My multipart series chronicles the ups and downs of an ordinary person striving to becoming a novelist in the real world. The series will span more than five decades.
I think there's something to be said for doing a day job that uses a different part of the brain (or not so much of it and more physical, like gardening), leaving capacity for creativity.
You bring up an excellent point. Every job I've had as an adult involved writing and editing in some form. My brain seems to have only so much creative capacity each day.
If you want to be a writer, don't get good at anything else. Wish I had followed my own advice : )
And of course there's more (there's always more). Agents are the gatekeepers. You must find a way to impress them, and your writing is not the answer. Everyone can write. What else you got? That's the question, and the key to breaking in.
Well that's why I like self publishing. This COULD lead to sales. Sales COULD lead to a fan base. A fan base COULD lead to an agent. That's a lot of coulds, but it's better than a lot of can'ts. Anyway Jim keep rockin'. Let's make 'em sorry they ignored us. I'm starting to sound like one of my deranged characters : )
Ha!!! I hear you on the deranged characters part. As for me, I plan on self-publishing from here on out unless something drops out of the sky and into my lap, which is about as likely as winning the lottery.
An agent posted that 12 self-published authors debuted with trad publishers in 2025. I asked who and she didn't know, she got it from a quote. I'll let everyone know if I find out anything and keep punching Jim
Your work/career trajectory never fails to astound me! What a ride it was ... even though it pulled you away from writing fiction. I'm just glad you now have the time and energy to follow your destiny.
I think there's something to be said for doing a day job that uses a different part of the brain (or not so much of it and more physical, like gardening), leaving capacity for creativity.
However, your day job did sound fun.
You bring up an excellent point. Every job I've had as an adult involved writing and editing in some form. My brain seems to have only so much creative capacity each day.
If you want to be a writer, don't get good at anything else. Wish I had followed my own advice : )
And of course there's more (there's always more). Agents are the gatekeepers. You must find a way to impress them, and your writing is not the answer. Everyone can write. What else you got? That's the question, and the key to breaking in.
All true. Breaking in can be near impossible for the majority of us. And even if you do break in, that doesn't guarantee much.
Well that's why I like self publishing. This COULD lead to sales. Sales COULD lead to a fan base. A fan base COULD lead to an agent. That's a lot of coulds, but it's better than a lot of can'ts. Anyway Jim keep rockin'. Let's make 'em sorry they ignored us. I'm starting to sound like one of my deranged characters : )
Ha!!! I hear you on the deranged characters part. As for me, I plan on self-publishing from here on out unless something drops out of the sky and into my lap, which is about as likely as winning the lottery.
An agent posted that 12 self-published authors debuted with trad publishers in 2025. I asked who and she didn't know, she got it from a quote. I'll let everyone know if I find out anything and keep punching Jim
Thanks!
Your work/career trajectory never fails to astound me! What a ride it was ... even though it pulled you away from writing fiction. I'm just glad you now have the time and energy to follow your destiny.
More to come on the "destiny" part. 💙
Yayyyy!