Things are changing right now in America and unless you head is stuffed in the sand, it's quite obvious it's not getting better. Ordinary workers make less each year while costs rise. The middle class is getting squeezed out of existence and the one percent is looking to make that a permanent state of affairs.
Why do I tell you these things? I know you don't want to read about politics on Monday.
I tell you because it will get a lot more difficult to produce and sell your art as competition increases and discretionary dollars decrease.
I'm sure you hear it all the time, but here it is again: You will have to work even harder going forward. There are few writers out there that seem to be paying attention, so I'll put it another way...
The middle class is on the way out in America and those are the ones buying your books, movies, mp3s and paintings. You better get ready for a new normal - working far harder for a lot less.
I don't see any of this reality in the fiction I read, so very likely most writers aren't aware- they simply focus on the next story. And yes, you need to focus on the next story. However, if you don't open your eyes -
You'll wake up to an America where nobody can afford to buy your book anyway.
My motto - get tougher, work harder. Work a LOT harder. And then work more. I keep coming back to mentioning Russell Blake. I listened to an interview with him yesterday and it had one major message - work harder.
This isn't meant to be a depressing post. Just the reality that it's going to get harder before it gets easier, so pull up your pants and get to work.
From Vegas,
Stephen John Moran