I must be different

I’ve probably said this before but getting published is not the end of the road. It’s not the shiny, beautiful land of flowing money and praise that I, at least, always thought it would be. I’m going to be really honest with you all today.

I was published in 2016. My books are not best sellers. I am not making money from them. I still have a full-time day job.

Blast of cold water for some of you, who might not be published yet. Totally realistic position for some of you who are published.

That’s the way of things. Getting published is not the pot of gold, it’s one of many steps on the path. It’s a milestone, sure. But it’s not the end.

And yet, I forever think that this can’t possibly apply to me. Sure, other people are writing and publishing in obscurity, but there’s something wrong with me. Not them, just me. I’m a terrible writer, that’s it. I’m just shitty, and that’s why I’m failing.

I mean, sure, Elizabeth Gilbert was still working until she published Eat Pray Love, which was her third novel. I know, JK Rowling submitted Harry Potter to everyone and their mother before getting published. I know that Stephen King wrote Carrie while working full time as a writer and collected his share of rejections.

But that’s not me. I must be different. I must be the only one failing like this.

Then, as usual, the universe collides to remind me of what I should already know. This time, the universe decided to be kind. The lesson I needed came in the form of two podcasts, which just happened to be on my list to listen to back to back.

The first was this episode of Ditch Diggers

The second was this episode of Anne Kroaker, writing coach.

And they’re both talking about the same thing. What matters most, if you want to succeed in anything, is persistence. It’s not your work. No matter what you do someone who is way worse than you is succeeding. It’s not who you know, though that can help. It’s not anything else but how many times are you willing to try.

I forget sometimes, and maybe you do too, that there are tiers to succeeding. For writing, those tiers are such.

Write a book.

Edit a book and get it to a completed draft.

Find an editor/publisher.

Get the book published.

Sell the book.

Do that enough times to quit my job and travel the country full time in an RV.

I sometimes forget that I’m on step four, and that’s the longest step! It’s also a step that most people never get to. As I said, there’s a tier system working here. Most people who want to write a book never do. Most people who do write a book never finish it. Most people who do finish their book don’t get it published. Most people who do get published don’t make enough money to support themselves.

I don’t know how to get to that last tier. But I know I won’t get there if I stop. Besides, I’m going to keep right on writing anyway.

Might as well keep going.

Station 86 is shocked when a Khloe assassin begins killing members of the all powerful council. Officer Sennett Montgomery and Councilman Godfrey Anders swear to find the assassin after Godfrey’s wife is falsely accused. But the killer, and the council itself, are not what they seem. Neither, as it turns out, is Sennett’s daughter. Then, Sennett, Godfrey and the rest of Station 86 are trying to put their society back in order after the Core attack. Then a mysterious ship from a dying station arrives, bringing artificially intelligent robotic, murderous dogs. Godfrey, Mason and April must get to the hospital safely, while Sennett is trying to protect Marshal’s Joy and Howard. But the AI dogs are nothing compared to the terrors they left behind on their own station.

Get your copy now.