Archive for December, 2008

Selling Your Books In Bulk

Posted on Dec 13, 2008 06:57:45 PM

Have you ever dreamed of selling your book to a large corporation? A sale that would register several thousand copies of non-returnable product on the book sale meter? What’s that? You’ve never thought of it, you say? Well, never fear! It’s not too late to pursue this avenue, especially if you have a book ripe for a particular market.

Before you embark on this project, it’s important to understand the possibilities out there. Start being aware of incentive items you might see and understand how they are used. Many are offered as consumer gifts or incentives while others are used as training tools or morale boosters for employees.

Some examples of premium sales might be:

• Books offered at yearly company sales meetings

• Books offered to consumers at a discount (consumers are usually asked to send in product UPC’s to qualify for these specials)

• Books offered to new customers at financial institutions

• Books offered to new home buyers

• Books offered to new magazine subscribers

To determine the market segment you want to go after, study your book first for obvious clues. If you’ve mentioned or recommended companies or products in your book, those will be the first tier you’ll want to go after. Next, think about the message of your book and how it aligns with particular companies within that industry. Company web sites and ads will offer great clues when trying to match a company or organization up with your book.

If you’re going after the magazine subscriber bonus segment, you’ll have a bit more flexibility. Generally, if the book fits the reader demographic and aligns itself with the message of the magazine, it will be considered. For example, you might offer a home organization book to Good Housekeeping or a fitness book to Self or Redbook. Before you approach these magazines, read them for about three months so you get a good sense of what they’re about and who their audience is.

If you’re going after a particular market and are trying to locate companies within that industry, try doing a Boolean search in Google. Your search should look like this: “your industry and companies.” Another resource is .thomasregister.com. This site will link you to companies nationally and internationally within your industry.

Next, don’t overlook companies in your own backyard. Think about industries, companies and organizations in your area that might work well for your book and begin going after them. Many times, local companies will welcome the opportunity to support hometown authors.

Once you’ve put your list together, you’ll want to contact them and pitch them the idea. Or, in some cases, our company will send them the book and proposal before we even make phone contact. Sometimes the companies you’ve targeted will be on the lookout for incentive items, other times this will be a new (and exciting) area for them. If you’re going after employee incentives, it’s interesting to note (and mention in your sales letter) that employee incentives increase individual performance by 27 percent and team performance by 45 percent.

Be open and creative with your pursuit of premium sales! Many times, companies will want to put their logo on the cover or include an extra page in the book with a letter from the President or CEO. Check with your printer or publisher on whether this is possible for you and what the additional costs will be before you start pursuing the premium sales arena.

So, how long does this process take? We’ve seen premium sales turn around in a week, while others take a year or more to complete. Oh, and the most important part… how many books can you plan to sell? Anywhere from one thousand to several thousand depending on the deal and the company. We’ve even got a deal in the works for a half a million copies of one book.

Discounts and negotiations vary. Often, we’ll negotiate volume discounts of 50 percent to 70 percent on bulk orders. Again, make sure you’ve got these figures ready when you pick up the phone to make your pitch.

With the right book, premium sales are not only a great way to gain exposure of your book, but in the end, they make great “cents.”

What are your Abilities?

Posted on Dec 13, 2008 12:33:24 PM

For every individual some moment comes when it seems logical to ask if that is what they want to do till the rest of their days. Indeed, according to the statistics, 25% of those involved in various industries have no interest in what they manufacture or produce or sell. The truth is that no one will be successful in the field where he or she has no interest. This can also bring a person into a state of depression and keep her down till he or she resigns. When you start regressing and loosing interest towards your job, it’s high time to start thinking about changing qualifications and searching for other job.

What are the ways to determine your possibilities and abilities? First of all, listen to your calling. What was your sacred desire when you were a high-school student? Even if the realization of the idea is not possible, still there are relevant ways to become closer to the sphere of your dreams. You can also turn to an agency and specialists will help you to determine the field you should work at. There is a great number of tests that can determine your abilities that lye whether in analytical sphere or in creative direction. Even if you do not wish to visit the agency, you may find the answers yourself. First of all, you have to feel well and see things clearly. Maybe the time to make the final step has come and you indeed quit your job. You may feel light, but usually people feel lost and discoursed. Therefore you may want to dedicate a week to regaining strength and fresh mind. Having some privacy, you might see clearer what you may do next. Put the material issue aside, though it may seem hard. Exactly the material issue makes people change their plans in favor of good salary but not happiness. Think about what brings you pleasure, delight, gives feeling of happiness. The first steps may be difficult but success will follow if you try hard enough.

