A writer’s journal of a story it has taken over 20 years to tell
What does it mean to be a writer? Beyond the simple act of writing, what are you aspiring to when you write and what responsibilities do you assume?
If your only goal is to make sales then your only responsibility is to conform to your audience: follow advice and dictates from the successful, write to spec from prospective agents, publishers, editors, and readers.
But what if the thought of doing that makes you want to set yourself on fire? What if being at the mercy of the market feels like the death of joy?
First of all be ready for no one to care about what you are writing. If you are not stroking their ego with every effort, chances are they will seek media that is. Second, follow your inspirations and persist because the story is worth telling and because you still desire to write.
Aspire to tell the story and tell it well. At that point your responsibility becomes clear, remove all pieces that hinder the story. Be honest with yourself when something’s not working but also be firm when you believe it is working the way you want it to.