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.

Believe in Yourself

Writers as a whole are an odd lot.

Where other artists constantly practice their chosen form, writers expect themselves to be perfect on the first try.

Where other artists learn the skills and tricks of their trade, writers refuse to even do a quick google on what point-of-view is.

Where other artists spend months and years learning their chosen form of expression, writers expect instant success.

But the one thing other artists do that writers fail to do time and time again? They believe in themselves. 

They enjoy their art for the sake of their art. They don't care what everyone else thinks. They perform or paint or sculpt because they enjoy it. They want to improve. They want to excel out sheer joy.

If you don't enjoy writing, if you're trying to earn someone's approval, or if you think writing a novel will bring you instant fame, then you're writing for all the wrong reasons.

But most of all believe in yourself and write your stories for you.