I made, like, <$20 on my books last year, an all-time low. Granted, I had nothing new out and didn't promote much, but it's another step in a long slide from my long-ago peak of a couple grand, and coupled with the fact that I have several completed first drafts that I feel no inclination to work further on, it's kinda starting to feel like it's about time to wrap this writing experiment up (or evolve it into something else).
Dunno, might be a passing mood. We'll see
Thinking breaks are good. It may be that that's all I need too. Time will tell!
@ChrisJagged
I’m of the opinion that if you do not enjoy the act of writing, then publishing anything is going to feel like a chore. And since there’s isn’t much of a living to be made out of writing (unless you’re writing bestsellers or are professionally emplyed in publishing,etc..), there’s not much point writing is there.
I’m retired and I do not need another income stream. I write whe I feel like it and don’t bother with publishing. I’ve got a Wordpress site for anything I wish to share and I don’t care whether it gets read or not.
The upside is that I get a real kick out of writing when the mood takes me. It’s purely a selfish thing for me.
I don't write for money per se, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't creatively feed on feedback. The Void isn't a great audience for me, especially when I've sorta-kinda had one before.
I doubt I'm gonna just stop writing, I just have to figure out a way to make it feel fulfilling again.
@VampiresAndRobots
I don't see a problem anymore either, except how big of a part of my life and personality it's been. Its been truly baffling to me how I've been losing interest in my completed drafts when before they felt like everything.
I really doubt I'll stop writing altogether, but I do have other avenues I've been growing interest in, so it may be time to go exploring.
The like is an internet hug. 🙂
I hear you. My sales are dropping massively (like 60% down or more). Part of that is the economic situation in the US, my main market.
I can see only one way out: Indies collaborating to increase visibility and opening avenues away from big tech.
Webrings, recommendation lists, Bookwyrm... they can all be part of the solution.
I refuse to give in to depression, even though it's a hard fight.
@Firlefanz I've heard the name, but haven't looked into Bookwyrm. I'll go check it out.
I certainly do believe there's still room for indie success, however anyone personally defines that, but yeah, a struggle for sure.
Yeah, well. We have another disruption of the industry, due to AI, mostly.
And I do believe that indie authors and indie publishing are/is more resilient than trad pub, but that partially wishful thinking.
We need to organize, business as usual isn't going to cut it anymore soon.
I'm trying to figure out what that might look like. Maybe PayHip and Bookshop. org, maybe webrings, maybe recommendation sites. (BookWyrm is a review site in the fediverse.)
Chris Jags
Cara Bruar
RaymondPierreL3
Christina
Hannah Steenbock