Posted on January 27, 2013, I still don’t know about the question I wanted to ask after this post. The one I would ask now is: Has anyone else had an encounter similar to the one I described? One with a more experienced artist who seemed to suggest that you not even try. Though, part of me thinks the author from long ago had a point.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the support that writers get when they are trying to ply their trade. I’m not talking about agents and publishers, but the people who are there to hold them up. I remember hearing a story about Stephen King’s wife pulling his first draft of ‘Carrie’ out of the trash, which I guess has become my gold standard of author cheerleader. This is an endearing story, but I wonder if it’s common.
My fear of not being supporting comes from a specific encounter. I met another fantasy author a long time ago. This author was brought into a workshop to talk about publishing and I guess to talk to the lone fantasy author in the room. That would be me. He self-published and made his own cover. I really don’t want to talk bad about somebody, but it was not a positive encounter. He was a nice guy and was happy to talk shop with another fantasy author. Yet, he said he had to trade a copy of his book for a tank of gas, lived off a box of donuts a week, and he hinted that his wife left him. I couldn’t tell if he was brought in to make me feel good about my choice or to be a cautionary tale. I was a lot younger and much easy to rattle back then. I’m finally starting to shake that fear and build up enough ambition and determination to push forward with the dream.
This is really a difficult thing to write about, but I want to get it off my chest. For a long time, I felt like people were making me feel guilty about wanting to pursue my writing. It meant I would be a ‘burden’ on my family and there was no guarantee of success. Today, I’m paranoid about how many of my supporters will actually buy my books when I start putting them out. It’s the big fear that I’ve been fighting these last couple of months. I’m well aware that I won’t succeed if the people around me refuse to support me by buying my books, reviewing my books, and spreading the word. A reader recommendation holds more power than an author telling people to buy his book. I’ve done this road twice before with self-publishing and both times ended in utter defeat.
I wanted to end this with a question, but I have no idea what to ask. This is really becoming more of a soul-bearing, revealing my current fear post, which I’ve come to learn is a dangerous type of post to make. So, I guess I’ll just end it here.
Legends of Windemere 
That’s a tough one. I don’t understand why writing as a profession is something some people don’t think is deserving of support but they’ll spend double digit amounts supporting their favorite coffee shop every week. (Not knocking this. Just thinking this through.)
People look at a Rowling, King, or some other famous author as if they came out of the gate famous, when they didn’t. As if people can understand why they are deserving of the support they, in reality, didn’t always have. I’ve had people tell me that my writing major was useless in comparison with theirs and that writing was a waste of time. Meanwhile they enjoy the fruit of someone else’s writing through the shows they watch or the books they read.
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Very well said. I’m always baffled by how people don’t realize the entertainment they use to relax came from some writing. Maybe it’s because we write that we understand.
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I think you are correct with your last sentence, Charles. People have no idea how long it takes to bring a book to fruition. Nor that it’s not only the actual writing (first draft only, because they don’t know about editing, re-writing, sending it to critique groups and beta readers, cover design etc.)
Then they expect to buy your book for peanuts, and can’t be bothered to write even one sentence as a review.
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Peanuts or free. The amount of times I’ve been asking for a free book is more than times I’ve actually sold a book.
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L. Marie is quite right when she mentions famous authors that were far from famous when they first published. Rowling has tried other genres and finally hit a home run again with the CB Strike mysteries. So even famous writers don’t always hit a home run the second time around.
I will offer you the words of my grandson, ‘Be Brave!” He tells me that a lot!
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I think there are many authors who don’t leave their original genres. Seems to be the norm.
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So far, I’ve taken a different path twice. Two historical novels and a romance in the works. It’s a fun break from the mysteries.
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It is a tough road, Charles. That guy you met so many years ago was telling it like it was and unfortunately is. I wish there was a magic solution to indie book sales. Tons of money would do it but who has that?
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Money is key. Might explain why so many rich people ‘write’ and publish books with ease.
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Makes me ill.
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The comments are wonderful along with the post. It is kind of a thankless task. Maybe it always was. I no longer have money to throw at promo, so I’m doing it for myself these days. I can still learn and hone my skills.
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Thankless task is a good description. Can be fairly soul-crushing at times.
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That, and ghost-writers!
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This was in reply to John’s comment about rich people.
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One good thing about not having money to spend on promotions etc. is that I can’t get caught by scams. If anyone asks for money, it’s always ‘No.’
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That is a silver lining.
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Different genres are different. When I was working with SCBWI (children’s writers) there was a lot of emphasis on encouragement and urging the hopeful writers to keep learning and growing.
But when I was at SF conventions, critiquing for writer’s workshops and such, the attitude is much more what you describe. The odds against them, and how hard the road will be.
At one particular convention and I was one of the authors doing critiques. Before we broke into smaller groups, the writers got to address the whole workshop. I gave a very SCBWI statement, how brave they were to show their work and how I hoped they would learn from the workshop. But the person right after me practically grabbed the mike and said (without directly saying) how all that was WRONG. And emphasized the hard road and the odds.
I was glad I got to speak first, because after that harshness I don’t think the workshoppers would have been able to hear my message at all. To this day, I still don’t like that author and I wonder if they thought their purpose was to discourage any potential competitors from flourishing.
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Don’t blame you. That author sounds bitter and out to damage the hopes of others. If things didn’t work out, just quit and don’t force others to do so.
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