[Writer Post] Challenges
Last blog post of 2016 and it’s punctuated with loss and some frustration – which I guess sums up 2016 in a nutshell. Loss and frustration. Good things happened, but it’s been a pretty dark year over all. I’m looking forward to 2017. I have PLANS, man. Lots of PLANS. Going to try to shake this “what’s it all for†feeling that I’ve been getting from the for-profit/commercial conventions.
I know I’m not the only one struggling with writing, promotion, and marketing. We all are as writers try to navigate the new publishing paradigms. Writers have to carve out their own ways of building and maintaining an audience. There’s only so much a person can do through social media. It takes getting out in front of people – and therein lies the challenge.
The fan-run, more literary conventions are great. They treat writers well. Writers get to hang with other writers to recharge and connect with each other. The downside (if you can call it that) is that you often see the same faces. Which is great in the push to create new material, but as others point out, it’s a diminishing return. Then there are the commercial conventions where you can go to sell books to people who’ve never heard of you – however, this is more difficult because you’re either paying A LOT for tables in the artist alley and hawking your wares (which many are good at doing), or hoping more than 6 people come to panels that aren’t well-advertised because no matter the good intentions, the actors are the money draw and get the focus.
Did you see that? Writers (and most artists) – unless you’re at a rarified high level – DO NOT GET PAID to do shows/conventions. At MOST we get tables costs (which comes with the badge) or entrance fee waived. Some comic shows will pay for hotel for writers they invite but rarely travel. Fan runs pay hotel and travel from their named guests of honor. ALL OTHER PROS PAY THEIR OWN WAY. Let that sink in a moment. Every convention I go to, I’m paying 75% – 100% of my own way there to entertain fans, and hopefully build or maintain an audience. LET THAT SINK IN.
Any money writers and artists make are from products sold – like any other toy, shirt, or other vendor. On top of performing (doing panels or demos). We’re not paid to be at the show. We’re taking time out of producing material to come meet new people and sell books or art or do a panel. Maybe sell some books – IF we have that table. It’s a serious struggle. Is it worth it? Is it not?
There’s no quick or easy answer. We need you, the fans. We need the exposure. We also need to be able to feed, clothe, and shelter ourselves. It’s a very complex shell game. Which is why most of us have day jobs. Which is why many don’t have health insurance or walk a very fine financial line – and/or fight a good fight against pirating.