is also too short for all that comparison when you could sit down and write the next book, focus on the story you want to tell and the readers--the readers who like your style of writing--will find you.
I'm also not traditionally published. I'm just a simple indie author, so the targets you've chosen to compare yourself with (NYT bestsellers, agented authors, Big 5 earnings) are not the same things I go for, certainly not for comparing myself - again life is too short and I can only have so much hypertension medication per day to deal with the added stress of things I cannot control. But what I can control are the stories I write, the networking I do with other indie authors like me, the community I strive to build as an indie author. Little things. Little ripples here and there because that's all I can handle. It's much simpler but that's one thing I learned after emerging form burnout. Life is just too dang short.
Great piece, Shelley. Comparison-itis is an easy trap to fall into, especially when you're a writer. And yes, I wish I'd started self-publishing in the gold rush years and built that massive email list! Still, I'm in the incredibly fortunate position of not having to work full-time, which means I can write every day.
Thank you so much for sharing your views on this topic! This is really what I was getting at here. Comparing isn’t helpful, and it’s best to pay attention to our own business/creativity/trajectory/goals/achievements. I only shared my personal struggles in hopes that others see I’m no perfect, that I have work to do, too.
And I don’t really want to be a NYTimes bestselling author. I DO want to be paid at least minimum wage for my words.
Shelley, you're absolutely right, the publishing industry has changed dramatically over the last few decades. since college in 1981 I had always wanted to write novels and in 2004 I finally took steps to start. I read a bookcase full of writing books, took classes, and started writing a novel. After 3 years I wrote about 30,000 words and life got in the way. In 2015 my life changed and I started writing seriously. I read another bookcase full of books, joined a writing studio, and started going to writers conferences. Fast forward to today. I'm finishing my third book, though nothing published yet. I'm working with an editor to put it in final shape and sometime next year I'll look for a small press I can contact directly. I tried to find a literary agent for my first book and after 60+ rejections over a couple of years, I started writing another book.
With all the changes in how books are published I also looked at self-publishing or Indie publishing. I figured out the people who make their living writing as Indie authors have a fundamental different attitude than most writers. For these authors, it's all about the business of writing. If authors can crank out 30+ books a year and approach everything they write from a monetary aspect, they can make a very good living. There's nothing wrong with this, though it's not me.
About 6 months ago I retired. I spent my career in manufacturing doing technical work and made a very comfortable living so switching careers to full time writing didn't make any financial sense. Now that I'm retired, I can devote my days to writing and I started a Substack newsletter in August. I write military political techno-thrillers and my newsletter is named Future Trends and Science Fiction. https://brucelanday.substack.com/p/book-banning
I've often joked that I have what every writer wants, a rich relative to support their writing. It's just that the rich relative is me. I don't expect to make any money with my writing. I'm focusing on writing the best books I can and connecting with readers. I don't think of myself as a "retired person" I think of myself and tell people I'm a writer.
Shelley, you may never make your living as a writer and that's OK. Enjoy writing and stay with it.
Thanks for reaching out and sharing your writing journey. It’s a brave new world out here since our Gen X beginnings, lol. I figure it’s been worth it, the writing, in experience alone but dang! I wish I’d tried to publish earlier…or I was able to write faster! Keep the faith!
We all struggle in this business. Some of us are just good at not showing it. But I also know now not to compare myself to the big guns, the NY Times Bestsellers, the authors with agents and publishing contracts, or how much they made last year, last week, yesterday. The only person I compare myself with is the me yesterday because THAT I can control. I've even stopped comparing myself to the me from 10 years ago, 7 years ago, or even last year because the landscape during those times were definitely nothing like it is now. Life is also too short for all that comparison when you could sit down and write the next book, focus on the story you want to tell and the readers--the readers who like your style of writing--will find you.
I'm also not traditionally published. I'm just a simple indie author, so the targets you've chosen to compare yourself with (NYT bestsellers, agented authors, Big 5 earnings) are not the same things I go for, certainly not for comparing myself - again life is too short and I can only have so much hypertension medication per day to deal with the added stress of things I cannot control. But what I can control are the stories I write, the networking I do with other indie authors like me, the community I strive to build as an indie author. Little things. Little ripples here and there because that's all I can handle. It's much simpler but that's one thing I learned after emerging form burnout. Life is just too dang short.
Great piece, Shelley. Comparison-itis is an easy trap to fall into, especially when you're a writer. And yes, I wish I'd started self-publishing in the gold rush years and built that massive email list! Still, I'm in the incredibly fortunate position of not having to work full-time, which means I can write every day.
Thank you so much, Emma, for reading and sharing your thoughts. Keep on writing!
Thank you. I am very lucky, too. And I’m giving up comparing.
Thank you so much for sharing your views on this topic! This is really what I was getting at here. Comparing isn’t helpful, and it’s best to pay attention to our own business/creativity/trajectory/goals/achievements. I only shared my personal struggles in hopes that others see I’m no perfect, that I have work to do, too.
And I don’t really want to be a NYTimes bestselling author. I DO want to be paid at least minimum wage for my words.
Shelley, you're absolutely right, the publishing industry has changed dramatically over the last few decades. since college in 1981 I had always wanted to write novels and in 2004 I finally took steps to start. I read a bookcase full of writing books, took classes, and started writing a novel. After 3 years I wrote about 30,000 words and life got in the way. In 2015 my life changed and I started writing seriously. I read another bookcase full of books, joined a writing studio, and started going to writers conferences. Fast forward to today. I'm finishing my third book, though nothing published yet. I'm working with an editor to put it in final shape and sometime next year I'll look for a small press I can contact directly. I tried to find a literary agent for my first book and after 60+ rejections over a couple of years, I started writing another book.
With all the changes in how books are published I also looked at self-publishing or Indie publishing. I figured out the people who make their living writing as Indie authors have a fundamental different attitude than most writers. For these authors, it's all about the business of writing. If authors can crank out 30+ books a year and approach everything they write from a monetary aspect, they can make a very good living. There's nothing wrong with this, though it's not me.
About 6 months ago I retired. I spent my career in manufacturing doing technical work and made a very comfortable living so switching careers to full time writing didn't make any financial sense. Now that I'm retired, I can devote my days to writing and I started a Substack newsletter in August. I write military political techno-thrillers and my newsletter is named Future Trends and Science Fiction. https://brucelanday.substack.com/p/book-banning
I've often joked that I have what every writer wants, a rich relative to support their writing. It's just that the rich relative is me. I don't expect to make any money with my writing. I'm focusing on writing the best books I can and connecting with readers. I don't think of myself as a "retired person" I think of myself and tell people I'm a writer.
Shelley, you may never make your living as a writer and that's OK. Enjoy writing and stay with it.
Thanks for reaching out and sharing your writing journey. It’s a brave new world out here since our Gen X beginnings, lol. I figure it’s been worth it, the writing, in experience alone but dang! I wish I’d tried to publish earlier…or I was able to write faster! Keep the faith!
There’s more ways to publish now than ever before. Keep writing and bring your books to the world.