Writing Is Not the Lottery

 Once again, I'm struck by how many writers view their art as playing the lottery. If their books doesn't sell X copies or Y dollars, it's an utter failure is their eyes.

Or they complain that they wrote their books by a popular trope and are shocked when it isn't as popular as the other books that adhere to that top-selling trope.

However, they cannot anticipate what the reading public might like. No one can. All the other arts can't either. Really, they can't.

But in some writers' heads, they believe if they write that one book that takes off and sells millions of copies they will be set for life.

That's lottery thinking. That's why I've seen so many people stop writing since I started publishing fiction. They aren't writing and publishing because they love their stories and want to share them with the world. They write hoping to make a quick buck.

And the cycle has started again with the coming of AI. *sigh*

A computer, any computer, even with super sophisticated software can only spit out what has been inputted. Any stores, any paintings, any music is the sausage that comes out after it's been ground up. And artists don't even add spices. It's just blah-tasting meat remains.

And they don't understand why the public isn't lapping up their tasteless, blah meat sludge.

If you want t be a writer, write for yourself first. And I mean really write. Write the story you'd love read. Write what you want to say. Write because it brings you joy.

Let me tell you something. I'm still writing after thirty some years because I have fun. I find joy in a well-crafted story.

And you want to know something? I can keep my high blood pressure and my diabetes under control because I'm having a blast writing these stories.

I'll keep writing stories as long as I'm able because I love doing it. It's the next best thing to cuddly with your loved ones.