W is for Wanting it! #AtoZChallenge

Today’s post has been the trickiest one for me so far. Mainly because the letter W didn’t seem to like me. There were four or five posts I had in mind, and I tried to write three of them before this one finally came along.

If you are reading it, I guess I made it work.

I want to talk a little bit about writing today. Not writing as in grammar, or rules of the written word, but rather the life of an unknown writer in the current world.

The boom of self-publishing has passed, and people are now wary of the books they see being pushed in their faces. They are no longer buying books thinking they are getting something good. Everybody can publish now, and that means there is a lot of drivel out there for sale, and once they have been burned, readers become reticent to be caught again.

What that means is, for us writers that remain, those of us who take our craft seriously and approach the work the same way any true professional would, is that sales are harder to come by.

I know lots of writers in the horror and similar genres, who are struggling to get sales. They are seeing less returns than ever, they their books are just as strong, their effort just as professional.

I had this conversation with a fellow writer the other day, and we got onto this same topic. Both of us said the same thing.

Being a writer is tough, but we are entering another period of transition. The indie writing scene is cleaning itself up. Those that expected quick riches are falling away and those of us that truly want to succeed will be left standing, with room to breathe and to expand our platforms.

Times are hard, but this is not the period to quit. It is the time to push on because it is all a test. We are being tested, to make sure we are hungry enough. To make sure we really want it.

How badly do you want to succeed as a writer? If you are still holding on, still pushing forward, then the answer is clear.

We are all in this together. There is plenty of space for us all, and the best thing we can do is support each other.

Trying times will see the greatest reward be reaped. So keep your head held high, and when you come face to face with some fresh stumbling block, so eager to hold you back, to keep you down, just take a deep breath. Close your eyes and ask yourself, how bad do you want it?