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I Know My Creations Are Not For Everyone
That doesn’t mean my creations aren’t worthwhile.
Some people don’t read sci-fi and fantasy. I’ve loved sci-fi and fantasy most of my life. Some of my best memories from my childhood (although they’re rather vague) involve creating adventures with my Star Wars action figures, imagining myself a galactic space commander, and running around my yard with sticks that were laser guns or swords.
My mom tried to lessen my geekiness over the years. She had me play a season or two of Little League baseball, try a summer of soccer, and I was a Cub Scout. Yet these didn’t break me from my geeky-candy-coating, they just developed my outsider persona.
After many fits and starts writing through the years, one good thing that happened because of the Pandemic was me learning to write as a planner. From this, I’ve now published more than 15 books since 2020 (and wrote 10 of them since then). Writing from a plan didn’t stifle my creativity; it actually made it more focused. My stories ramble less, move better, and my characters and plots both get added depth.
Still, there remains a truth that can be distressing, annoying, infuriating, and frustrating. That truth is that I know my creations are not for everyone.
Your mileage may vary
Sci-fi is a niche genre. What’s more, it’s not a singular genre. Lots of subgenres are contained under the sci-fi umbrella.
Horror, space opera, time travel, LGBTQA+, dystopian, utopian, multiverse, alternate reality, and more break sci-fi into different categories. Those categories feature audiences and appeals. I write space operas and crime and conspiracy sci-fi. I shift between hard sci-fi and sci-fantasy.
Still, I know my creations are not for everyone.
I have a niche, geeky hobby I’ve been doing for over 3 decades. Even there, we have wildly variable interests, and no two people are in it for the same thing. I love fencing, hanging out with my friends, and attending camping events during the summer. Meanwhile, my wife likes researching obscure medieval interests and helping others with their research, preferably from home online. Same game, different approaches.
Just because my creations are not for everyone, that doesn’t make them less interesting or less worthwhile. But marketing is an ongoing challenge.
Marketing my creations
As of this writing, I have, in addition to a couple of standalones, three series I’d written and shared with the world. Two are sci-fantasy, one is crime sci-fi. These have different audiences and are not for everyone. But they still come from my twisted, geeky, weird mind.
Promoting myself and marketing my stories is not easy. Sometimes I need to step outside of my comfort zone and do things to help gain notice and recognition. Also, I need to ask for help along the way from more skilled, more knowledgeable creators. There’s no shame in that.
One of the best things about writing sci-fi is that we, the sci-fi writing community, are not in competition. The authors I’ve met in person and virtually all have a deep willingness to lend a hand to one another. We’re stronger and better together. That’s rather amazing.
Still, finding the right formula for marketing my creations is challenging. And part of why is because I know my creations are not for everyone.
The world needs art
Another challenge comes from recognizing that not only are my creations not for everyone, but it sometimes feels wrong to be doing creative work in the light of an increasingly mad world. Isn’t creating art a luxury that’s not necessary in our society?
No. Art opens our eyes and helps inspire and empower people. When people are inspired and empowered, they’re more likely to make their own choices and decisions. In other words, they’re less swayed by influencers, the masses, demagogues, etc.
Hence, even though my creations are not for everyone, I should still make my art to share with the world. For those who are into it, perhaps it opens their imagination, inspires their creativity, and empowers them to be proactive and take what control of their life experience they can.
If you’re a creator, your creations, no matter the medium, are not for everyone. But that doesn’t mean they are not worth and deserving of you and being shared with the world.
Thanks for reading. As I share my creative journey with you every week, please consider this: How are you inspired and empowered to be your own authentic creator, whatever form that takes?
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