The main motivator should be your desire, the calling of your heart, but not the opinion of your parents, friends, teachers and other people that may influence on your decision. You are aware that not all dreams are realized but maybe there is a chance for you to develop business that will bring you pleasure instead of going to work that you hate and do not want to grow skills anymore. You may be good in writing speeches or repairing TV sets, every profession is extremely useful. Whatever you choose, your choice will be right if you follow your desire.

The Organized Writer’s Six Rules

Posted on Dec 12, 2008 11:29:58 AM

Are you trying to get organized so you have more time to write? Here are six rules guaranteed to make you more productive and more organized when you add them to your life.

1. Work with Yourself, Not Against Yourself

When you’re trying to become more organized, it’s tempting to try and fit into the existing organizing system of an “expert.” They seem organized and they promise that if you try it, you’ll be organized, too.

What’s more effective is to understand your personality and what works for you. There are MANY solutions and you may have to experiment to find the system that best fits the way you work–your mind, your body and the way you think. And this might be a combination of ideas from many different experts.

Give something new a fair trial, but if after a month or so it feels awkward or counterintuitive, let it go and find something else!

2. Focus and Pay Attention

If you find that you always seem to be busy but that you never have anything to show for it, this could be the most important tip for you.

When possible, do one thing at a time. Don’t let your mind or hands wander to another task. Picture the finished project in your mind, and focus only on that. Get in the “zone” &ndash you’re able to be so much more effective when you’re giving your whole mind, thought and attention.

When we split our attention between different tasks (“multi-tasking”), most likely none of them will get done right, if at all. As well, you can find yourself in a perpetual state of having many “open projects” started but not completed. Each project moves forward just an inch at a time.

If you choose ONE, you can move it forward to completion much faster. To choose one, you need to estimate which project will give you the best results when it’s finished. It sometimes takes an outside perspective and feedback to help you make that choice, and a coach is a great tool for this.

Putting aside other projects clears the clutter from your mind, attention, desk, workload and focus.

3. Invest Your Time

Just like we invest our money, we have to invest our time in the best way. Setting up your new organizing systems can be considered an investment.

Applying this tip can have the greatest impact on your level of organization. By investing your time at the beginning of a project to examine how you can complete it most efficiently, you can save yourself a lot of frustration later. Saving just 20 minutes each day gives you an extra 120 hours each year.

For example, set-up a mailing station with all of the supplies you’ll need to ship out book orders. You can also set-up a schedule of weekly errands such as the bank and the post office. If you know you’ll be heading out to the post office on Wednesday, then when an order comes in on Friday you don’t need to stop what you’re doing and prepare that order immediately. You know you have a different time set aside for shipping.

4. Make a Habit of It

Once you have these plans in place, work at making them a habit. You can create a new habit (or lose a bad one!) in 21 days. For only three weeks of effort, you can create a lifetime of good working habits.

As you are creating a habit, you’ll need some kind of trigger to remind you to do it &ndash alarms on your computer (i.e. Outlook or PDA), a “to do” list or a written schedule for the day with time blocked out for your specific tasks.

Start small with one new habit at a time, and then see if you can add more (pull back if it gets to be too much).

5. Use the Right Tools

Make sure you have the right tools handy when you need them.

From the low-tech (I only use retractable pens &ndash the kind that “click” on and off &ndash because there’s no caps to lose!) to the high-tech, there are many ready-made solutions out there to keep you organized. As we mentioned in Rule #1, it’s important to find tools that work FOR YOU.

Another example &ndash did you know that if you use PayPal as your shopping cart, they’re automatically tied in with the US Post Office and you can print your shipping labels right from the PayPal site? This has been a huge time-saver for me when shipping my Organized Writer CDs.

