First Novel Done... Time for #2

At this point in my writing career (mid 2012), the only way I knew to "be a writer" (aside from being a journalist working for a newspaper) was to write novels. 

I had self-published my first novel, in two parts, and a novella.  They both sold a handful of copies, but much to my surprise, I wasn't making a living from the book sales. 

I say that somewhat sarcastically, but I also had naïve expectations. 

I remember talking to an aunt in early 2012, telling her what I was up to.  She asked how long I'd work at it (being a writer) before I "got a real job."  (I don't think she said it in quite those words, but that was the gist.) 

I said "a year."  I thought that was realistic, because, after all, isn't that was everyone says?  People run off to giving acting a shot, and they always say they'll give it a year. 

I didn't believe, entirely, that I'd be rolling in the dough in that 12-month period.  (I mean, it would have been nice, and I wasn't ruling it out, but I also wasn't holding my breath.) 

But I did think I'd be making at least a couple hundred dollars a month through the sales of my books.  And that it would be growing.   

I didn't.  And it wasn't.   

At best, I think I got around $150 one month, but that was the high.  Most months were closer to the $20-50 range... or even zero.

So, what's a "starving writer" to do... Write another book! 

I had had another story idea in my head wanting to get out.  So I jumped right in and started writing my second full-length novel. 

This one ended up being shorter than "The Time of Your Life," but still a full-length novel.  It's called "Family Man." 

Ok.  I now had 3 novels (if you count the two-parter as two separate books) and a novella.  Surely I could make a living now, right?!  (This was early 2013 at this point.)

Nope. 

I think I sold fewer copies of "Family Man" than my others.  Again, though, I did very little (next to no) marketing. 

I was starting to wonder at this point.  Can I make a living as a writer?  Am I any good?  Do people even like my books? 

I still didn't know what else to do but churn out books.  I thought it was a numbers game.  And it probably is, in part. 

So after taking a short break after publishing "Family Man," I started on another story. 

But this time I didn't get into it like I did the others.  And that's when I really started to question if I was meant to be a writer.

Here's what I still believe though:  If you have a story in you, tell it! 

And when you don't have a story, do something else.  But either way, don't worry about it! 

I was learning at this point that making it as a writer wasn't as simple as writing a book (or four).  It takes persistent, dedicated action.  I'm still working on it, in fact. 

So if you want to be a writer, be a writer!  Write!  Write whatever is in your heart and your mind to write. 

Then put it out there.  You never know. 

Keep going....