Reach for the Stars…or Mars: Why Andy Weir is My New Writing Hero

“I’ll never get a book published.” “I can’t do this.” “Self-publishing never works out.”

As a new author, I’ve felt these ideals and heard them from writing friends. But this morning as I watched The Today Show, Andy Weir slammed all of these concepts into the dust of Mars.

Andy Weir started his career as a part-time blogger, thinking publishing was outside of his realm. As the interview on the show discussed today, he still had a passion for writing. Thus, he decided to serialize his book, The Martian, on his blog. When he eventually built a following over the three years it took him to write it, he ended up self-publishing on Amazon. Making thirty cents in royalties a book, he became a bestseller. Now? The Martian is hitting cinemas across the nation.

Every writer hears hundreds of pessimistic comments and stories. We hear about the thousands of writers who are the proverbial “starving artist,” how you can’t make a living writing. But Andy Weir reminds us all that sometimes…it just does work out. I love that Andy Weir underscores that traditional published or self-published, it doesn’t matter: what matters is the passion for the writing and how it connects with fans.

I also love that Andy Weir used his money to make a significant first purchase—a meteorite from Mars.

I think it is important as writers to be realistic and understand that becoming a bestseller takes a lot of hard work, perseverance, and luck. But I think it is equally important to focus on the successes so we never stop believing. Andy Weir’s story may just be the inspiration you need to keep going, to keep writing, and to keep dreaming. The stars and even Mars might not be out of your reach.

For an excerpt from The Martian by Andy Weir, click HERE.

Lindsay Detwiler, Voice of Innocence and Without You