Doesn’t matter who’s reading so much as the need to keep writing must be satisfied.
Photo by Amelia Bartlett on Unsplash
Why do I write?
The short answer is that I’m compelled to write. For me, it’s like breathing – it’s something I do.
Maneuvering words into sentences, paragraphs, and pages – whether fiction, nonfiction, or business – is my skill. This is my chosen vocation in life.
There are many other skills I possess – or at least like to work on – in my overall identity as an artist. But writing has been the vocation I’ve pursued longest and with the greatest fervor and passion.
All my books can be purchased for Kindle and in paperback, and Forgotten Fodder is also available as audiobooks. I’ve put a great deal of time and energy into this work.
Presently, I’m writing the third novel in my new Savagespace sci-fi series. I’m looking forward to getting to share this down the line.
However, despite the dozen books I’ve published – sales make it clear that it appears that nobody is reading them. Ok, maybe not nobody – but far fewer people than I’d hoped would read them.
This brings up the unhappy question – why keep writing if nobody appears to be reading?
Is the reading problem even bigger?
It is impossible to ignore that we have lots and lots of distractions.
The smartphone has changed the way we communicate, share information, and enjoy entertainment. That little computer – which you might be reading this on – is almost obscenely more powerful than what was available only a decade ago. A valid comparison of devices from 20 years ago isn’t even doable.
The increased proliferation of these devices has been a contributing factor to a decline in reading.
I could go off on a lengthy tangent and study of multiple articles exploring the decline in reading. It doesn’t matter what the reason is – it’s still a thing to consider.
I suspect that genres like sci-fi and fantasy have been hit especially hard. Why? Do you know how many games, films, and streaming programs in these genres exist? I don’t – but it’s undoubtedly a large number. Since most smartphones can access these in one form or another – and people have become increasingly enamored of visual media – given a choice of reading vs watching or playing – the latter isn’t the choice.
I’m not going to do an in-depth study and research paper on this topic. Suffice it to say, for lots of reasons, the overall number of adult readers is down.
Meanwhile, the number of books being published is ever-increasing. There are somewhere between 1 and 4 MILLION self-published titles produced annually. More books plus fewer readers equals higher competition to make sales of books.
Despite this being rather daunting – I keep writing.
I know many people who don’t enjoy writing. And many who outright despise it. But writing makes me happy – no matter what I’m writing.
Fiction, nonfiction, business writing, blogs – it doesn’t matter. If I’m in front of my screens at my keyboard I’m in my zone. I’m driven to keep writing and producing new works as such.
But would it be prudent to stop producing books and writing all these blogs if they don’t seem to be garnering a lot of readers?
No. Why? Because stopping writing would be akin to stopping breathing. It’s just as much of a necessity to my wellness and wellbeing as air in my lungs, good food, and sunlight.
What’s more – ongoing writing increases skill. Practice might not make perfect – particularly since perfect, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder – but it does make you better. Especially when you study, strive to learn, and grow as an artist.
The more I write – and the more I learn about the art of writing in its many formats – the better my writing gets.
So even when it appears nobody is reading my work – I’ll keep producing it. Which, in turn, will keep improving and expanding it further.
Also, I do my part.
You keep writing even if nobody appears to be reading – I’m reading lots
I do a lot of reading. Every day I begin my day with 30-60 minutes of reading.
This is a mix of fiction and nonfiction. As a writer of sci-fi and fantasy, most of the fiction I read is also sci-fi and fantasy.
What’s more, I seek out lesser-known sci-fi artists and other indie-published authors. Not only does this support the industry I’m part of – it also provides me with invaluable education experiences.
How other authors in my chosen genres write helps me improve my craft. That’s really pretty awesome.
Additionally, I read several blogs a day. I get Medium digests and choose a few articles to read every day.
Reading is one of the best ways to gain knowledge. Maybe to some, books are a pain. To me, however, they’re still a place of wonder and amazingness.
I can’t stop writing as much as I can’t stop breathing. Maybe I haven’t gotten together the audience I desire – but I will keep putting my work out there, and we will find each other, I have no doubt.
And thank YOU for reading me.
Be inspired to be your own creator, whatever form that takes.
Please take a moment to check out the collection of my published works, which can be found here.
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