To Write or Not To Write?

To write or not to write, that is the question. 

My answer is write if it feeds your soul. We all choose how to spend our time between activities of daily living, jobs, and family demands. Some people love video games, music, art, crafts, boating, rafting, flying planes, reading books, or travel.

Writing is solitary and is more aligned with introversion but holds allure for some extroverts. Extroverts are often thrilled to do the networking and promotion once the book is finished.

I would not encourage anyone to quit their day job, at least not initially. There are success stories in writing just as there are superstars in film and sports. Alas, high income is not the lot of most writers, particularly in the current climate where readers want free entertainment. There are writers who know how to game the current system. For instance the erotica market is flooded with barely patched together novellas that sell like hotcakes. I'm not disparaging those authors. They figured out how to play the game and get rewarded financially for it. They earn their money. But for the most part, writing does not pay well. Even in the golden age of traditional publishing, most books never earned back their advances and I've read that most books rarely sold over 400 copies.

With so many self-publishing options, writers no longer have to wait for the golden ticket. They can, with a lot of hard work, build a following and make a little money along the way. They might even strike the mother lode and make a killing. Christopher Paolini and Amanda Hocking managed to do so.

As with any offering to the public you have to be prepared for trolls and critics. You need a thick skin. That is why I highly advise having a tribe. Having people who share your dream and support your goals is priceless.

My advice is to write to feed your soul, because you are driven by love of story, not because you are in a bind and need immediate cash. If success follows, that is a bonus.

For Love or Money?

Books Saved Me

Why Do I Write?

Should You Write A Book

The 3 C's of Successful Authors

Ten Ways Writing is Like Painting

Publishing's Dirty Little Secret

Trolls and the NYT Best Seller List

Offensive Books and the Bully Pulpit

Overcoming Writer's Block

Gifts For Writers