The frustrations of a writer run deep, to those who know them the writers. What to write about, do I write fiction, non-fiction, poetry, sci-fi, adventures, mysteries, detective, or romance? So many choices to pick for subjects, do I base it on facts or not, how long doe sit have to be to sell and be profitable. Should I do children’s books, or adult books, or Young Adult books? All Questions writers must face when they write, and none have any easy answers. we struggle when an idea pops into our head, to formulate how to tell it, do we tell it in first person or third person, do we expand on the story and grow the plot, or expand a character? Is it all about one character and can that one carry the whole story or not? If not how do I introduce another character, and why? So many questions and then you go thru the process of getting it all bled out onto a sheet or paper or a word processing program on your computer and the question becomes is it good enough for public consumption, will they like it? How do I get it published, who do I submit it to, or do I self-publish it? So many questions keep coming up int he process, it can be frustrating as hell.
You write it and edit it and correct it and re-word it till you believe it is right and sounds great. Then you ask a fellow writer to read it and they tell you about misspellings you missed missing punctuation, bad grammar or spacing, and all you can do is go back over it again and correct it all. It feels at times like a struggle and that you are bleeding all of yourself into the story, characters, plot and then someone says, well, it’s ok, but not great!. Frustration hits hard at that point, not everyone can write period and not everyone has the patience or understanding to read it after you wrote it. So sometimes, you, toss it, and start over, throwing the wads of paper and words against a wall or in a garbage bin. Anger takes over and you walk away. It’ can be a nasty process and beat a person down. Or you just delete it all on a computer and in a word processor because it doesn’t sound right to you. Happens all the time to writers out there and journalist of all types. sadly, this is what writers go through all the time, what do I write about, what subject will intrigue and attract the readers. Will it be a mystery, a detective, a romance, a sci-fi , an adventure maybe? Do I tell a real life story or event or make one up, how many characters are in it and should I outline it first or not? How do I introduce a new character, should I how far should I push it, should I be realistic or outrageous?
So we bleed onto the paper or into the word processor what we can and then re-work it, edit it, and then hand it or send it to someone else to check it out and read it for us. Did they like it, how many mistakes did they find, was the story too corny, or phony or not realistic enough, was the plot good, did it flow properly? Did I extend it too far and drag it out too long? What should I do for Dedications and Epilogue, and should I do an Introduction? What kind of a cover do I pick? So many questions come to mind when you write, and then once you do get it into a manuscript and edited and finished and assembled, who to send it to, do I self-publish, or send it in? Will it be accepted or rejected? if it is accepted will they pay me for my work, or do I have to pay them to publish it?
All adds up to frustrations at each corner that’s for sure for a writer. For me, I write for fun, or to tell a story about something I lived through, or I may fabricate one based on some facts I know about something and go from there. yet I a more frustrated at the publishing process, the affordability factors and the rejection factors. I sent one manuscript into a Publishing Company and to be honest, I was upset by their reply. Sir, we have read your manuscript and think it is worthy of publication, we believe we can share the cost of publication with you and they sent me a contract, giving them full rights to my work once published by them. No Thank you folks, Iw il keep my work then under those circumstances. If you don’t wish to pay me for what I write fine say so, don’t try to take me for my work and mkae money off of me ok! So Frustration once more sets in and I walk away from writing anger and bitter over the rejection of my work. The rules of writing are not clear either, I mean how long is a Novel to be, whats considered a short story? Who sets the standards for these things the Publisher or the Author? You Tell me, folks!
So here is the bottom line for me, I have done romances, mysteries, even a Bio, and poetry books, am I that bad as a writer?. You all tell me because my frustration is trying to break through so people can read and enjoy what I write, how does one get through the wall? I am trying, I even did a Children’s book, yet to no avail so far. So I don’t know what to do next and my frustration builds, and I know me if it builds enough I shall just give up and walk away, even though I would rather write more if I can. Time shall tell is all I can say, finding subjects or ideas to write on, is like pulling water from a dry well at times, and then the emotions used to make a story, run dry also. What is a writer to do?
I know not how to promote my books/ stories online, I just stick them up on Amazon, or Inkitt, or Draft2Digital and hope people will find them. Then, I take the links and post them on Google, Facebook, and anywhere I can online like Instagram and pray they sell. I have no experience selling books, nor am I Dan Brown, Patterson, Jack London, or any other great Author, I am just an everyday person trying to get the word out that he wrote some stories. My Stories are usually short and to the point, the longest I believe is the latest, at 14,000 words or so. I don’t take my stories and stretch them out for, in my opinion, if I stop when I feel it is proper, then it is done. Some would keep going and expand them, by fabricating more and adding to them, yet I can only tell a story for so long, then I lose track of the story line or end up just going to an ending naturally. Am I wrong in doing so, maybe so, for people who read want a longer book, what I do is short stories so I really don’t sell many at all. I am not rich, and I don’t make money writing, it cost me to advertise what I write so I actually lose money in the deal. Sadly, maybe I should stop trying to publish them myself, for if they were good enough some publishing company may have picked them up by now. Will I publish again, well that is now a question still up for answers, for money is a problem and cost is something that can kill an Author, you can submit to publishers all day and night, but it is really up to them if they accept a manuscript, and make it into a book. They only make an offer to you if they believe they can make money off of it. many of the Publishers I have run into online are either far too expensive for a new Author or a con job, wanting to steal an Authors works for their own purposes.
While I write for therapeutic reasons, or to tell stories of my life and history, or I fabricate a story like I did with The Scepter and Throne Mystery, it seems to never be long enough or good enough for the public to grab onto. Frustration can kill anyone, especially a writer, for you try to put your emotions and soul into what you write, so others can feel the passion you have for the story too or subject, but it doesn’t matter really if you write it and no one sees or hears it. It;s like a shot in the dark with the lights off and the sound shut off too, never seen or heard. So to a Writer, it’s a lost time period in attempting to tell the story, we lose the life, time, passion and gain frustration and anger and ultimately give up and walk away because it is a futile experience. Such is the case with me, right now, people have no understanding of what I write nor do they wish I guess at this time to read it or have interest in it. So My little stories sit on internet web sites and never get read or bought.
I have had others tell me to write more, and longer stories, yet it is not in me to drag a story out just to increase the pages in it, without having the plot to follow that flows naturally. I have done mysteries, a children’s book, and romances too and all are online in my Amazon Account and on sale there. My Author’s Page is here:https://www.amazon.com/William-McCurrach/e/B00CQMGTSM/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
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