6. Work Forward

Organize for your work ahead; don’t organize what’s already finished. We’re often tempted to organize our old bills, receipts and invoices. Sometimes we’re afraid or hesitant to move forward until we’ve finished old stuff.

It’s much more important to set-up the system and files for what’s coming at you next. Look at what has been creating the biggest stress in your life and start by improving that area going forward. Then, when you have more of your future work under control, you can deal with the old paperwork (the old bills, receipts and invoices).

As you work on bringing these six rules into your life, you’ll be amazed at how much more time and energy you have to pursue your writing and remember the number one rule &ndash only use what works for YOU!

How To Choose A Money-Making Book Subject

Posted on Dec 10, 2008 02:08:49 PM

People never change. Nor do their basic desires. They’ve existed for thousands of years and will continue to exist for thousands more.

Names of people will change. Technology will change. People’s desires won’t &ndash their desires are hard-wired into our DNA.

That’s good for you &ndash as an author. By knowing what people want, you can profit from their desires. And since their desires are predictable, your ability to make money from your book ideas just got a lot more profitable, as well.

So, you must be wondering what do people want to read.

The top three general desires revolve around: Food, Love, and Money.

There will ALWAYS be a market for new cookbooks, new books on love, and new books on ways to make money. Guaranteed!

This will never change. Ever.

So if you have an idea that fits in one of those categories – you are well on your way to celebrity status. It doesn’t have to be an original thought on the subject. It can just be a new spin on an existing topic.

NOTE: People do not buy books because they are bargains. They buy them because they have some hope that they will find something &ndash not matter how small &ndash that will positively add value to their lives.

What else are people interested in reading about…

* Security

* Sex

* Power

* Immortality

* Happiness

* Safety

* Health

* Recognition

Some more generalized topics would be things like:

To attract the opposite sex.

To keep their possessions.

To have more fun.

To satisfy curiosity.

To protect their family.

To be in style.

To have beautiful possessions.

To quench their appetite.

To emulate others.

To avoid trouble.

To avoid criticism.

To be an individual.

To protect their reputation.

To grab opportunities.

To make work easier.

When you brainstorm ideas for your book, keep these customer desires in mind.

NOTE: Although it is good to focus your topic, you should try to keep it in a general category that will be wanted by a larger section of the population.

For example: You don’t want to write a book just about “Love” because it’s far TOO general of a topic. But you also don’t want to focus your topic so much it becomes something like “Love between 20 &ndash 24 year olds in Northwest California.”

Yes, I know that was an exaggerated example and you’d never go that targeted but you get my meaning.

Maybe you could write something like “How to be a 20-something in Love.” More targeted than just LOVE but still part of a large group of people who would be interested.

NOTE: Go with a subject you’re already passionate about.

Don’t make this process harder than it has to be. If you’re already passionate about gardening, cooking, investing, pet health, etc. then look in that area for the subject of your book.

#1) You will WANT to become a recognized expert in the field. Nothing worse than finding a topic that will make you money but you’re embarrassed to be associate with.

I did some research and found a hot topic that could have made me thousands literally overnight… but then I realized I didn’t really want my name associated with that topic. Money is important but if you write your book about a topic you’re excited about and you become a recognized expert &ndash achieving celebrity status &ndash you will have SO much more than just money in the bank.

#2) Working on your project will seem like anything but work. When I chose a subject specifically because I think it will make money &ndash I’m less than happy to do the writing. When it’s about something I enjoy then I can’t wait to write and don’t want to stop. I’ve worked until the early hours of the morning because I just lost track of time.

Find something that really gets you excited!

What Do Bestselling Authors Have In Common?

Posted on Dec 9, 2008 01:55:55 PM

Nine Characteristics That May Surprise You.

In writing “The Making of a Bestseller: Success Stories From Authors and the Editors, Agents and Behind Them,” (Dearborn Trade, 2005), we wanted to find out what separates the publishing industry elite, the bestselling authors, from all the thousands and thousands of writers who aspire to someday make the bestseller lists. We interviewed 24 of today’s most popular authors, some of whom have endured on the bestseller lists for decades. As a group, these authors have sold more than half a billion books. It turns out that writing talent is not the only separating factor; in fact it may not even be the most important factor.

