5 March 2014

7 Myths About Being A Writer



Myth #1. Wait until that extra-special story idea comes into your head before you start to write.
If you wait for that special story idea, you may never write a thing.  Ideas for stories are all around you, it’s what you do with them that counts.
Myth #2. You’ll become rich and famous being a writer.
I guess there are writers who have become rich through their writing but they are in the minority.  Most of us have to keep our day job in order to pay the bills.  That doesn’t mean, however, that we can’t dream!  PS. You probably won’t become famous either.
Myth #3. Once your book is published it will sell hundreds, perhaps thousands of copies.
This can happen but not without constant attention to marketing.  Without that, your book is invisible to potential readers.
Myth #4. Writing gets easier.
It doesn’t matter how many books you write, it doesn’t get easier, although you may do it a little faster.  Each book you write is a new challenge and you go through the same doubts.  Am I wasting my time?  Is my plot any good?  Will readers like this story?  Will it be as good as my last book?  The list goes on.
Myth #5. Self publishing is easy.
Granted, it is fairly easy to upload a book for publication, but you can only do that after you have written the book, edited the book, polished the book, formatted the book, written the book’s blurb, found and employed a cover designer and developed a marketing strategy.  When you’ve done all that, you can start to publicize and, hopefully, procure reviews.  In closing, I don’t think that self publishing is easy, but it is satisfying.
Myth #6. It’s easy to find an agent/traditional publisher.
You can spend months if not years trying to find an agent let alone a publisher who will consent to read your manuscript.  In my experience, few publishers will read unsolicited manuscripts.  Of course, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t try if your wish is to be traditionally published.  I always think that being traditionally published first gives an author a window into the world of publishing.
Myth #7. Writing is a solitary activity.
It might have been once upon a time but nowadays with social media, emails, Skype, telephones etc., it seems like there are an awful lot of people in my study while I’m writing!

Do you still want to be a writer?

4 comments:

  1. Jill...all of these "myths" are so true...especially the one that once you write a book the next one is easier. You have so much experience writing you definitely know how difficult it can be. You also know how rewarding it is to finally hold the finished book in your hands admiring the cover knowing the time it took was well spent.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You must have felt the same way, Anna, when you finished your book, Confessions of a Crazy Fox. And let's face it, writing does keep the brain ticking over - sometimes throughout the night!.

      Delete
  2. There are many myths associated with being a writer. I would love to publish a book some day, but work on the basis, each and every story has potential and one day believe I will create a short story with the potential of being expanded into a book.

    One of the advantages of writing, as one gets older the brain cells are supposed to deteriorate so I am enhancing the brain all the time.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for commenting, Roger.

      Yes, I imagine that as one gets older, writing might help to keep the "little grey cells" alive and kicking. One would hope, anyway.

      Good luck with your short story writing.

      Delete