The Best Way To Use Your Time As A Writer: Don't Listen To The Haters

So... You work full-time. You are a janitor. You are a teacher. You are a cashier at a grocery store. 

IT DOESN'T MATTER!!!!

You know that you are a writer. You hear the voices in your head. You dream magically amazing stories in your sleep. You wake up and are like, "Damn! I need to write that down!"

But... you have Debbie Downers in your camp. You share your ideas with those around you. They say, "That's stupid."

What should you do?

Write it down. Write everything they say. Write everything you think in the moment. Write. Write. Write!!!!!

Don't listen to the haters.

Here is the reality. Most people live life unsuccessfully. They believe that they are not one of the lucky ones who get to be a writer, a movie star.... in short... a success.

They settle. I need a job. So... this company will give me a job at XX amount of dollars an hour. I need to pay the bills. 

Fall into that trap and you will never be a writer. You will be a wage earner.

Don't get me wrong... You must pay the bills... But you don't have to give up your dreams to do it.... 

I quit my day job. I decided I would make my own future. It's been rough... but I'm still at it...

As a writer, that means ignoring everyone who says I can't do it. Even family has questioned my decisions. Maybe yours has too. But... be brave. Follow your dream.

Just do it strategically...

MORE TOMORROW ON MY JOURNEY AND HOW I STOPPED WORKING FULL-TIME TO PURSUE MY WRITING DREAM...

Self-Publishing Success Story Defies Conventional Thinking

I spent an hour this morning going through edits to my soon-to-be released commercial version of Death Speaks Loudest... It will serve as a prelude to my soon-to-be-released Urban Fantasy book, The Chosen Must Fall.

My wife who has some experience with book manuscript preparation was helping me. She is ruthless! This afternoon she showed me a news story on Yahoo! Finance about another writer finding "unconventional" success through self-publishing. "How I Became a Best-Selling Author" has all the usual plot points: writer in her spare time creates a novel; traditional publishers take a pass; the manuscript languishes inside a dusty desk drawer until the writer takes a chance on e-publishing; against the odds, the said-book becomes a bestseller online.

If you are an aspiring writer stuck in the conventional wisdom that says you need an agent or a traditional publisher to make your dreams of success a reality, then read the article. It confirms everything I have discovered in my research over the past four months: you can succeed as a self-published writer.

Now I'm not saying everyone who goes down the self-publishing road will succeed, or that the self-pub road is a downhill stroll on a lovely summer's day. It's more like an uphill hike during a blinding blizzard. I have yet to reach the summit of my hike, but I'm still on the road.

And that's all I'm encouraging. Don't settle for conventional wisdom. In fact, you'd be surprised how many great writers and poets began their "greatness" as self-published wannabes.


I don't know how my hike will end, but I'm still trudging forward one step at a time until I find out.

Reality Sets In

Do you remember having those wonderful dreams where you get everything you've ever hoped for? Yeah... then reality smacks you in the face.


I'm busy cranking out my NaNoWriMo novel. I'm at about 25,000 words, so... not like I'm too far behind. But, other stuff has got me stressed. In a nutshell... My dad's in the hospital. My kids are going through stuff. Parents will understand. I'm forced to have that talk w/ one of my kids. You know.. the birds and the bees talk. Think I'm gonna puke....


Then there's my novel. I have neglected my first book in the Mall Demons Series. Gotta finish. But trying to bring a novel to market is stressful. Right now, I'm trying to finalize book cover art. Other considerations????? There's the cost for ISBN numbers and bar codes. Winning the lottery for at least $500 would be so sweet right now.

That's not gonna happen, so... (fyi... not sure what comes next.).

Marriage Vows - An Example of Commitment For Writers

My wife and I attended a wedding yesterday. We saw two of our dear friends vow to spend the rest of their lives together.

Source: Microsoft Office Images

Only last week, my wife and I celebrated our 12th anniversary. Hurricane Irene tried to ruin it, but we still went out on a date - in the rain. But that's water under the bridge... Sorry, couldn't help myself.

Back to the wedding. It was a wonderful service. I love hearing the vows. Call me conventional, but I love the old traditional vows - especially the parts that mention "in sickness and in health... till death do us part." It got me thinking.

Vows are earnest promises, solemn promises. Pledges. Declarations that we are going to do something. "Till death do us part." Making a vow is by definition a binding act. So, how's this relate to your writing? Well, have you made a public declaration that you are going to be a writer?

Have you vowed to work tirelessly at your craft? In sickness and in health? If writing is a career goal for you, then you must commit. I have been reading a lot lately about the difference between writers and wannabe writers. Commitment is a factor.

I know as a married guy, I'm a husband 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks out of a year, so on and so on. I made a vow 12 years ago. If I am serious about that vow, then I can't take a day off saying, "I don't feel like being married today. I'm taking a break."

My beliefs and convictions won't let me. Granted, there are days when being a husband is hard. But hard times don't nullify the vow I made to my wife. Same goes for writing if you are really serious about it. Think about your commitment to your craft. Do you write every day? Or only when you feel like it?

Like marriage, it's the little things that count. Are you improving your grammar? Keeping up with trends? What about the business side of writing? Are you reading works in your field? Little things. Important things.

Make a vow today. Get serious about your writing. Need help? Reach out to other writers. It's so much easier nowadays with social media. Feel free to message me. If I don't have the answer, I'll find someone who does.

Want to be part of a writing community? Check out My Writers Circle. Writer's Digest listed it as one of the 101 Best Websites For Writers. It's a friendly community. You'll find me there.