A Market of One
The older I get and the more medications they have to put me on to keep me alive, the less confident I get in my own assumptions, beliefs about the world, and the grand total of my own wisdom. I know I’m wiser than I used to be even just to the point of the number of arguments I no longer feel compelled to engage in. But the beginning of that wisdom appears to be knowing just enough about the nature of the universe to realize the vast, crushing enormity of what I do not know.
I’ve managed to build a quality level of success as a full-time writer. My family is fed. I’ve gone from paying most of my bills mostly on time to all my bills all on time like a real adult. I’ve even got a decent credit score again just in time for me not to want a damn thing.
With cognitive issues my ability to navigate the intricacies of promotion, Amazon ads, etc is dropping off. I’ve had to let go of a lot of things that used to work for me. Marketing is a vital part of a writing career (he says in his newsletter as if that isn’t self-evident), but I have less ability, patience, and desire to put energy into it.
I love when people read what I write. It’s at the heart of writing and publishing. It does add meaning to the material being created. My view of the audience I’m writing for is narrowing in my mind though.
When I look ahead at projects I’m trying to finish, my passion is driving me more and more to write the stories, scenes, and characters that appeal to me. I’m trying to bring into the world the things I most want to see even when it goes against market trends, best practices in storytelling, or even what is “best” for the story. The wisest writers I know have been saying something similar for years. I guess I’m just starting to age into that wisdom a bit.
Whether it is wise or not, I’m entering a phase in my writing wherein I’m writing what keeps me interested and exciting. We’ll see if anyone else wants to come along.
Here are some things you might be interested in:
Author’s Note: I saw an article recently discussing trends of younger people leaving TikTok. I mentioned in the article below that young people tend to adopt a platform first, older people follow, and eventually the young flee. I’m not sure that is exactly what’s going on now, but it reminded me of this article about writers and readers on TikTok.
Authors Invade TikTok
by Jay Wilburn via LitReactor
You either know what TikTok is or you don’t. That may not be an indication of your age, though …
“The Murders Have Started Again”
by Jay Wilburn
John Perkins stood in the dark hallway with light spilling across the tiles from the school’s attached gym …
Check out the first two books here with the third on the way.
Thanks, Everybody
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"When I look ahead at projects I’m trying to finish, my passion is driving me more and more to write the stories, scenes, and characters that appeal to me. I’m trying to bring into the world the things I most want to see even when it goes against market trends, best practices in storytelling, or even what is “best” for the story."
First, though this is the first time I have COMMENTED, when I saw you had this little newsletter thing going on, I subscribed because I have always enjoyed your "voice," your wit, your intellect, your writing. I believe in you, friend. Keep up the fine work.
Your statement above, and the one I cut and pasted into this COMMENT BOX, I am in full agreement with you. Market trends and the flighty human wants, needs, behaviors... How doth one ever follow these... or want to. I say...
Write what you love. Write what you enjoy, because GUESS WHAT? I have found with the books, short stories, etc., that I have clearly enjoyed writing and sharing with like-minded readers, THE READER ENJOY THEM TOO.
Plus life is too short to not adventure within the literary realms you enjoy as a creative writer.
Keep writing. Keep creatin'. Keep moving forward. -- Peter
Thanks, Peter. I appreciate you taking the time to say this.