Cheerleading

I understand why articles about writing are unfailingly upbeat. Who wants to read a downer? Well, maybe me. Not a downer, but a reality check. I think a lot of would-be writers could use a reality check. 

I just skimmed an article that listed all the negative aspects of writing and (especially) publishing, then at the end, the author had to add something to the effect of, "But when you succeed, you'll know it was all worth it." She went on to detail her own success story. Oh, okay. Thanks.

Most of us won't have a success story to share, and maybe we'd be better off not buying into the hype. Everyone doesn't succeed; in fact, very few do. Sure, success means something different to each person, but if we all succeeded, we'd have at least one example to recount. 

I still believe that the majority of writers really work to hone their craft. Yes, those who are only in it for the money definitely exist ~ just scan Amazon's genre pages ~ but most of us are completely sincere. That actually makes our failure feel worse. We begin to question ourselves and everything we've done or haven't done. It can easily turn even the most well-adjusted writer neurotic. 

Should I have bankrupted myself by hiring an editor? Do people hate my cover? What about my blurb? Damn, I didn't market it right! I'm a horrible writer! Why did I even think I could write a novel? 

I spent almost nine years bettering myself, until I reached the point at which my words flowed like butter. In fact, no one reading my work would imagine that I carefully considered every word. Shrug. What does it matter? I would say I'll just quietly disappear, but I never actually appeared.  

Sometimes you give it everything you have, and there is no happy ending.