ARE YOU A QUITTER?

Everyone who isn’t a writer thinks writing is easy. Most people can string words together, in a note for a family member or an informative message in a Christmas card. I’m not decrying the initial thoughts and ideas of fledgling writers, but there is a misconception that the step from writing a page of notes to creating a story or even writing a novel… well, it can’t be too hard, can it? It’s just like what I do, and have done – only more so.

Even those who enjoyed (as I did) writing stories at school might think that an A* mark at 15 is the signpost to literary success.

I know, I’m sounding somewhat arrogant and haughty. But as someone who has written eight novels (seven already published) and three collections of short fiction <<  https://gerald-hornsby.com/fiction-books/ >> and seven non-fiction books << https://gerald-hornsby.com/non-fiction-books/  >> I do understand how much work goes into the transition from ‘wanting to write’ to ‘being a writer’.

Don’t get me wrong – the rewards can be amazing. Not so much in the financial department (except for the very, very few) but in the sheer enjoyment you can get from telling stories.

I always say, in my workshops and courses, I consider there are several levels of ‘reward’ I have received in my career:

1) The first time someone says “I enjoyed reading your story”

2) The first time someone says: “that story was great – you can really write” (thank you, Tim)

3) The first time someone uses their hard-earned money to BUY one of your pieces of writing (I can’t remember who that was – sorry, but thank you)

4) The first time someone buys one of your books, and then says “I enjoyed that book so much, I immediately bought the others in the series” (thank you Simon and Derek, and others)

Note: none of these involved “my first million dollars” or “the sports car I bought with my first royalty cheque”. But, to me, these are worth far, far more than just money. 

And through my efforts ovr more than 20 years, I have been able to become a “full time author”. I don’t make enough money from royalties, even from seventeen published books (my marketing isn’t the best it could be). But having written eighteen books, it gives me the credibility and authenticity to be able to write articles, conduct workshops and courses, and build an income from the accumulation of several income streams.

But all of this… ALL OF IT… has come through hard work, and not giving up. 

Giving up, and saying “I wish…” is the easiest thing in the world. I will leave you with a great quote from Richard Bach (author of Jonathan Livingston Seagull in 1970): “A professional author is an amateur who didn’t quit.” 

And to finish –  there are a ton of author quotes on the internet, because no one enjoys being quoted more than a writer! Here are a couple of my favourites: 

“There’s no such thing as writer’s block. That was invented by people in California who couldn’t write.” – Terry Pratchett

“If my doctor told me I had only six minutes to live, I wouldn’t brood. I’d type a little faster.” – Isaac Asimov