Current Events > I had a dream I was a famous author

(+) Yeah! (+)

And I was on a book tour, answering fan questions. They introduced me as "one of the most promising young authors in quite some time". Then I woke up with a sense of deep, depressing loathing of myself because that is absolutely never going to happen in a million lifetimes.

what have you done every day to make that dream come true?
(Not saying this to make you feel bad, but realize to get to the level you gotta pour in the work. So start now, and you'll get there.)

---

MACisBack posted...

what have you done every day to make that dream come true?
(Not saying this to make you feel bad, but realize to get to the level you gotta pour in the work. So start now, and you'll get there.)

Written over 1.2 million words since mid 2017, 12 full books, self-published them, and sent out manuscripts to real publishers and heard back from 2 that might want my book.

Well then, you're on your way just give it some time.

---

I'm just running out of hope. I want to be a James Joyce, a David Foster Wallace, etc.

I guess I just want to be important.

Artisan1990 posted...

I'm just running out of hope. I want to be a James Joyce, a David Foster Wallace, etc.

I guess I just want to be important.

Do it because you love it or don't do it at all.

---

vigorm0rtis posted...

Do it because you love it or don't do it at all.

Eh, that's bullshit, solely for people with that much passion. If it were just for love, I would do nothing until I rot.

---

Guide posted...

Eh, that's bullshit, solely for people with that much passion. If it were just for love, I would do nothing until I rot.

I'm almost 30 and I've been writing stories since I was 11. I used to do it just because I enjoyed it, but I want something more.

I would love to be the rockstar of the literary world.

---

Guide posted...

Eh, that's bullshit, solely for people with that much passion. If it were just for love, I would do nothing until I rot.

Writing to a professional standard is a craft that takes a long time to hone with no reward, and there's no certainty of a payoff. If you don't enjoy it, you're wasting your time.

---

vigorm0rtis posted...

Writing to a professional standard is a craft that takes a long time to hone with no reward, and there's no certainty of a payoff. If you don't enjoy it, you're wasting your time.

I do enjoy it, it just gets soul-sucking sometimes to seem like you aren't getting anywhere and no one cares, ya know?

Artisan1990 posted...

I do enjoy it, it just gets soul-sucking sometimes to seem like you aren't getting anywhere and no one cares, ya know?

I do. I've been writing forever, it seems, only bothered to start thinking of it in a professional sense a few years ago.

Do you submit any of your work?

---

vigorm0rtis posted...

I do. I've been writing forever, it seems, only bothered to start thinking of it in a professional sense a few years ago.

Do you submit any of your work?

Yeah, I have two publishers that want to see a full manuscript of a work I sent them last fall. Smaller ones, one of which is in London, but I mean, maybe it'd be good to just get my foot in the door?

Artisan1990 posted...

Yeah, I have two publishers that want to see a full manuscript of a work I sent them last fall. Smaller ones, one of which is in London, but I mean, maybe it'd be good to just get my foot in the door?

Well... once you get paid for any creative writing, there are professional organizations you can join to get you access to resources and beta readers (somewhat reliant on genre, but there are quite a few).

Don't worry about running out of time. You're still young. Twain didn't get his start until 41, Richard Adams at 52, Tolkien at 45. You're doing fine.

---

vigorm0rtis posted...

Well... once you get paid for any creative writing, there are professional organizations you can join to get you access to resources and beta readers (somewhat reliant on genre, but there are quite a few).

Don't worry about running out of time. You're still young. Twain didn't get his start until 41, Richard Adams at 52, Tolkien at 45. You're doing fine.

Yeah, I was holding out for bigger publishers, thinking my work was too important for something smaller (it's a very personal story and the majority of it is true) but at this point if I get an offer, no matter how small (one company only has 4 employees), I think I'll take it.

I dreamed of eating other people's pizzas that were sent to me by mistake. cheesy dream

---

i'll never be a famous writer but that doesn't stop me from writing my 327k and counting manuscript about what a terrible person i am

with that said, writing is a very competitive field - gotta push for both quality and quantity, market ruthlessly, and do everything possible to get exposure

if you want to became famous writing with dignity and integrity, you're likely constrained to subject matter that's currently being widely discussed, or otherwise face obscurity - there are a number of great writers and thinkers that have since passed and are only recently beginning to gain traction in the public consciousness

---

TheMikh posted...

i'll never be a famous writer but that doesn't stop me from writing my 327k and counting manuscript about what a terrible person i am

with that said, writing is a very competitive field - gotta push for both quality and quantity, market ruthlessly, and do everything possible to get exposure

if you want to became famous writing with dignity and integrity, you're likely constrained to subject matter that's currently being widely discussed, or otherwise face obscurity - there are a number of great writers and thinkers that have since passed and are only recently beginning to gain traction in the public consciousness

Most of my best writing is mental health based, which makes it pretty marketable (sad to say that misery sells, but it's the "hot" thing right now).

