Carve Out Your Own Space
Doesn’t the “Publishing Industry” sound like one giant behemoth? As if there is one god-like boss at the pinnacle and then a steep hierarchy of editors, agents and publicists? And at the bottom, desperately clawing their way up, are the writers?
It’s not true, of course. The writing business is, in fact, is a porous fusion of different people pursuing distinct roles all in the process of sharing stories.
There is no one boss to impress.
And that’s what makes living this writing life so hard. How do you get ahead—whatever ahead looks like to you? If there are no obvious ladders to climb, how you succeed? How do you even know where to start?
Like anything in the writing: by reframing your perspective.
Joining the writing world, however you define it, is not about fitting in. There are way too many facets of publishing and writing for it to be homogenous enough to “fit in”. It’s not even about finding your place. That presumes there’s a niche waiting for you.
Instead, it’s about creating your role. Being brave enough to make space for yourself. It may take time to figure out how, and it may not be easy.
But it is possible. And here’s where you start: sit down and write the best book you can. Focus on your story first. Because then you’ll have something wonderful to share later.