Well, Joyce, this 65 year old man is standing right beside you. Life gives us a shit-kicking and we keep on ticking. You've been way more successful that I have...but that's on me. I may have screwed around a bit in my 20's, and then worked to help raise a family, gone through strikes, and a fire, and all that other shit that comes along, but never gave up writing. And they say I haven't worked hard enough? I've been writing for 50 years. I don't know, I think I may have actually learned a few things along the way.
The idea that if you work hard enough you’ll earn a just reward is one of the worst perpetrated by modern American culture (maybe elsewhere too). It starts in school, when you are told that if you get good grades you’ll get into a good college - but I’ve learned as a parent and as a university employee that admissions is effectively a giant lottery for most high school grads. The same is true for any career path you want to embark on - just ask every content creator out there. Hustle only gets you so far. Everything else is a matter of luck. The only way to survive that truth is to focus on why you want to do the thing in the first place, whatever the thing may be. If we love spending your time on it, our so little precious time, then it’s with keeping at, regardless of what happens after
Yup yup. And as someone who has been traditionally published... bad luck can also happen. My editor left, the other one I knew at the house died... It was more than that, of course, because I was also struggling to be the next brightest idea instead of being me and my writing. Which is what I am doing here. For free.
Nods. I've had this happen with friends--not just editors but agents as well. Or people with a multi-book series contract that gets cancelled three books into a five book contract. And variants thereof.
What you said. EXACTLY! And this 54 year old writer agrees that if one puts family above their writing, a career in fiction is even harder to chase, let alone capture.
I think there is a little more hope for older authors now, both of fiction and non-fiction. The self-publishing route seems friendlier now to older authors with skill than it used to be. There is an author who was published just this past month at 96 years old that comes to mind. Kickstarter opens doors that were never open to us before. It's often more challenging than ever, but the lure of being able to thumb our collective noses at those who said we couldn't do this is strong, too.
Goodness gracious I needed this, what an affirmation and a relief. I see a lot of my own life trajectory in yours (altho I haven't gotten quite so far in mine yet!), and I relate so much to the frustrating almosts of writing with ADHD. Thanks for this piece!
I'm just 6+ months into this Joyce and productivity, umh, for me, not so much! I'm more trying to follow my own rhythm. I have a day job where I check boxes in a timely way, but how I interact goes much farther.
You have already worked harder at life, with real people, having real challenges, so I feel you write from relevancy, which is your voice.
Thank you! Oh, you are in exciting days. Once you find your rhythm the productivity will happen. When I was teaching special education full-time, with a one way 40 mile commute, I used to get up at 4:30 to write a few words before work. Eventually, that changed, but those years laid the foundation for later productivity. It will come. Don't be too hard on yourself because it will happen.
Trust me, I am not too hard on myself! 😅 I appreciate connection and resonating with others. I saw in another post you had spent some time at Northwest Bible College. I too was at nondenominational Bible College in the Northeast, back in the day! It certainly adds perspective.
I’m very new here, in Substack, but not to writing or social media. I’m still getting my bearings in this particular place and figuring out how I want to interact with it, if I even want to start a Substack. I don’t think people are saying those with smaller accounts are amateurs. I think they are saying that some of them are less experienced and have not been writing as long and that is a factor. As a part time editor, I work with a lot of people who write for a year or two and wonder why they’re not making it pay, one way or another. I think the message is, don’t expect instant success, lots of followers, unless you have put in the time to develop your voice. As you know, as your essay supports, becoming a writer takes time, takes a long apprenticeship. The people who are successful here, who may have been recruited, put in the time long before that happened. And yes, some of it is timing, as you point out. But they are able to take advantage of the timing because of the years they put in simply because they write because they have to, as all of us here who are writers, do. Jeanine Ouellette’s recent essays on her Writing in the Dark Substack explains this really well. The bottom line I have learned, after a long career with varying amounts of success but very little money is to do the writing, for myself first, and then for others, because its who I am and what I need to do.
I didn't even bother to try. I write for a niche. I am no where close to mainstream. So much of publishing is fitting into the middle. Being a voice that is slightly above average so you can bring in the most money. It's not about being good. It's about serving the middle.
There's no explanation for what the general public decides what it does and doesn't like. But everyone has their own tastes. However, the rise of Kindle Unlimited--which is primarily an indie domain--points to a desire for something other than what gatekeepers are buying for the Big Five publishers.
