Four hard truths about writing a novel
With a steep learning curve and an extemely unforgiving industry, writing and publishing a novel takes a lot of time and patience. If you feel called to write a book, you should go in with a clear idea of what you’re getting into. Let’s look at four hard truths about writing a novel.
1. Writing and publishing a book is not quick or easy
The first hurtle is always the self-discipline to sit down and write 80 000 (or more) words, but there are many struggles after that. Editing and rewriting often takes much longer than drafting, especially a first book when you’re still learning. If you skip or rush editing, you could risk not getting an agent or poor sales/readership for self-publishers. If you are traditional publishing, you may have to wait years for an offer from an agent or publisher and then about two more years after that for your book to be released. If you self-publish, the timelines are shorter, but you will have to become an entrepreneur and learn a lot about sales and marketing to sell your book.
2. Writers do not generally get paid well
Most writers have to keep day jobs to maintain a living income. Billionaire writers like JK Rowling and James Patterson are the exception to the rule. It might be best to work under the assumption that you will be among the majority. While it’s great to have goals, it’s important to know that compensation that allows you to write full-time comes after working hard, marketing hard and writing many books. For example, a 50k advance on a first novel would be a very nice offer. However, the process from putting your first ideas on the page to seeing your book on the shelf can take up to five years so that means you’d only be earning 10K/year. You will not receive royalties until your advance is paid back in full by your sales. For many authors, that never happens.
3. Writing is failing over and over again
There are few chances to succeed in writing and many chances to fail. One reason is that there are so many people who want to break into the industry. You’ll have to have something exceptional to beat the odds and stand out. It takes a lot of learning and work to write something exceptional. You might respond with, “but there’s a lot of garbage on the shelves. If those books made it, surely mine can!” My opinion? Those people got a lucky break. But chance is unreliable. Wouldn’t it be better to write something great that stands out and could really make it? You want your book to make it to the shelf but also into readers hands and reviewers hearts. There are many chances to fail along the writing journey, but try to fail in the early stages (before publication), that way you have a better chance of succeeding where it really counts (book sales and reader reviews)!
4. Writing is not fame and glory
Have you ever been to Barnes and Noble (or Indigo) and seen a writer sitting at a table for a book signing and everybody is steering clear of their table and avoiding eye contact? This happens to a lot of published authors. No one has heard of you or your book. Of course there are famous writers with huge line-ups for book signings. I spent an hour in a line-up for Margaret Atwood. She gave me a solemn nod before bending down to sign my book. It was exhilarating! There’s no reason you can’t be an author with a line-up, but know that those authors took rejection, they worked hard and failed and they plastered a smile on their faces at book signings even when nobody bothered to show up.
The best reason to write a book or decide to become a writer is because you have a story to tell and the thought of not doing it makes you feel like dying inside. Forget the fame, money and glory. Focus on your future readers and the reasons you were drawn to writing in the first place.