Find out what you as a writer may have in common with bestselling authors like Nicholas Sparks, Catherine Coulter and Susan Elizabeth Phillips and what you can learn from them.

1. Perseverance Is Key

Nearly all bestselling authors faced the same struggles early in their careers that less successful, even unpublished authors, face. Immediate success is rare. One distinction of bestselling authors is that they do not get as discouraged by lack of early success. They persevere. Their desire to succeed is enormous. Bestselling authors often have to demonstrate the patience and stamina to write a number of books before achieving notable success.

2. They Write, And Write And Write

The productivity, the writing output, of bestselling authors is much greater than the average writer’s. They have the discipline to get up each day and produce high quality work. They don’t wait for the muse to tap them on the shoulder. Some authors’ literary production is phenomenal, such as Catherine Coulter, who wrote “Point Blank,” she has produced over fifty bestsellers so far in her career.

3. They Like To Write And Write And Write

They would rather write than do anything else. It’s not just that successful authors are more disciplined, though that is part of it; they simply enjoy writing more than other writers do. Many aspiring authors enjoy the idea of writing, not the hard work itself. Bestselling authors seem to thrive on the hard work, and they work much harder than we might suppose. Iris Johansen, author of “Countdown,” writes two books a year, not because she has to but because she couldn’t not do it. Writing is her passion.

4. Promotion Is Constant

Bestselling authors never stop promoting their books, no matter how successful they get. Many still market at the grass roots level, not just through national TV or radio interviews. They take the time to visit and meet individual bookstore managers at both chain stores and independents. They never relax and believe they have “made it.” After ten bestsellers, including “The Notebook,” Nicholas Sparks still tours with every new book.

5. Marketing Is Critical

Even if they have never taken a business course in college, they have an innate sense of marketing concepts such as brand building and product differentiation. They closely watch trends in the literary marketplace. They understand what it is about their books that readers respond favorably to. They take a strategic approach to their careers and they realize that much more goes into being a successful author than the writing itself. Carly Phillips big break came when Kelly Ripa recommended “The Bachelor” on The Kelly & Regis show. It wasn’t just luck that landed her the recommendation, but a concerted effort on her part and her publicist’s part.

6. Fans Are An Important Asset

Bestselling authors listen closely to what their readers say, and try very hard to meet or exceed their fans’ expectations, but they do not necessarily pay close attention to what reviewers or book critics say. They don’t even necessarily expect good reviews. Word of mouth support from readers and booksellers is more important to them than reviews. Linda Fairstein, the author of “Entombed” and the Alexandra Cooper series, loves book signings. At her level of success she doesn’t have to do them but she loves talking to her readers.

7. The More Success The More Pressure

Bestselling authors face more pressure as they get more successful. As they rise to the top, there are increasing demands on their time. Top authors lead three very different lives. First, the quiet, solitary scholarly life of being a writer. Then participating in the team effort within the publishing house to make the book the best book it can be. This involves learning how to take advice from and collaborate with the professionals within the publishing house. Finally, the author must participate in the very public life of trying to sell books to the mass audience. They have to master all three lives if they intend to continue to achieve bestseller status. Susan Elizabeth Phillips worked for a month without a day off when “Ain’t She Sweet” was released.

8. They’re Grateful

Bestselling authors are keenly aware how fortunate they are to have arrived at the top of their profession. They sincerely appreciate their loyal readers. They recognize that they have been chosen to receive a strikingly rare, special distinction by a bustling, competitive marketplace. The success, fame and financial rewards that have come to them are often beyond the most extravagant dreams they had when they first sat down to write a book. Christopher Paolini credits the support of the teachers, librarians, booksellers and fans, for the success of his first book, “Eragon”.

9. There Is No Single Profile For A Bestselling Author

Bestselling authors are seldom the top graduates from prestigious university writing programs. Writing may have been a second or third career for them, and the publishing industry values authors who bring life experience to their work, in fiction or nonfiction. Bestselling authors span all age groups, many different professions and varied educational backgrounds. There is no single profile for what a bestselling author looks like.

Write Queen Says I Need Your Help

Posted on Dec 7, 2008 09:31:37 AM

I have been writing articles and blogs lately, not knowing whether you, the reader, are pleased with what you read, or even if I’m even writing about what you would like to read about.