This is very educational as well as honest...it comes through in your writing. I find it a bit disheartening that you've been through the rigmarole of the publishing world, without much to show for it. But, somehow you leave me feeling inspired. Please keep sharing and if there is some way to support you further, let me know.
You also leave me feeling grateful for this space and for the people I have found on this platform over the last week. I wrote a piece on my feelings about dealing with that particular author. It's not all about writing, but I would love it if you could give it a read. I honestly look up to writers who have been doing it for as long as you have. Also, thanks for your time as an educator. I hope one day to find my way into the profession as well. But, I've got to take better care of myself first, before I feel confident enough to teach.
Thank you, Peter. I appreciate your feedback and I don't know if you realize how positive it makes me feel! Thank you once again.
I didn't start teaching until my late 40s and that was probably a good time for me to do it.
I suspect my publishing experience is more common than the stellar successes out there. But I console myself that I didn't spend $9k to make $10k, like I know that some are doing. I suspect the issue is that my work tends to run rather niche, with a mashup of speculative fiction, western settings, and sometimes relationships.
The best way to support me is to buy my books. I should get around to setting up a Kofi or something like that, but am skittish about too much exposure of my banking data (yeah, old and paranoid). This link is to my Amazon Central page; the works there are also available on Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Apple, and Smashwords. https://www.amazon.com/stores/Joyce-Reynolds-Ward/author/B00HIP821Y
Let me know where I can read that piece, and take care of yourself!
Awesome, and you are very welcome! You said what I couldn't quite say, probably because I don't have the experience you have. But I believe that we all have valued experiences worth sharing.
I will probably peruse your stack first, but I'll definitely buy a book too! I'm excited!
Thanks again, Peter. I feel because I do have this level of experience that it behooves me to pay it forward and help others. And that does not include exhortations to "work harder." Sometimes good things take time, and that's just the way things are.
Well...any of the Martiniere books. Maybe _The Heritage of Michael Martiniere_, or _The Enduring Legacy_. Even though it's the fourth book in the series, it's functionally a standalone.
Well, Joyce, this 65 year old man is standing right beside you. Life gives us a shit-kicking and we keep on ticking. You've been way more successful that I have...but that's on me. I may have screwed around a bit in my 20's, and then worked to help raise a family, gone through strikes, and a fire, and all that other shit that comes along, but never gave up writing. And they say I haven't worked hard enough? I've been writing for 50 years. I don't know, I think I may have actually learned a few things along the way.
Eh, we have to stand together!
The idea that if you work hard enough you’ll earn a just reward is one of the worst perpetrated by modern American culture (maybe elsewhere too). It starts in school, when you are told that if you get good grades you’ll get into a good college - but I’ve learned as a parent and as a university employee that admissions is effectively a giant lottery for most high school grads. The same is true for any career path you want to embark on - just ask every content creator out there. Hustle only gets you so far. Everything else is a matter of luck. The only way to survive that truth is to focus on why you want to do the thing in the first place, whatever the thing may be. If we love spending your time on it, our so little precious time, then it’s with keeping at, regardless of what happens after
Yup yup. And as someone who has been traditionally published... bad luck can also happen. My editor left, the other one I knew at the house died... It was more than that, of course, because I was also struggling to be the next brightest idea instead of being me and my writing. Which is what I am doing here. For free.
Nods. I've had this happen with friends--not just editors but agents as well. Or people with a multi-book series contract that gets cancelled three books into a five book contract. And variants thereof.
What you said. EXACTLY! And this 54 year old writer agrees that if one puts family above their writing, a career in fiction is even harder to chase, let alone capture.
Yes. I didn't have much of a choice because my spouse was working 60-70 hours a week. And now...well, energy level is a factor. Plus ageism.
I think there is a little more hope for older authors now, both of fiction and non-fiction. The self-publishing route seems friendlier now to older authors with skill than it used to be. There is an author who was published just this past month at 96 years old that comes to mind. Kickstarter opens doors that were never open to us before. It's often more challenging than ever, but the lure of being able to thumb our collective noses at those who said we couldn't do this is strong, too.
Goodness gracious I needed this, what an affirmation and a relief. I see a lot of my own life trajectory in yours (altho I haven't gotten quite so far in mine yet!), and I relate so much to the frustrating almosts of writing with ADHD. Thanks for this piece!
You're welcome!
I'm just 6+ months into this Joyce and productivity, umh, for me, not so much! I'm more trying to follow my own rhythm. I have a day job where I check boxes in a timely way, but how I interact goes much farther.
You have already worked harder at life, with real people, having real challenges, so I feel you write from relevancy, which is your voice.
