Member-only story
Don’t Write for Free: Publish a Book Instead
Stop Publishing Your Work for Free on Platforms — Publish a Book Instead
Without any ceremony or bit pronouncements I’m going to tell you the biggest secret in publishing that will change your life: you can’t make a living selling features, at least when you compare hours, writing and revenues earned. Self-publishing your work on freely-accessed platforms in hopes of going viral and something BIG happening to you that leads to revenue is a very far reach and one that can easily lead to burn-out or disillusionment.
All writing is speculative — that’s the first thing. But we do it because we need and want to. And then you hope someone notices, relates and someone (Patreon supporters? An editor?) also pays you. I get it. Or maybe you write something so landmark and consistently write that you are the one in a million that gets noticed and a publisher actually approaches you do something for them.
But stop watching clicks, and hits and all things viral. There is no algorithm that has proven that those markers equal a paycheck. While you’re creating, expressing and honing your craft — all good thing, you’re chasing air.
The truth?
Here’s the ways and means to the publishing truth that no one is sharing with you because they either don’t know…