Do readers make the writer? I’d bet I am not the only one who ponders this.
First and foremost – thank you. Thank you for taking the time to read the words I share here with you.
Attracting readers to put their eyes on my work is a challenge. It takes an odd and hard to explain combination of creation, marketing, meeting a need, being in the right place at the right time, and other utterly incomprehensible variables.
I put the words on the page or screen. Then I share the words either to a blog, in a book, or maybe both.
After that? Wholly outside of my control.
I can advertise, pitch, share to social media, talk about constantly, and otherwise offer up my work. But I cannot make anyone read it.
Of course, I wouldn’t force someone to read my work. But there is a limit to what I can do to persuade people to read my stuff.
This can be extremely frustrating. Particularly when I put as much time and effort as I do into honing my craft. I’m a decent writer – why don’t I get more readers?
This applies to everything I do. My blogs, my books – they get eyes on them. I have readers – like you, thank you again – and I am deeply, deeply grateful to and for you and all of them.
However, to earn a decent living as a writer – I need more readers.
What’s more, looking at the number of book sales and readers to my blogs produces two conflicting effects. On the one hand – awesome! People are reading my stuff. On the other hand – damn, how come I have so few readers?
The other hand is a slippery slope that can lead to even more annoying and displeasing questions. Such as – with only a few readers, can I still call myself a writer?
A writer writes
The short answer is yes. I am taking the time, doing the work, and writing. Thus – YES, I am a writer.
Would-be and wanna-be writers have several things in common. They either right only a little, conceive of but never write out ideas, or they start project after project and never finish. Sure, so long as you are writing you’re a writer. But completion is a factor if you aim to make a career of it.
I’ve been hired to write for others. There is web content on various pages, blogs, poems, short stories, and other work I’ve written out there. Both paid and unpaid, I have put my work out into the world.
Writing is my passion. It brings me joy to write. Whatever I write. It could be a blog article like this one. Maybe it’s one of my sci-fi or fantasy books. Even writing copy for webpages and creating documents for businesses makes me feel joy.
Writing is in my blood. To me, writing is no different from breathing and nearly as involuntary as my heart beating. Regularly, I am doing writing to serve a purpose in one form or another.
Ergo, yes, I am a writer.
But that doesn’t address the deep-seated, nagging notions that I am an imposter or a pretender.
Do the readers make the writer?
Recently, Medium had a writing competition. There were 4 topics available. The prizes were impressive, from as little as $100 honorable mention to the $50,000 grand prize.
I wrote 4 articles, one for each topic. It was my belief that they were good, maybe even great. I was sure that – at the very least – I’d get an honorable mention.
Nope. Goose egg. I got nothing.
Readership for each of my articles written for the contest was – in a word – meh. According to the stats on Medium – as of this writing – the most readers I had for any of the four articles was 17. I supposedly have almost 1100 followers and got no more than 52 views.
I am not knocking any of the winners – nor my followers. But I am being honest here – this is disheartening.
Hence the question and unpleasant follow-ups that take after it. With only a few readers, can I still call myself a writer? Am I not half as good a writer as I think I am? Is this a sign that I have chosen the wrong path? Am I fooling myself?
Each of those questions are like knives to my heart. They do not feel good, and they are upsetting. I’m only human – and it’s natural to take this personally and see it as something beyond what it is.
When I read a sci-fi story by another author that wows me – such as the Alex White The Salvagers series I am working through now – similar questions arise. As good a writer as I am, am I this author’s equal? Do I and my writing measure up at all?
This is a subjective question. Beauty and perfection are both in the eye of the beholder. So’s good writing.
Where does having only a few readers put me?
Who judges my value and worth?
I’ve encountered enough bad writing to know it from the good. I’m not a bad writer. But am I good enough?
That’s totally subjective. And it raises the question of who’s the judge of that?
That depends. One important factor here is – do I accept that I am imperfect? Do I recognize that I am still growing as a writer? Will I take constructive criticism and use it to improve?
Some people are not fans of sci-fi. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea (or shot of whisky). To them, no matter what I produce, they won’t read it.
Likewise, some of the topics I cover for my blogs aren’t for everyone. Some people don’t believe in conscious reality creation, mindfulness, or positivity to improve our lives. And some people couldn’t care less about the things I share regarding my ongoing writing process.
Ultimately, who judges my value and worth, then?
Me.
When all is said and done, no matter what anyone else tells us – we’re our own harshest critics and most stringent judges. Nobody but you or I determine our true value or worth.
I can blame my negative feelings on having too few readers. It’s easy to imagine I am being “weighed, measured, and found wanting.” But that’s not the reality of it.
The truth is that I am the ultimate judge of my value and worth.
With or without readers I keep writing
I believe in this path I am on. Because writing is my passion and brings me joy – I keep at it.
I presently have 11 novels plotted from 3 different series. Two more novels will be out before the end of 2021. And my blogs continue to be written and posted 6 or 7 days a week. I have no intention of stopping anytime soon.
Furthermore, I know that I am evolving as a writer. In the process of editing Harbinger – the third novel of my Source Chronicles fantasy series – it’s extremely apparent. I began this book in 2001 or 2002. My style, viewpoint, perspective, and overall process have changed considerably in the last 20 years. That’s part of why it’s taken so long for me to complete my edits before sending this to an editor.
With or without readers, I will keep writing. As the quote from Field of Dreams goes,
“If you build it, they will come.”
I love this art, and I believe in this path I am taking with it.
It’s an ongoing challenge that I will continue to pursue. And the more I write, the better I get.
So – with only a few readers can I still call myself a writer? Absolutely.
If you are a creative – and your art is not getting all the attention you’re striving for – keep at it. We are worthy and deserving of success. And the more we practice our arts the better we get.
Strive on.
Thank you for being part of my ongoing journey, for joining me, and for inspiring me and my craft.
This is the one-hundred and thirtieth article exploring the ongoing creative process. Please take a moment to check out the collection of my published works, which can be found here.
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