Thank you! Oh, you are in exciting days. Once you find your rhythm the productivity will happen. When I was teaching special education full-time, with a one way 40 mile commute, I used to get up at 4:30 to write a few words before work. Eventually, that changed, but those years laid the foundation for later productivity. It will come. Don't be too hard on yourself because it will happen.
Trust me, I am not too hard on myself! 😅 I appreciate connection and resonating with others. I saw in another post you had spent some time at Northwest Bible College. I too was at nondenominational Bible College in the Northeast, back in the day! It certainly adds perspective.
I’m very new here, in Substack, but not to writing or social media. I’m still getting my bearings in this particular place and figuring out how I want to interact with it, if I even want to start a Substack. I don’t think people are saying those with smaller accounts are amateurs. I think they are saying that some of them are less experienced and have not been writing as long and that is a factor. As a part time editor, I work with a lot of people who write for a year or two and wonder why they’re not making it pay, one way or another. I think the message is, don’t expect instant success, lots of followers, unless you have put in the time to develop your voice. As you know, as your essay supports, becoming a writer takes time, takes a long apprenticeship. The people who are successful here, who may have been recruited, put in the time long before that happened. And yes, some of it is timing, as you point out. But they are able to take advantage of the timing because of the years they put in simply because they write because they have to, as all of us here who are writers, do. Jeanine Ouellette’s recent essays on her Writing in the Dark Substack explains this really well. The bottom line I have learned, after a long career with varying amounts of success but very little money is to do the writing, for myself first, and then for others, because its who I am and what I need to do.
I didn't even bother to try. I write for a niche. I am no where close to mainstream. So much of publishing is fitting into the middle. Being a voice that is slightly above average so you can bring in the most money. It's not about being good. It's about serving the middle.
The case against hard work is the trash books that become bestsellers while good books go in the bin.
There's no explanation for what the general public decides what it does and doesn't like. But everyone has their own tastes. However, the rise of Kindle Unlimited--which is primarily an indie domain--points to a desire for something other than what gatekeepers are buying for the Big Five publishers.
true
This is very educational as well as honest...it comes through in your writing. I find it a bit disheartening that you've been through the rigmarole of the publishing world, without much to show for it. But, somehow you leave me feeling inspired. Please keep sharing and if there is some way to support you further, let me know.
You also leave me feeling grateful for this space and for the people I have found on this platform over the last week. I wrote a piece on my feelings about dealing with that particular author. It's not all about writing, but I would love it if you could give it a read. I honestly look up to writers who have been doing it for as long as you have. Also, thanks for your time as an educator. I hope one day to find my way into the profession as well. But, I've got to take better care of myself first, before I feel confident enough to teach.
Thank you, Peter. I appreciate your feedback and I don't know if you realize how positive it makes me feel! Thank you once again.
I didn't start teaching until my late 40s and that was probably a good time for me to do it.
I suspect my publishing experience is more common than the stellar successes out there. But I console myself that I didn't spend $9k to make $10k, like I know that some are doing. I suspect the issue is that my work tends to run rather niche, with a mashup of speculative fiction, western settings, and sometimes relationships.
The best way to support me is to buy my books. I should get around to setting up a Kofi or something like that, but am skittish about too much exposure of my banking data (yeah, old and paranoid). This link is to my Amazon Central page; the works there are also available on Barnes and Noble, Kobo, Apple, and Smashwords. https://www.amazon.com/stores/Joyce-Reynolds-Ward/author/B00HIP821Y
Let me know where I can read that piece, and take care of yourself!
Awesome, and you are very welcome! You said what I couldn't quite say, probably because I don't have the experience you have. But I believe that we all have valued experiences worth sharing.
I will probably peruse your stack first, but I'll definitely buy a book too! I'm excited!
Thanks again, Peter. I feel because I do have this level of experience that it behooves me to pay it forward and help others. And that does not include exhortations to "work harder." Sometimes good things take time, and that's just the way things are.
Here's the piece I wrote. It's a bit long, so no rush. And just a warning, it's a bit of sports writing/personal essay/something lol.
https://open.substack.com/pub/petersmetanick/p/becoming-number-one?r=2gkmxh&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
It's a nice segue from sports to writing. You did it well.
Thanks for reading and for the feedback! Do you have a favorite book of yours that you could recommend purchasing?
and thank you!
Well...any of the Martiniere books. Maybe _The Heritage of Michael Martiniere_, or _The Enduring Legacy_. Even though it's the fourth book in the series, it's functionally a standalone.