You are an author. What is the hardest part of being one? Is it sitting down to write? How about finding an agent? There are so many aspects out there about being an author that you can pick a number of things and say "that is the hardest part." For example, some of you may say finding time to write is the hardest part or even finding a topic to write about is the hardest part. I agree that these, like many, are difficult obstacles to overcome.
In my opinion, the hardest part in an author's life is not necessarily something that occurs during the writing process. Perhaps the hardest part of living the author's life happens after the writing is done and the book is being published.
What are you talking about? Once you have your book complete and it is being published the hard stuff is over. Wait a minute. You must be talking about promoting and marketing. Now that is really the hardest part. Is it really? Are these two enough to cause you so much tension and stress you will want to stop writing? Granted, these two are major obstacles to conquer without a doubt. However, I am thinking of a different answer.
In my opinion the hardest part of the author's life is very close to any other life. The hardest part is small and silent but equally devastating. I think having patience is the hardest part.
Writing a book can take a long time. Authors can work on their books for years before they see the light of day. The publishing company is not exactly in the fast lane either. After working on your book for an eternity, it just feels that way, you get to wait another six months to a year before it is published. This waiting is bearable though because at the end you first have a finished manuscript in your hands and then have a published hard back book to hold.
Where your patience is truly tested is after your book hits the bookstores and/or it is announced for sale on the Internet. Why? Let's look at an example. You have a newly published book on the market, you have a blog and website that you advertise on and you are promoting your book hard. You have collected positive book reviews and planned book signings. Everything is going well until you check the numbers and your total sales are very low. You have worked so hard for years only to sale ten books. This will test not only your patience but also your desire to be a writer.
My friend has recently experienced this. That is why I am writing about it. At times like this it is important to remember why you are a writer to begin with. We all have a reason for writing. I am confident that making money is not the number one reason for most of us. We write because we want to; we need to. It is a passion within us that will not go away until it is completed on paper. It is also very important to have friends in the writing world to lean on during these times. Those friends will be quicker to point out why you write then you will be to remember it.
We need to be aware that there are more challenges in this business then finding an agent and getting published. There are challenges that we will face which will test us in different ways. The good news is that we have a community to lean on for support. We each have a need to write that will not be denied by any impatience on our part.
Now, hold your head high and have fun writing. What is the hardest part of the author's life in your opinion?
9 comments:
Well said!
Just before my book came out last year, a good author friend told me "Your integrity will be tested in ways you cannot yet imagine." And now, I know what she meant.
Thank you Karen. From what I have been told by others your friend's words are very true.
The weird thing is...I can't wait to experience it myself because that means my book is published.
I have to agree that patience is hard... so far for me it's just shorts, but man, the wait sometimes kills me! I bet novels are worse, though... but hey, I don't blame you for wanting to experience it, Brian. I do too. ;)
Still. I think one of the hardest things (becuase this changes with my fickle mood) for me self-discipline... I'm good at writing all over the place but suck at the whole 'focus on getting a novel polished' aspect. ;) I blame my short attention span. Oh, look, glittery zombies!
~Merc
Merc - self discipline is a really good one to. It goes hand in hand with patience. Keep at it though. It will be a great feeling when you have that book completed and ready to move to the next stage.
Thanks, Brian. Yup, I'm sure it'll be a wonderful feeling--sorta like finishing a novel draft... except I'll probably hate it more for having worked on it so long. O:)
Brian, another great post. Patience is the one area where I am tested most in all walks of life. Patience when it comes to writing though is different. It is a slow process.
Waiting in a queue you know the end is not that far away, you can often see the finish line, with writing the finish line, if it exists is often so far in the future you have to ignore it. This actually helps me I think. What will be will be.
To beat the patience issue I have one simple tool, I write! Nothing will ever get me to the point of wanting to stop. It is in my blood as much as salt water is in a sailors blood. It cannot be ignored or walked away from.
Merc - I will be very interested in your thoughts when your first book is published. Will you be excited? Will you hate the book because you worked on it so long? We will wait and see.
Bernard - I like how you handle the patience issue. What I like most is the passion you have for writing. The last part of your comment is proof of that.
The hardest part is being dyslexic
Martin - You just took this article to a whole new level. Yes, that would be by far one of the most difficult obstacles to overcome. Fortunately for people who are dyslexic they learn to be very patient which is a good thing. Thank you for your comment.
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