Therein lies my problem and why I need your help. My reason for writing is not to please me, but to satisfy your need for good reading. I’m happy no matter what I write because I like to write. To know my readers are happy with my writing is worth money in the bank to me. (It better be since I don’t get paid for doing it)

I am going to first tell you where you can read my writing. I post them on .justarticles.com, .exinearticles.com, and .articlecity.com and .articlesgoaround.com and I recently started a blog and it is located at .fredabd.hwyblogs.com., then press on my account on the left.

I’d like to know who you are and what you do so that I can better serve you.

What are your hobbies? What kind of work do you do? Do you like what you do? If the right opportunity came along, would you change what you do? Husbands, does your wife work outside the home? Would you like to bring her home without getting in a financial bind?

Are you married? Do you have a family still at home? Is your family grown and out on their own? Do you have grandchildren?

What are your fears and concerns about work, money, the government, politics, and/or the market place?

In other words, I want to know what you think. What and who you are. I also need your picture, with or without your spouse, new or not so new &ndash who will know?

One thing I will not get involved in and won’t acknowledge is anything to do with religion (I hope you have that but if you don’t you have a problem that I can’t or won’t solve for you), or hateful attitudes (I can take criticism better than most) but keep your hateful attitudes to yourself.

You can write to me at gloryb2ufredadouglas.com. Rest assured I don’t outsource any of my work, and if you want an individual answer I will try to do that, but this request is to get material

for futurearticles. Dear Abby I’m not.

Seven Ways To Connect Your Writing And Your Life

Posted on Dec 6, 2008 08:29:24 PM

An important question for any artist is: How can I built a career and simultaneously be true to myself? It’s an important question, and during the twenty years I’ve taught writing, hundreds of students have expressed the belief that success and personal integrity are mutually exclusive.

The Lifewriting

Overcoming Writer

Posted on Dec 4, 2008 05:03:07 PM

Writing information products (eBooks) is one of the most popular ways of starting an online business.

Why? Because the subject range is unlimited as is the angle or perspective you can bring to the subject. Plus, it costs nothing except your time to create it.

But it is not always trouble-free. How do you get started and how do you manage if you have never written a book before?

First, and most important – write about something you know. This allows you to keep the book flowing, give credibility and shows your readers you have some insight on the subject – and hence something to offer they may not have heard before.

Next, the hardest part of writing is – the first sentence. When you look at the whole project, it seems like an impossible task. You have to break it down into manageable tasks.

I like to use analogies; so think of climbing a mountain. You are standing at the foot of it and looking up at its summit vanishing into the clouds. How can you possibly scale such an immense and dangerous mountain?

There is only one way to climb a mountain – Step by Step.

Now think of writing your ebook in the same light. You must create it step by step, and one day, you will take that last step and find yourself standing on the summit with your head in the clouds. And that day will come much sooner if you keep momentum and enthusiasm.

The first thing you have to do, as if you actually were a mountain climber, is to get organized. Instead of climbing gear, however, you must organize your thoughts. There are some steps you should take before you begin. Once you’ve gone through the following list, you will be ready to actually begin writing your ebook.

First, figure out your eBook’s working title. It’s not clear from your post if you have done this or not but it is vital. It gives you a focal point.

Jot down a few different titles, and eventually, you’ll find that one that will grow on you. Would it make YOU read it?

As I said, titles help you to focus your writing on your topic; they guide you in anticipating and answering your reader’s queries. Many non-fiction books also have subtitles. Aim for clarity in your titles, but cleverness always helps to sell books.

For example, Remedies for Insomnia: Twenty Different Ways to Count Sheep. Or: Get off that Couch: Fifteen Exercise Plans to Whip You into Shape.

Next, write out a thesis statement. Your thesis is a sentence or two stating exactly what problem you are addressing and how your book will solve that problem. All chapters spring forth from your thesis statement. Once you’ve got your thesis statement fine-tuned, you’ve built your foundation. From that foundation, your book will grow, chapter by chapter.

