Putting things in perspective — via Russell Blake

A hugely successful indie author, Russell Blake, summarizes the ways it just ain’t easy here:

http://russellblake.com/things-ive-learned-to-myself-as-a-newbie-writer/

I especially appreciated this:

That’s different than I thought when I started out. I kind of hoped that the old canard that you wrote a great novel, sold it to NY, and then sat back and got rich, was true. That you only needed to produce a little work over the years, and could devote lots of time to thinking great thoughts, traveling the world, observing, etc.

Maybe for a few of the very top earners who’ve been doing this for decades and can command seven and eight figure advances. Of which there are fewer than 100, by my estimation. But for the rest, and certainly for the self-published, it’s a job, just like showing up to work at Pixar or Disney and creating content is a job. If you don’t put in the time, your slot goes to someone else, and the world keeps turning, only without you getting paid as a writer.

Even for those who are already successful, being an indie writer is not a ticket to success. But it is a ticket to a job that can be successful if you keep putting in the work.

Luck and success to all!