Even if you knew you would never sell another book, would you keep writing?
An interesting topic this week and one I’ve had to think about. I’ve reflected on this on and off all day as I work towards finalising the editing of my new novel, A Ghost and His Gold. This book has been a huge exercise for me with all the research and effort I’ve put in to try and ensure it ticks all the writing criteria. I’ve checked for filter words, read and re-read the dialogue, tied up a few loose strings that my editor pointed out, checked spelling and punctuation and generally spent many hours perfecting this book. Writing is a real labour of love and one most writers willingly do, even it they know they won’t necessary generate a lot of sales.
But no sales! None at all! Hmmm! I’m not sure if I would continue to write if I had absolutely no encouragement at all. My need in this regard doesn’t necessarily translate into sales, but I would like to believe that at least a few people out there read my work and enjoyed it. I find reviews quite rewarding and would not like to have absolutely none at all. I do believe I would find that disheartening and I’m not sure if I would put so much effort in if this was the case.
I tend to write about topics that one, interest me, and two, I am passionate about so I accept that I am unlikely to ever be traditionally published. I could never write to a formula or curtail my writing to fit a purely commercial mould. That being said, I like to think there is a market for unconventional and different books like mine.
I think I will always write poetry as it is like a pressure valve for me. It is a way for me to release emotional stress and strain that might otherwise result in confrontations or arguments that would serve no real purpose and produce no positive change in my life. Some things are just to big to change and you have to accept them in life.
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roberta-writes.com 
That’s an interesting question, Robbie. If I had absolutely zero sales, I’d probably hang it up and find some other creative outlet. 🙂 How wonderful that you are giving so much time and detail to your new novel! Can’t wait to read it!
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Thanks Jan. This book received a lot less developmental commentary from my editor and I know I am improving and implementing what I learn about writing which is encouraging. I also need some sales.
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I don’t need tons of sales, although that would be nice, but I do need some sales. Sales validate what you are doing. My daughter is a potter and she loves what she does but she needs sales to keep her going. I consider my writing a business, and no one keeps a business going without any sales.
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Yes, Darlene, I think this is well expressed. We need some sales to validate our work when it comes to books. They are jolly hard work to produce.
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Good question. I would say I don’t write for sales but I also don’t like wasting time. Hmm…
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I know, a conundrum, but hopefully one we never have to face. I work on sales but they aren’t my main driving force. I do appreciate the ones I have though.
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I enjoy getting the odd sale and I appreciate a good review. It means that I have an audience, however small. That said, my focus is on getting the words from my head and onto a page, there are always more of them trying to force their way in and it will get awfully crowded in there if I don’t keep making room.
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Haha, yes, I understand that, Richard. My current book has rather exhausted me so I did write this post in that frame of mind too.
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Depends on how you view the question. If you see your work as product the corner of $ and validation was the programmed destination before the journey even began.
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Yes, I’m sure you are right.
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that was an interesting read. I would think when you start out as a writer, it might take a while for the sales to take place. But if the sales started to fade away, that would seem disheartening. As for poetry, other than an occasional haiku, I don’t think it’s for me 🙂
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This is true, Jim. I guess what I am saying is there needs to be forward momentum for me to make the effort of writing a book worthwhile. I write my books to share my ideas, even if a lot of readers don’t understand the full extent of my idea, they get the gist. I wouldn’t only do that for me. Poetry just comes to me. I arrives in my head, fully formed, and I pluck it out and write it down.
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I agree that we write to share our ideas, otherwise, why publish them. And how lucky for you with respect to poetry.
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I couldn’t find your book for sale at the usual outlets — do you have a link?
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Hi Cage A Ghost and His Gold is not out yet so you won’t find it anywhere. It will only be available in January.
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I didn’t have to think twice about the answer to this. Would I keep writing if I never sold another book? The answer is a resounding YES!!
Getting read and having sales is the dream, but I’ve been crafting stories since I was six, because it’s something I HAVE to do. I need to write. It’s in my blood and I LOVE doing it. If no one but me ever read my work, I would still keep writing for my own enjoyment.
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That is wonderful, Mae. I have also written for only myself for many years but I don’t think I would craft a whole book if no-one was going to read it. I would write poetry which is my pressure valve.
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A conundrum most of us face as writers… Sales and reviews help keep us inspired, but so do the topics we write about. ❤ xo
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Yes, I would probably still write but not books. They are to much hard work.
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🙂 xo
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Hmm, interesting question to ponder. If a story is published in a literary magazine that doesn’t pay anything, does that count as a sale? I would continue writing if I never made another sale. I have to.
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To my way of thinking it does because for me its all about others reading my work. I would also write, but I wouldn’t write a 117 000 book. I think I’d stick to shorter stuff.
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That was my thought as well. I’d stick with short stories and poems.
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Dear Robbie. Love reading you writing process I find it inspiring. Thank you for sharing.
Sales, I think everyone is experiencing hard times.
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Yes, times are hard. It is reviews and interest that keep me going and the ebooks are very reasonable on Amazon.
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Yes.
I’ve hardly made any sales on my debut book, so it wouldn’t make much difference to me! LOL.
Seriously though, yes, I would keep writing. It’s in my DNA. If I don’t write and get the stories out of my head, I’m sure one day, my head will explode.
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You have to keep working on sales, Jessica. I have found my sales have increased as I’ve published more books. Maybe try a blog tour?
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Nah, you’re right with your first suggestion. I need to write more books! Working on it 😉
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Are you books on jingle?
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Kindle?
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Hi Bella, my books are all on Amazon in ebook format. The new one isn’t available yet. It will only be published in January 2021.
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You know more than I do
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Just like you I tend to write about subjects that interest me, rather than what the current bestseller topic is. I’m sure your book will attract many readers, Robbie.
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Thanks for the encouragement, Stevie.
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I’ve been asked this question before. I think I’m answering honestly. I would keep writing, though I wouldn’t work as hard at it as I do now. I’ve been writing since I was a young child and didn’t get paid for it then, yet I chose this as my profession, so I suspect money isn’t what motivates me to do it. Of course, if I wasn’t writing and editing, I have no idea what I’d be doing. Kind of hard to work at a bookstore when they’re all closing down…
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You make a horrible and truthful point about book stores closing down. Thank goodness for Amazon. I don’t believe I would write books without encouragement. It was the blogging community and the support of other writers that got me to try to write a book in the first place.
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Well, I’m happy to add my name to the list of people encouraging you.
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I will keep writing as long as it gives me pleasure. When it no longer does that, I’ll stop.
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Yes, that makes perfect sense, Norah.
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I thought a lot about this week’s question, too. I love to be creative, and there are many outlets for it. The way I decorate my home, how I love my family, the effort I put into my work. It doesn’t have to be books. All the same, I think if an idea really grabbed a hold of me, I’d write it down.
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Yes, that might be so for me too, but I don’t know if I would go for a long book that takes 18 months to write.
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I get this. I haven’t sold anything, especially since I’m trying to go the traditional route, but I have that strong need for external validation. So I can dig this.
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Yes, if you are wanting to go the traditional route then you are definitely writing with purpose and a goal.
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