Have Fun

Normally, I tend to keep my blog posts focused on announcing my newest releases and any special promos or deals on my books I’m running at a given time. But every now and then, I feel the urge to post something else. Sometimes this is inspired by something I’ve read or seen; other times, it’s just something that popped into my mind and I decided to write it down and get it out of my head so I don’t go crazy.

This post is addressed to new writers. By ‘new,’ I mean writers who aren’t published or haven’t published much, who may not have been in the biz for very long, and perhaps aren’t making a whole lot of money or at least not enough to quit the day job and go full-time.

I remember what it was like to be that way. When you’re a newbie writer, there are all kinds of uncertainties and things you just don’t know. You have no idea what to do or what you’re doing and are very insecure about both your art and your business. Trust me, I was there once and I knew a ton of writers who were that way as well before their big break.

Because of this insecurity, it’s very easy for new writers to blindly trust anyone who speaks persuasively and authoritatively enough about writing and publishing. “Write this way,” “Don’t write this kind of character or you will offend people,” “Include this type of character in your story even if it doesn’t make sense,” “Run your story by sensitivity readers who will make sure you are not writing stories that may be politically incorrect,” etc.

It’s especially problematic because new writers tend to be conflict avoidant and people-pleasers. We don’t want to get into unnecessary fights with people or anger too many people, even if we’re right and they’re wrong. It’s easy to go along with whatever the big moral pronouncement of the day is, especially if it is coming from someone who styles themselves as an expert or authority on the subject and they couch their preferences in heavy moralistic tones.

The problem is that this almost always takes away from the fun of writing. Writing according to the moral standards of busybodies may be a way to please Twitter mobs who feel the need to swarm random people who say things they disagree with, but it’s no way to write a book or run your publishing business. It’s not fun, in other words.

So to all new writers out there, who may be struggling to succeed or are insecure and unsure about what to do and who to listen to: Have fun. Have fun writing your stories and following the adventures of your characters. Whether you write westerns, mysteries, romance, science fiction, fantasy, or whatever, make sure you are always having fun, even if you aren’t having fun literally all the time.

Don’t worry about ‘inclusion’ or ‘representation’ or any of those other concepts that moral busybodies love to harp on about. Sure, be aware of who your audience is and what kind of fiction they like, but also make sure you are having fun, even if that fun isn’t approved by the moral busybodies who have nothing better to do but police other peoples’ art.

Writing isn’t always fun, that’s true, but if you aren’t having fun MOST of the time, then you’re doing it wrong. I know I’m in trouble if I find my book boring, because if I’m bored writing it, then my readers will probably be bored reading it.

So have fun.  Write with a smile on your face. Ignore the moral busybodies who tell you that you must include this or that type of character or you must approach this politically controversial topic in this very particular manner or what have you.

I should know. I tried writing that way before I succeeded. And it sucked. Which is why I stopped doing it and why I suggest that new writers also stop doing it.

Have fun. And you might just be surprised by how successful you become.

Enjoy,

Lucas Flint