There is nothing worse for a professional author than for our gift to be called a “hobby”. Since we live in a westernized, capitalistic society where one’s success is measured by their pocketbook, it is heavily argued that writing is in fact a hobby and not a job. Unless of course you happen to be Stephen King or J.K. Rowling. However, below are two of the most important reasons why writing is not a hobby for professional authors regardless of their sales rank.
- HARD WORK
It took me nearly twelve years before my anti-trafficking book, The Aviary was officially published with a small press. That was AFTER I was contracted with multiple agents (and even had Suzanne Collins’ agent read my book). But sometimes, agents don’t work out. The publishing industry is cruel to unknowns and those without a niche market to break into. So, the beat goes on.
True authors do NOT give up!
Writing is far too difficult to connotate with a hobby. It is grueling work. Not always paying work but work nonetheless. And of course, how many authors waited for years until they became successes in their middle-life? Or the bloggers who finally got their big break after years?
- We spend years pouring our blood, sweat, and tears into our books. We find beta readers and critique partners.
- We follow other successful indie authors, network with them to glean their advice and marketing strategies.
- Sometimes, we have a publishing company that has built-in editors, graphic designers, PR people, and other supportive staff members.
- Sometimes we don’t.
We get pittance for royalties.
Which brings me to my next point.
- INVESTMENT
Investment doesn’t mean just financial investment, but for authors and especially indie authors, there is another golden investment we must take part in: TIME. When people get to know me, I explain I work from home. This is true. My time as an author equates to around 25-30 hours a week. Writing and promotion all take significant amounts of time. The more you put in, the more you get out. I know if I had the energy and ability to invest more, I would get more. It is rare for successful authors to have little kids in the home. True authors invest money AND time.
~This one is for the Indie Authors
- Authors pay for editing, cover design, and marketing.
- Authors spend all the time to format our books, arrange for interior design (also costs money) and upload it to the right digital channels. If we can’t do it ourselves (or have a tech-inclined husband *cough*), we spend more money for a professional website.
- Authors can spend money on a social media promoter.
- Authors spend hundreds of hours promoting ourselves on social media.
- Authors engage with readers and bloggers.
- We beg or pay for reviews.
- We pay for our own books. We pay to ship our books to ourselves.
- We research to find events and spend money to have a table or booth.
- We spend money on banners, branding, and swag, much of which we GIVE away!
- We spend money on prizes for book launches and giveaways.
And we turn around and sell our ebooks for $0.99-$3.99 online. Or even set the first one FREE to entice new readers as I have done with my Uncaged Series and will do with my Roseblood Series once I release the 3rd one this month. We sell physical copies for a few bucks more.
Breaking even is considered a success.
We don’t have a company conference, an HR line, or a grievance committee. We don’t have workman’s comp for tendinitis or carpal tunnel.
We learn from trial and error.
Sometimes, we beat our heads against the keyboard, wondering why we torture ourselves and if we should just give up.
But we never can.
Because it’s not a job.
60% of restaurants fail in their first year. Nearly 80% shutter by their fifth year. When I consider all the time, money, investment, sweat effort, and hard work restaurant owners put into their places of business (notice I stated “business”), I understand how this is not the result of a hobby.
Most of the time, it’s the hardest workers of our society breaking their backs every day who receive the lowest wages. I also look to my fellow authors who hold down other jobs to support themselves while they strive harder than ever to professionally release their books. They are not supporting a hobby.
We do it because we have to. Because it’s who we are AND what we do! Yes, we do it to satisfy that stirring hunger for words deep inside of us. But remember, we also do it for YOU! And we need YOU! If you wish to support your indie or small press authors in any way, please check out my earlier post: Six Ways to Support Your Starving Authors.
Love you, my author besties! Stay strong!