Comments on: The Business Rusch: Why Writers Disappear (Part Two)

By: The Rodent

The Rodent — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 23:10:54 +0000

> What about ten books that don’t sell well?
> What about twenty?

Yup, as an Indie: My count of non-sellers is about 25 books now. I sell a mere handful of copies per year. Good thing I have a day-job. This still hasn’t been discouraging so far because I’ve also figured out that I can find cover designers who are willing to read the books and produce a relevant cover picture. And that seems to be all the audience I really need.

By: Regina Duke

Regina Duke — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 20:47:20 +0000

Sounds so familiar! I have a dear friend who loves to write as a team. “Let’s write a story, back and forth, in real time!” Guess what?! She’s a scriptwriter, too! Me? Don’t call until my five hours of concentration are done for the day. Let me get lost in my own creation.

BTW, I am retired (Thank God) and I can now pursue the dream I have worked toward since age 13: writing full time.

By: Celia Hayes

Celia Hayes — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 12:51:59 +0000

I am fortunate enough, I guess, that I have a military pension, which is just enough to pay the mortgage and the regular utility bills. Everything else comes from freelancing as a writer, or as an editor, transcribing documents, from book and ebook sales, the occassional short-term temp job, and from the Tiny Pubishing Bidness that I am a partner in. That combined income is in no way predictable, as Kristine pointed out – but there is always something, sometimes out of the clear blue.

By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 09:27:31 +0000

Just hit 33 paper books. I have 574 e-books, short and long. 1 year in by this December, two things are happening: 1) I’ll pull my 1st $10,000 check from publishing; 2) I’ll be going back to 40 hour weeks.

I’ll still write 5,000 words a day with one day off a week – like clockwork – but it is as you say above. I’m not out – never will be – but it’s not regular enough. I’ll do both, again.

Good post! I’m looking forward to round 3!

By: Brian J. Jarrett

Brian J. Jarrett — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 03:52:03 +0000

I guess I’d say I’m a hobbyist because I’d write even if I wasn’t making any money at it. My writing isn’t my full-time job (specifically for the money) although I put in some serious hours. It is nice to be making money at one’s hobby though…

And people like me do get a lot out of these kinds of blogs. I’ve been reading Dean’s blog for a while now and today is my first visit to yours. Thanks to both of you!

By: Brian J. Jarrett

Brian J. Jarrett — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 02:23:50 +0000

Right on, Mercy. I’m a full-time programmer earning a good salary (a job I also love), so I don’t have to rely on the royalty income from my books to pay the bills. The downside is that I don’t have as much time to spend writing. Of course the time I do have I can spend writing whatever strikes my fancy, without worrying about its commercial viability.

The wonderful thing about self-publishing is that it’s been flexible enough to allow me to keep my day job while living a dream I’ve had ever since I was very young. I couldn’t be happier.

Sounds like it’s working out well for you too.

By: Camille LaGuire

Camille LaGuire — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 21:07:46 +0000

Yeah, I suspected you were thinking of tax distinctions there. I would have let it go, and just said “Hey, nothing wrong with being a hobbyist” but I wanted to be clear that the serious amateur has a lot to gain here (and on other pro blogs like Dean’s), and you probably have more of them reading here than you think.

By: Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Kristine Kathryn Rusch — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 20:20:26 +0000

Brilliant idea, Jason. And thanks for the donation.

By: Jason

Jason — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 20:14:28 +0000

Just wanted to note that I’ll be soon setting up all my ebook retailers to direct deposit into my brand-new retirement account.

I’m only in my mid-thirties, but I can’t think of a better, more hands-off way to save for elderhood. And as the monthlies get bigger — which they are, gorgeously — I’ll adjust, but for now, those monies are out of sight for the next thirty-plus years.

Three hours of writing a day nets me two thousand words a day, which nets me roughly a book every two months.

Thanks for all your advice, Kris (and Dean). I donated last week and will do more in the future.

By: DG Sandru

DG Sandru — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 19:20:18 +0000

The rejections definitely discourage new writers from continuing on writing. We want to be validated for what we did and do. Rejections are not limited to writers only; anyone in arts suffers from the same issue. Many years ago I brought my modern art to work to show to my colleagues. One woman walked by and laughed. It hurt me and I didn’t paint again for 19 years. I paint now, and my attitude is I am an artist and I’m good at it.
My book “Arboregal” got rejected by publishers and agents alike. What to do? Roll over and die? Maybe the critics would have liked that. After some soul searching I found the answer. Why do I write? Because I am a storyteller and I want to live in my fantasies. I enjoy my stories and writing is the easiest way to bring them to life. Therefore I write.
I heard many times that writers need to write for their audience. I disagree. No one knows what the readers want. Writers should first write for themselves. If they enjoy what they’re doing they will never stop writing. And if they find an audience that’s just icing on the cake. Writers that got discouraged and stopped, wrote for the wrong reasons: money, fame, quite your job, adulation, etc.
If you enjoy what you’re doing you’ll keep on doing even if money or fame does not come, quickly. Keep at it and it will come aplenty.