There’s this myth floating around that writing one book—just one—will turn you into the next literary sensation. That you'll hit publish, wake up the next morning with a fan club, a movie deal, and Oprah knocking on your door.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but… nope. That’s not how this works. That’s not how any of this works.
The Reality: Years of Writing (and Rewriting… and Crying… and More Writing)
I’ve been writing since I was fourteen. That’s a lot of years spent typing away, dreaming up characters, and questioning my life choices when a plot hole the size of Texas appears out of nowhere. I have thirteen books on Amazon. That sounds impressive, right? But what if I told you that lurking in the depths of my hard drive are twenty-five first drafts that will likely never see the light of day? That’s right. I have an entire library of books that no one—not even my dog—will ever read.
Because writing isn’t about that one brilliant idea that magically turns into a bestseller. It’s about trial and error, learning and improving, pushing past the self-doubt that whispers, maybe you should just take up knitting instead? (I tried, and let’s just say, the knitting world is grateful I chose writing.)
It’s Like Every Other Job—Except You’re Mostly Talking to Imaginary People
Writing is a skill. Like playing an instrument, learning a language, or mastering the delicate art of making a grilled cheese without burning it. (I am still failing at that last one.) You don’t just wake up one day as a full-fledged author. You write. You rewrite. You cringe at your early work. You keep going.
And let me tell you, if you don’t absolutely love it, you will give up. I know, because I have given up—on so many things.
Let’s take a moment to honor my previous career attempts:
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The time I thought I’d be a fantastic retail worker until I realized people ask way too many questions.
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The brief but chaotic adventure into office life, which ended when I realized staplers and spreadsheets do not spark joy.
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The restaurant job where I lasted approximately three weeks before deciding that people get way too emotional about their side orders.
But writing? I always came back to it. Even when it felt impossible. Even when it felt like I was shouting into the void. Even when I stared at my Amazon sales graph and wondered if the numbers were actually going backward.
Because, at the end of the day, I love storytelling. I love creating worlds, crafting characters, and making people feel something—whether that’s joy, suspense, or the deep frustration of yelling at a fictional character for making bad decisions. (Yes, I hear your screams. No, I will not fix it.)
So, What’s the Secret?
The real secret to being a successful author isn’t instant success. It’s perseverance. It’s writing when no one is reading. It’s writing when you think you’re terrible at it. It’s learning, growing, and refusing to quit—because deep down, you know you’re meant to do this.
And maybe, just maybe, one day, I’ll finally have a book that doesn’t just join the literary graveyard on my hard drive.
Until then… I’ll keep writing.
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