Monday, August 11, 2008

Writing in Obscurity

"WANTED: Somebody who's willing to write in obscurity, maybe for decades, with no money at all, no recognition and no guarantee that anything will ever change about their lives."
Know who said that? Take a guess. Me? Any struggling writer? Any midlist writer?

The answer: Best-selling author David Baldacci.

Sometimes we forget that the big names in the literary world – Baldacci recently released his 12th thriller – started out just like the rest of us. Writing in the wee hours of the morning or on lunch breaks. Struggling to make ends meet. Learning to write well. Taking months, even years, to write THE book.

But Baldacci was like all other authors. You can read his story in The Alexandria Times.

14 comments:

  1. It's good to be reminded that there aren't many cases of "overnight success." We hear about the few that break in that way because it's a better story for the media. The truth is that most writers pay their dues.
    Lj

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  2. Very true, LJ. Most of the overngiht successes are politicians or celebrities. The others only seem like they're successes overnight because we weren't aware of them for the years they struggled.

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  3. Stephen King is my favorite 'paid my dues' tale. And it's absolutely true that there are VERY few overnight success stories that don't involve those years of struggling...or someone related to an agent or publisher or actor!

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  4. Stephen King also wrote one of my favorite Writing books -- On Writing. I was reading it on a plane and couldn't help laughing out loud in places.

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  5. I write in obscurity, but maybe some day ... Oh, well, maybe not, but perhaps I can help others come out from obscurity.

    Vivian

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  6. I wrote for twelve years before selling a book. When I tell people (non-wriers) they are always amazed, but frankly, I can't imagine not writing. I do have a friend who tells me she'd give it up in a minute if she wasn't selling. I'm not sure that I could ever give up. I'll be that dottering old lady attending writing meetings when I'm 90. And, also, I wanted to mention that overnight success are rarely overnight successes. And the ones that are, usually have no idea on how to have staying power by doing the work.

    My .02
    Teagan Oliver
    www.TeaganOliver.com
    www.TeaganOliver.blogspot.com
    www.ParanormalMaine.blogspot.com

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  7. You hear more writers say they could not imagine themselves not writing than ones who say they'd give it up if they weren't selling!

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  8. So true! I read Stephen King's "On Writing" and was reminded that he, like everybody else, (duh!) had tremendous struggles, almost gave up many times. His breakout novel, Carrie, he had thrown (the ms)away in the trash! His wife found it, read it, and insisted he finish it. If not for her, we may have never heard of him.

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  9. Scary, humbling, if it wasn't for the love of words why would anyone do it? A shame, isn't it, that you have to write that many books to get anywhere. Hmm, I better write faster. ha!

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  10. Behind every great man, there's a insistent woman, eh Marvin?

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  11. Chris, you can only type or write as fast as the words flow. Someday they'll come up with a computer that types thoughts.

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  12. I agree, a good thing to hear. And soon we'll be saying about each other, "I read her/his blog when ..."

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  13. Sales or not, I enjoy writing. I can't imagine ever stopping.

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  14. Man, it's fun to be around other writers!

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