- Chuck Wendig's "25 Hard Truths About Writing And Publishing" - If you don't follow Chuck's blog, Terrible Minds, be warned that his posts are heavy on profanity.
- Patrick Wensink's "My Amazon bestseller made me nothing." - Depressing, but worth a read.
- Alison Flood's "Stop the press: half of self-published authors earn less than $500." - Again, not the cheeriest article, but today's theme is ugly truths.
Have you faced any "ugly" truths since you started writing?
41 comments:
I guess I was fortunate I didn't have high expectations.
We hear all the success stories, but sometimes we forget publishing has a dark side, too. A dark side that the majority of authors have to deal with. Most unpublished writers don't know about it unless they know someone who is published and willing to spill all. And it doesn't matter if your self published or traditionally published, it all has a dark side. :(
Wendig is a lot of fun. Ugly truth: this is going to take a lot longer than I thought/hoped.
Wow, that's some interesting reading. I'm just glad I'm not in this for the money. If books sales pay for my conferences and such, I'm good. Anything else would be frosting on the cake.
Ugly truths are good to be aware of. Writing and publishing is full of them. And yet we do it anyway! Good for the dreamers.
It's better to know the truth than it is not to. Publishing is a business, so it's not all pat on the back, there-there, you're a great writer, therefore, you will sell books. Glad there are realists out there to give writers those facts.
Again, thanks for the links, Carrie.
I don't like truths, but it is always in my best interest to accept them. Thanks for the links! (The second one is really depressing!)
Wow, just wow!
Yes! Publishing is NOT all its cracked up to be. But still, I love to write and I love to share what I write.
Long ago I realized I needed to have someone edit my stuff because I'm no editor (but I can do it to a point). Recently I realized that a novella (not from the Sacrifice Series) I was writing was more a romance with sci-fi elements book than sci-fi with slight romantic elements and I have to do it over. But I believe it will be worth it in the end. Thanks for the links.
I didn't realize how long the path to publication can be, nor that the historical saga isn't as popular as it was in past decades. I also didn't realize that many powers that be frown on an unpublished writer deliberately planning and writing an entire series or family saga, as opposed to just one book.
While I think Chuck has some excellent advice, I just can't get past his "Jay and Silent Bob" approach to writing. Just not my cup of tea.
Carrie. You just haaaad to burst our little bubbles, didn't you?
:P
So many UGLY truths...
I was so naive four years ago when I banged out my first novel. Too many words, too little knowledge.
Like Carrie, I didn't realize it so long for publication. Also that perfection is expected in EVERYTHING from your first to last sentence and also in querying process. Another shock was THE HUGE AMOUNT of talented writers who are on the same journey as you. NOT TO MENTION the ones who are already published. It makes a writer jump into his laptop and never come out....
Indeed! It's kind of like that saying: "Hope for the best and prepare for the worst." ;)
Exactly. But if it weren't for the dark, we wouldn't truly appreciate the light. :)
(That was my best attempt at optimism. LOL)
Wendig certainly isn't afraid to tell it like it is, even when what it is that he has to tell is not such great news. Depressing as stories like these may be, they are important for writers to hear. It's important to know the good and the bad that goes on in writing and publishing, not to encourage anyone to give up, but to keep expectations realistic.
Ouch. This is why I keep my hopes high and expectations low. (I'm kind of annoying like that, I guess).
What can we do but carry on?
You did well.
Ha! I just noticed this after posting that almost verbatim below.
Ah, yes. I think this process takes a lot longer than most people expect.
Given my financial situation, getting anything will be a pleasant surprise. LOL
You know me. I'm a killer of dreams. :P
You know what they say about great minds, David. ;)
Those masochistic creative types... ;)
Me too. I'd rather be prepared. :)
No problem, Lee!
Isn't that always the case? *Sigh* Anytime, Elizabeth!
Wow, indeed!
Amen to that! :)
Those revelations are never fun, but they're almost always for the best. Good luck, Sheena-kay! :)
Ah, yes. The sounds like the time (2011) I incorrectly assumed the world was ready for college-aged fiction...
Yeah, it's definitely not for everyone.
Oh my goodness, yes. I didn't realize the weight queries and first chapters hold. Talk about pressure!
Exactly, David!
Absolutely. They're things we really need to hear and accept.
This is where being a realist - not really a pessimist - comes in handy. Going into this industry with "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" dreams is cute, but there's an ugly truth that can undercut someone going into it with eyes wide shut.
Yes, it takes FOREVER do to anything. At least a decade to get a publisher. Still no agent (yet), from hearing back on queries to going from contract to release date.
Love the comments you're getting, Carrie. It's wonderful to see such diversity. I'm checking all these and yesterday's out too.
Well said, Angela! :)
It certainly does. Thankfully, that gives us plenty of time to get to know each other during the journey. Writer support is the best. :)
Me too! Everyone has such wonderful insights to share. :)
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