About Scary Success

Post 1816:

Success as a writer is a scary proposition for a lot of reasons. The more people know about your work, the more critics you’ll have. Folks will talk about you when you’re not in the room like it’s their job, because it actually is their job.

Not to mention all the people trying to scam you. If you have a good story, men and women and robots will come from every angle with every approach, eager to stick their fingers in the pie. It’s not fun to realize there are liars from here to Timbuktu. I mean, I don’t always tell the truth, but usually it’s fudging on how much I ate for dinner. Lying for gain at the expense of someone else is creepy but oh so very real. And the more success, the more they’ll lie.

Then there’s getting known for one thing. You might have to write one type of book because it’s all about branding. Writers used to be their own brands. Now the brand is the brand. Kinda sucks, but marketing!

Here’s the big one. Success is scary because it might not be so great. Could be crappy, actually. I know this because lots of successful people are depressed as balls. Being disappointed at the top of the mountain is a dreadful idea and it should give me and you pause.

Anyway, I’m gonna get back to working on my new book. I really think it’s gonna sell a ton. Yay!

Cheers and see you after.