Non-writers, we love you. We really do. We love how badly you want us to succeed, how badly you want to give us advice, and the incredible amount of support you give with your words and wallets. You are amazing. And when you try to make suggestions as to how we should go about publishing our books, it’s not you we’re frustrated at, exactly. We know that writing looks easy; it’s something we’ve all had to do in school a zillion times. And we know we’re not all getting paid for it yet, and that makes it look like it’s just this fun little thing we do to pass the time or indulge our insanity, and yes, it is that too.
But here’s the thing: it’s hard work. It’s time-consuming. It’s soul-sucking. And it’s so, so much more than you think it is. It’s something that requires a lot more effort than just putting words down on a page, and yes, we know we don’t always do a great job at making you understand just how much, or why. But I’m going to try, because we want you to get it, and because there are just some things we writers never, ever want to hear again.
So here are a few things to learn about our weird, wild world – I hope this helps bridge the gap even a little! Continue reading