Writing books as a vocation is definitely not for the faint of heart or for those demanding instant gratification and reinforcement. The chances are that you will spend years in the process of writing a book and seeing it through to publication. From there, it will probably take several more years and probably several more books before you begin seeing much financial return---if then.
It's a hard lesson to learn, or relearn; with nearly seventeen years' hiatus between my third book, Gold Rush, and my fourth, Dream Derby, I find that I had forgotten much about how hard the waiting game can be---doubly hard, when even what I thought were modest expectations haven't yet matched up with reality. Those who have received a royalty statement far lower than hoped for, or who have been dropped with little or no explanation by one or more outlets that used to provide a nice extra income stream, know exactly what I mean. Add that to the discouragement of being contacted mostly by people who want me to spend money I don't have to spare on their workshops, website services, and canned optimism, and it makes for feeling pretty emotionally drained. I've had the experience of being victimized before by the kind of person who sells a "service" that proves to be nothing more than a means of preying on the discouraged and desperate; no thanks for a second helping.
In truth, I'm not desperate anyway, just feeling down because of recent events. This too shall pass, and my writing career will continue---not least because I have people who love me who are in my corner. They are the silver lining to my cloud. May you, the reader, be as blessed in the tough moments of your own journey.
It's a hard lesson to learn, or relearn; with nearly seventeen years' hiatus between my third book, Gold Rush, and my fourth, Dream Derby, I find that I had forgotten much about how hard the waiting game can be---doubly hard, when even what I thought were modest expectations haven't yet matched up with reality. Those who have received a royalty statement far lower than hoped for, or who have been dropped with little or no explanation by one or more outlets that used to provide a nice extra income stream, know exactly what I mean. Add that to the discouragement of being contacted mostly by people who want me to spend money I don't have to spare on their workshops, website services, and canned optimism, and it makes for feeling pretty emotionally drained. I've had the experience of being victimized before by the kind of person who sells a "service" that proves to be nothing more than a means of preying on the discouraged and desperate; no thanks for a second helping.
In truth, I'm not desperate anyway, just feeling down because of recent events. This too shall pass, and my writing career will continue---not least because I have people who love me who are in my corner. They are the silver lining to my cloud. May you, the reader, be as blessed in the tough moments of your own journey.