Dark side of writing

[Michael Davis]

I was recently giving some advise to a new comer author. One thing I tried to do was highlight the dark side of being a published author, for example:

- Tons of rejection letters you need to put under your belt

- Worry that the next book reviewed will be as good as the last

- Hours taken away from other life pleasures.

You guys/girls got any to add?

Michael Davis
Davisstories.com

[Author101]

Yea Michael, lots more, but I'm afraid the page will run out!
Authorship is awesome! But comes with a price. Writing and publishing a book may seem like a difficult task--and it is. But the real work (and sometimes heartbreak) comes when it's finished. With nearly 300,000 new titles released each year in the U.S. alone, there's far too much competition for the average Joe to sell his work. Authors who dream of being a "best seller," are sometimes very disapointed at the handful of books they're able to sell.

Writers! BEFORE YOU WRITE AND PUBLISH A BOOK, make sure there is really an audience who would want to read it! Don't fool yourself into thinking YOUR story, and YOUR book will be any different than the other 300,000 out there this year. You must have a niche and you must be willing to work VERY HARD to sell your books. Truth be told, books sell "just one at a time."

Enjoy your writing, but beware of the competative literary world beyond just being creative!

Carol Denbow
Author 101
author of "A Book Inside, How to Write, Publish, and Sell Your Story"
http://www.AuthorsBox.com

[Michael Davis]

Good points Carol. I once read that only 1 out of 4500 wanta bee authors ever get their story released by a publisher and that at any period there are 6 million manuscripts circulating in the "submission world. That's a ton of rejection. Lord knows I had my share for two years before my first novel was accepted.

[Alexey Braguine]

Last week, my novel Kingmaker zoomed up on the Amazon ratings for two days straight. Unfortunatelly I have no idea what caused this. Being a published author is a frustrating existence.

[Sarah Collins Honenberger]

I'd add, never being satisfied with what you have. When I first started writing fiction, I always wanted to see my stories in print. Once that happened, then I wanted to win contests. After the first two wins, I wanted a book contract. With a two book deal signed, I wanted the first book to make a splash. Etc, etc. It's a human disease, to forever want something you don't yet have.

[Michael Davis]

I agree Sarah. When I got my first 5 star review, I was concerned that would be it. After six five star reviews and publisher best seller, I was scared to death I could never do it again with my next novel. When the second book did the same I kept sensing this shadow hovering over me waiting for the loser. It causes nightmares that the next one will be the loser. Its got to happen. Can't go on forever, but you fear and know it will.

Big Mike
Davisstories.com

Sarah Collins Honenberger said:

I'd add, never being satisfied with what you have. When I first started writing fiction, I always wanted to see my stories in print. Once that happened, then I wanted to win contests. After the first two wins, I wanted a book contract. With a two book deal signed, I wanted the first book to make a splash. Etc, etc. It's a human disease, to forever want something you don't yet have.

[Barbara Passaris]

Yes, here's one: When someone has decided that they hate your book--even though they wouldn't read much of it--complaining or lying about what you have written--and they try to malign you on the internet--despite the fact that many others have loved your work. It seems that there are some folks who give it their all to try to ruin another person. To me, it seems personal, and perhaps they don't mean it that way. BUt when you write, your work is like your child, and it does hurt. I contacted one very famous favorite author about this very subject. She told me that reviews are best read after one has had a stiff drink...

For me, and I know that many famous writers experience this, too--it's hard to read all the great reviews when there seems to be an unfavorable one sticking out like a sore thumb. And I have to remember that a blog is NOT the same as a review, but it can have the same effect.

ANd I'll add this one thing: Making time to write can be hard when one has to work to get paid....to me, that's a "dark side" of writing, because I'd rather write than have to go to a regular job each day...

Here's one more: When your dark characters seem to overtake your life while you are writing them....hmmm....

Barbara Passaris.

[Sarah Collins Honenberger]

Awkwardness at having to tell self-published authors with books that need editing and re-writing that I don't want to trade my book for theirs. Although I like to encourage other authors, I've worked too hard for too long to polish my writing to be able to trade my carefully edited novels for badly written, unedited memoirs or romance novels. I wish no one would ask me to trade books. It's not fair to ask an author who's worked hard for years to trade for a book that someone dashed off and sent off to POD without editing. If you are an avid reader, you know when your book is not the same caliber as other authors. Don't ask to trade, please. Would you take your McDonald's burger and ask the Chart House to trade for their filet mignon meal. No, they've paid a chef to work at the spices, they have expensive equipment, nice atmosphere. It's insulting.