I would try to prove I'm a good writer but I've posted on CE long enough to know how cruel people can be. All I know is these are professional companies that like my work, college english professors have said I write very well, also scored the highest out of any kid in my graduating class on our 11th grade writing test that was state mandated (only 4 other kids from around the state got the same score). Not that that last one means much, but eh.

I have great ideas but man I just can't put it on da paper you feel me?

How much has your self published books sold?

How many copies of your most popular book have you sold?

---

Artisan1990 posted...

Most of my best writing is mental health based, which makes it pretty marketable (sad to say that misery sells, but it's the "hot" thing right now).

I would try to prove I'm a good writer but I've posted on CE long enough to know how cruel people can be. All I know is these are professional companies that like my work, college english professors have said I write very well, also scored the highest out of any kid in my graduating class on our 11th grade writing test that was state mandated (only 4 other kids from around the state got the same score). Not that that last one means much, but eh.

If you want a beta reader, I'm game. Within certain genre limits, I'm not a reliable critic of YA and some other corners of lit.


---

SrRd_RacinG posted...

How much has your self published books sold?

How many copies of your most popular book have you sold?

I am absolutely terrible at marketing and I sold about 30 books across all 12 I self-published. I did nothing but try to get friends and family to read them (what I've found is soooooo many people will say they will read something and then never will). The only check I ever received was for $17.36.

So yeah, I'll probably take just about any contract that comes my way unless it's a scam.

Artisan1990 posted...

I am absolutely terrible at marketing and I sold about 30 books across all 12 I self-published. I did nothing but try to get friends and family to read them (what I've found is soooooo many people will say they will read something and then never will). The only check I ever received was for $17.36.

So yeah, I'll probably take just about any contract that comes my way unless it's a scam.

Damn, that's a shame.

---

vigorm0rtis posted...

If you want a beta reader, I'm game. Within certain genre limits, I'm not a reliable critic of YA and some other corners of lit.

I'll think about it. I'm kind of in a vulnerable, sensitive mental health state atm though so please understand that, if I seem dubious, it is nothing against you personally.

But I'm working on two works atm: one is a semi-autobiographical novel about a 31 day civil commitment I had in a psych hospital (I was shipped off to a treatment center for 2 months after that and what's called an IRT after that, which is basically an adult boarding house to reintegrate people back into society, so I actually have a ton of material for sequels if the first book does well). Second one is a series of loosely connected vignettes about all of my deepest, darkest thoughts through daily struggles with BPD, GAD, clinical depression and OCD.

Artisan1990 posted...

I'll think about it. I'm kind of in a vulnerable, sensitive mental health state atm though so please understand that, if I seem dubious, it is nothing against you personally.

Understand completely. Just file it away and let me know if you want any help.


---

Ah, just got this e-mail from an agent I queried back in November:

Hi Kyle,

Thank you so much for giving me a chance to see your work.

Ive now had a chance to review your query and Im sorry to say I dont feel Im connecting wholeheartedly with your writing, despite its many charms. So at this time, I feel it best to step aside.

Please know that this is a very subjective business and that tastes range widely among agents. Someone else may feel very differently and you deserve someone who is passionate about your work and is confident about their ability to position it.

I truly appreciate the look and wish you nothing but the best of luck with your future endeavors.

Sincerely,
Alexandra

Artisan1990 posted...

And I was on a book tour, answering fan questions. They introduced me as "one of the most promising young authors in quite some time". Then I woke up with a sense of deep, depressing loathing of myself because that is absolutely never going to happen in a million lifetimes.

Write a book. See if the dream comes true

---

3khc posted...

Write a book. See if the dream comes true

"Written over 1.2 million words since mid 2017, 12 full books, self-published them, and sent out manuscripts to real publishers and heard back from 2 that might want my book"

From the first page. But yeah, I've written a lot.