Your thesis will keep you focused while you write your ebook. Remember: all chapters must support your thesis statement. If they don’t, they don’t belong in your book. For example, your thesis statement could read: We’ve all experienced insomnia at times in our lives, but there are twenty proven techniques and methods to give you back a good night’s sleep.

But if this is what you say, you must give twenty proven techniques else you lose credibility with your readers.

Once you have your thesis, before you start to write, make sure there is a good reason to write your book. Ask yourself some questions:

* Does your book present useful information and is that information currently relevant?

* Will your book positively affect the lives of your readers?

* Is your book dynamic and will it keep the reader’s attention?

* Does you book answer questions that are meaningful and significant?

If you can answer yes to these questions, you can feel confident about the potential of your ebook.

Now, write out chapter headings. You might not end up using chapters but it will help break the task down into manageable stages that you can tackle one-by-one. Breaking the job into smaller tasks, or chapters, will make it easier.

Remember – like that mountain do it one step at a time.

Another important step is to figure out who your target audience is. It is this group of people you will be writing to, and this group will dictate many elements of your book, such as style, tone, diction, and even length. Figure out the age range of your readers, their general gender, what they are most interested in, and even the socio-economic group they primarily come from. Are they people who read fashion magazines or book reviews? Do they write letters in longhand or spend hours every day online. The more you can pin down your target audience, the easier it will be to write your book for them.

Next, make a list of the reasons you are writing your ebook. Do you want to promote your business? Do you want to bring quality traffic to your website? Do you want to enhance your reputation?

Then write down your goals in terms of publishing. Do you want to sell it as a product on your website, or do you want to offer it as a free gift for filling out a survey or for ordering a product? Do you want to use the chapters to create an e-course, or use your ebook to attract affiliates around the world? The more you know upfront, the easier the actual writing will be.

Now, you seem to be specifically stuck at getting started. Here you need to think about you and your audience. What made YOU write the book and what do you want THEM to get out of it. You need to hook them early on and the best way to do this is to make them feel that you can answer their problems. After all, why did they buy the book? Make them feel they made the right decision and that you know what you are talking about.

Decide on the format of your chapters. In non-fiction, keep the format from chapter to chapter fairly consistent. Perhaps you plan to use an introduction to your chapter topic, and then divide it into four subhead topics. Or you may plan to divide it into five parts, each one beginning with a relevant anecdote.

Taking all the above into consideration, you could have your eBook finished in no time at all and ready to promote via your website. You could be well on the way to an internet best-seller.

How to write it?

Posted on Dec 3, 2008 07:52:42 AM

Everything seems fine, no mistakes, no false statements, no taboo ideologies expressed but still you get “satisfactory” and think about what a looser you are. It seems unfair. After getting the same result each time you ask yourself, what is that I do wrong? How to write it? Here are some hints for you to get the general idea of how to do it. First of all, you are to choose, what kind of essay it will be (for and against, persuasive, description essay). Each of them has its own peculiarities and requires different style. Then you have to structure your essay properly in order to highlight the theme you were given or you have chosen. There has to be an introduction, where you introduce the main idea and the statement around which you are going to make your essay. Then goes a main body where you state all the necessary facts to prove your idea, express your opinion, and make an impression. Use as many facts as it is only possible. This will make your essay more interesting and serve the right aim, to impress the reader by your intelligence and writing skills. Then conclusion comes, where you summarize everything mentioned in the main body and make the necessary statements, according to the type of essay you are going to write.

If you consider at least some of the above mentioned you will not have to do this term paper research, spend hours to compose it, check it hundred times, than give it to a friend to check, and see that the result stays the same and you hide the paper with disgust and swear that it will never happen again. Your research paper has to be next to perfect. Language you use is also very important. Your idea may seem great and the facts that you’ve stated are proper, but the way you have represented them leaves something more to be desired. You are to be careful with words, not to use strong verbs unless it is absolutely necessary. There has to be no offence, no matter how emotional your essay is. There have to be some introductory words like “all the things considered”, “actually” etc. This shows your excellent knowledge of the literary language. This is an additional plus to your nicely composed and well-written essay. It is also a big plus for you to use quotations and extracts out of famous writers’ masterpieces. It makes your language more emphatic and makes very good impression on those who read it.

