Writers May Take Credit for Success, but Should Accept Responsibility for Failure

Not very long ago, only a few thousand living writers could claim the title of published author. The degree of each writer's commercial success varied greatly; however, many that succeeded in finding a publisher willing to accept, polish and promote their work were able to earn a living writing.

The invention of the personal computer and internet changed the world of publishing dramatically. Today millions may legitimately claim the title of published author. Unfortunately, only an extremely small percentage of the work produced by them ever becomes commercially successful. The primary reason is two-fold. First - the market is saturated, so competition is overwhelming. Secondly - far too many published books today lack any form of quality control. They feature numerous instances of misspelled words, incorrect punctuation, poor grammar and improper syntax. Story lines are often thinly disguised knockoffs of those of well-known, commercially successful authors. Those who produce such poor work seldom accept the blame or admit to their lack of required skills.

Usually, one must first study and master the technical aspect of a craft and seek unbiased, professional input prior to releasing a product for public exposure. Not every effort will succeed, but some eventually will. There is nothing wrong with taking credit for succeeding in any endeavor. However, if one hopes to someday boast of their success, one should also be willing to assume responsibility when they fail.