What I have learned

I believe if you are not continuously learning and improving your understanding, then you must be standing still, waiting. Waiting for whom? Waiting for someone else to make life happen for you. Waiting for recognition. The writing world is cruel like that. There is a system that controls who is seen and who is not. It isn't really down to luck. Writers are reaching for that mountain top that might never come into their field of view. When you climb Carrauntoohil by the devils ladder, you feel a great sense of relief when you finally leave the narrow gully behind you, only to find that you're not there yet. A soul-destroying moment for naive climbers. You can hardly see where you came from, and your legs are seduced by the promise of a finish.

I also believe that by becoming aware of the inner dialogue around your perceived success or failure, you can pull yourself out of the doldrums and get to the top of the mountain.

I have realised that while I promote my first book and my writing in general:

• I can buy a following. I haven't, but I could if I wanted to. I just need to decide how much I would be willing to pay per day. Is that the following you want or need to market my book?
• How about 'likes'? I could like 10 people in one flick through social media, or I could spam hundreds to generate 100 likes for myself. I could make a career of it.
• If I post on TikTok, I get a greater response than months on Instagram. If I post daily, the sky's the limit apparently, provided I follow TikTok rules and let them choose the music.
• Is Facebook for the nosy? Is it a necessary evil?
• I have to subscribe to all things writing to show I am serious about my writing. Is it a money racket or am I being productive and gaining traction?
• I have to enter a myriad of competitions and watch my work like a paper plane of ideas, poems, etc. fly off into the ether. No reply. No response. Was it good, just not good enough? Did someone steal my line?
• Independent bookshops claim to support independent writers, but that's not where the money is. There are hopes you never come back to claim your 3.50 euro return per book. Can they even locate your book when asked? Do they even recognise you when you walk in? How many authors actually walk through the doors? Or are you to get in line until the king of the road produces a half-baked book in 12 months?  

I  have written before about strength and resilience. What I see now is the industry for what it is. Lazy. It is time authors took back their autonomy and stopped doing the publishers' work for them. Handing them a ready-made success story. A success for the writer? Rarely. The returns are so poor that comparing yourself to these success stories will only stifle your writing.  

My opinion is, if you love to write, then write. If you want to improve your writing, then read and write, but don't take anyone else's word for it. If you get stuck, then get out into nature, walk the city streets or dig a hole. At some point you have to commit to living inside your story. That's the part that no media following will make easier. No contact with a publisher. Because it is getting inside your own story that brings it to life. Inhabit this space until you can experience it with all your senses. Feel the plight of your characters and observe your readers' response. How do you feel? How do they feel? What needs to happen?

Then, when it comes to completing your first draft, fight for your work. Fight with the editors. Fight with the cover designer. Fight for your vision for your work. Fight for your rights. This is your child, and you are not going to throw it to the wolves. Who said you had to become meek and subservient because there was a possibility of someone reading your cover letter or proposal? 

The death of any good idea is a predictable template. This creative work is born out of your ideas, experience and passion. Don't allow yourself to be stereotyped. Today you write non-fiction, tomorrow flash fiction. The next day poetry. Be brave. You are wild beyond belief, and don't let anyone tame that into insecurity, self-doubt, and fear of failure.

I believe it is time we all woke up and stopped feeding the machine, particularly when it is full of misperceptions and misconceptions. It is an algorithmic distraction designed to make people feel inadequate. Designed to detract attention from the real work. Instead of being a beautiful creative soul, you become a statistic.  So demand that they appreciate you entirely for your work, and if they don't, then ask yourself, what will they do when you lose your following?

I advocate for bravery, authenticity, and the incredible stories yet to be written, living outside of FOMO and AI. Two characters that have infiltrated our lives due to our porosity.

Happy writing xx

Aintherese