And finally, you are to use some psychology. You may know a person you turn the paper in to. It is your teacher or a lecturer so one way or another you may get acquainted with some of her/his basic ideas and principles. Even if your essay is perfect and there is nothing to add and to correct, you’ll still be given an “F” for not responding to the ideas of the lectures delivered. So, be careful with what you write and what you express, your reader may not like it. To make a good impression one also has to be very accurate. If you had a task to write an essay on the spot, not to print at home, you have to make a sketch and only then, after looking through it write it to your final paper, with no corrections made. If you read this carefully and follow some of the instructions, you’ll reach success in writing and hang your work graded “A” on the wall above the bed.

I Quit And Other Sensible Ideas – Or, Five Reasons To Stay A Writer

Posted on Dec 2, 2008 01:06:42 PM

It comes along more frequently than not: The thought that you’re insane and should pursue a career that doesn’t stomp on your pride or demolish your ego. You have the hopes of fame and fortune to comfort you at times, but not often enough to keep doubt from gnawing at your mind.

Discouragement is a constant companion. You face rejections. You spend time, money and energy with no guarantee of financial gain (and if you’re published, you face rejections; spend time, money and energy with no guarantee of financial gain). You endure looks of healthy disdain from people when you reveal you’re a writer. If you’re a literary writer, you’re regarded with some awe; a genre author; however, is looked upon with the same reverence as a stripper.

At times like these, quitting seems like a sensible thing to do. I would encourage it, if you are constantly depressed and on the verge of madness. It isn’t worth your sanity and publishing isn’t an industry that is concerned with keeping you sane. Drinking may no longer be common among writers, but it certainly is a temptation.

If rejections make you want to bang your head against the wall, writing is painful and the thought of another damn story swimming in your head makes you nauseous – Stop. Now. If you can’t stop, there’s help. Here are five reasons to stay a writer:

You don’t have to submit your work. There’s no obligation for a writer to share their work with editors and critics (Emily Dickinson is a fine example) you can write for the pleasure of it. If you do wish to publicize your work, you can self-publish. However, you don’t need to be published to be a writer (I know I keep saying this, but I will continue to do so until I am believed). Validation is great, creation divine. Create, explore, indulge! Be free. Write.

For immortality. When you die, there is a distinct possibility that your unpublished works will be discovered, you’ll be proclaimed a genius, your books will be translated into many languages both live and dead, turned into a film every few decades and inspire legions of writers who are obscure and writing anyway. If you don’t write, there will be nothing to discover.

Revenge. Remember that teacher who bloodied your beloved essays with red marks? That scathing critique partner with ‘helpful advice?’ That insolent editor who didn’t even bother to send a form rejection, but scribbled ‘No thanks’ on your query? Well, write to show the bastards! Strong emotions are a great motivation to write. Write to prove them wrong.

We need stories. Naturally, literary snobs would beg to differ, thinking literature is being polluted by uneducated neophytes who have the audacity to write because they have the ability to type their names.

Fortunately, I find their opinions as necessary as Athletes’ foot. Therefore, I implore you to tell your tales in your voice. No copycats please. It doesn’t matter if your prose doesn’t ring like Jane Austen, echo like J. California Cooper, bellow like Mark Twain, sing like JK Rowling’s or linger like Anne Lamott’s. We need stories to survive. Help us.

You get to determine your success. Writing can afford you big and little successes. The poem that brought a smile to your friend’s face, the essay that saved the front page of the neighborhood newsletter, the short story that helped a lonely teenager through a hard time, the novel that opened someone’s mind to a new way of thinking.

Okay, so you may never hit the bestseller’s list, win a National Book Award or any award for that matter. Perhaps only the sky will know your gifts. You’re living a dream few people allow themselves to experience. They talk about writing–some very loudly–but few do it. The world bends to those who proclaim who they are without apology (okay it doesn’t actually bend, but it does bow a little).

Because you must. That’s reason enough for me. I don’t have a style or voice that many know and my work isn’t breaking any records. There are times I want to throw up my hands and say, “Enough! I quit!” And the world sighs with relief, and I sigh feeling in control of my future. I stand up from my desk determined never to return. Then a little voice says… “There was this woman who discovered she was married to the wrong man…”