Yeah, I know... epic.
It's difficult to think of a more far-fetched career to actually achieve success with. Consider the different stages along the journey, accomplished in succession, and the long odds attributed to each one:
1st --> Start - and finish - novel
• How many people think they could write a novel? How many of those people actually sit down and start writing that novel... until it's finished? It's impossible to have statistics on this, but one could say that starting - and completing - a novel is the toughest part. Except...
2nd --> Have said novel be good
• It seems like everybody is writing novels these days, thanks to FanFiction, Wattpad, Nanowrimo, and the rest. Which is a good thing, but it kinda cheapens the sense of achievement. Until you realize that much of what people write probably... uh, how do I say it.. "consists of varying degrees of quality?" Which is completely subjective. But still, it's even more difficult to write a novel that is good. Except...
3rd --> Have well-written novel also be unique and fresh
• Being good is not enough. This particular stage I underestimated when I first started out. I didn't appreciate how important it is to have a premise/characters/plot that are different and stand out. In epic fantasy, a lot of stories get dismissed as "Tolkien knock-offs," and I think that there are varying degrees in which that is true. Unfortunately, more than a few agents, editors, writers, and fans out there dismiss any sort of medieval-based quest with Hero's Journey type plot and characters as derivative.
4th --> Get well-written, unique novel published
• So let's say you've achieved the impossible: you have a well-written, interesting, unique story. Guess what? There's still no guarantee of getting published. The list of great authors and highly popular books that have been rejected is mind-numbing (and really, worthy of its own blog entry).
Look no further than one of the most popular - if not the most popular - children's book series ever written. Twelve different publishers rejected Harry Potter, with one agent even going as far as to tell J.K. Rowling that she'd never make money selling children's books.
Think about that for a minute.
So, you begin to think that publication is the crowning achievement. To break down the barriers and get past the gatekeepers and immortalize your story. Except...
5th --> Having stellar, published novel actually sell
• Publishing also seems easier nowadays, too (see: Amazon, Sourcebooks, etc). However, going the indie/digital route is no short cut to quitting your day job. Unless you have innate marketing skills, considerable $ to invest in yourself, and a built-in audience (via social media), self-publishing does not necessary equate to popularity with readers.
Even publication in the traditional sense (book on the shelf, edited by a big NY publisher) is not the be all end all. The publishing industry in 2015 is not your father's publishing industry. With the
6th --> Repeat
Having hit the literary equivalent of the lottery, it's time play the game again.
Seriously, I wonder which of the following has the worst odds: having a successful career as an epic fantasy novelist, winning the lottery, or successfully navigating an asteroid field?
Why would I even consider such an endeavor?
The answer in part 2 of "Why I Do What I Do..."
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