Why do we write?

So here's the thing - 2010 sucked monkey butt if you were in publishing. Seriously. Dorchester imploded, Borders closed in England and is in the process of going tits-up in the USA, HMV which owns Waterstones is in trouble. 2011 ain't starting well here at home in Canada with Key Porter Books shutting down operations and they were a government subsidized publisher!

And yet ... and yet ... we write. Mostly because we're probably crazy, but more likely because the notion of seeing that 100% real, no bullshit, no scam, no self-published, non Print on Demand, legitimately published novel for the first time, to hold in your hand, to smell the ink ... being published means something.

Perhaps some of unpublished authors think they're going to strike it rich, I hope not because statistically speaking, your first novel probably won't earn out your advance on royalties, ASSUMING you received one in the first place.

It's a personal thing, I suspect - every unpublished author I've ever met just wants to have that book in their hands. Perhaps being published is a way of saying to the world - LOOK, DAMMIT - I DID SOMETHING REALLY FREAKING SPECIAL THAT HARDLY ANYONE EVER DOES.

It's hard to get published. It's even harder to land an agent. It's such a subjective business and you truly do need some measure of courage to throw yourself out there because to be rejected on something you've poured your heart and soul into hurts. And you can't take it personally. You also shouldn't tear a strip off a reviewer when they said your book sucks on their blog..

So, why do I write?

Because I enjoy it. Because I like to see people reading my stuff. Because I hope to one day quit my day job and earn enough to write full time. I suspect that's probably what most authors waiting to be are hoping for. Do I have advice for those authors?

Not really. Just write. That's all I can say. Don't have a meltdown over your query. Just freaking write, you know? Be fearless and throw yourself out to the universe and see what the hell happens.

And may 2011 not suck for the publishing world. Amen.