Join me over at DeadPixel Publications’ blog today, where I discuss the reality of writing for a living, and the fluffy.

If you’re considering making your passion for creating anything a career, it helps to know a few realities before you do so. I’m not trying to persuade anyone to avoid making money from their talents, but if you think your creative process won’t change as a result, or that it’ll be all shits and giggles all the time, you’re in for a big shock.

The good news is it’s survivable. There are a few common things that happen to every writer (and possibly every artist) when they turn their passion into a career. These things can destroy your creativity, and for some, the publishing process destroys your soul.

Don’t worry. You can do this shit. Souls are mostly a nuisance anyway.

So, if you decide to publish/sell your work, here’s a few things you’ll discover along the way:

Everyone knows more than you.
Everyone’s an expert. At least that’s what they want you to believe. Whether you write, sing, paint, or take beautiful pictures, when you put your work in the marketplace, you’ll find yourself bombarded with advice from “experts.” You’ll have so many tips and warnings, all of which contradict each other, you won’t know which end is up.

What to do:

Ignore them. Okay, so not entirely. Go ahead and read articles and listen to other writers speak. But at the end of the day, go with your gut. Use what is helpful to you, and let your common sense be your guide. If you lack common sense… well you’re fucked.

And I know this post seems like I’m an expert telling you what to do. Good news, folks; I don’t give a shit if you take my advice, and I’m not an expert. This is just me giving into the need to be the center of attention by sharing what I’ve encountered and what worked for me to get past each hurdle. So do what you will with the information I provide.

People hate your work.

Anything “artistic” is subjective. People like what they like, and what they don’t, they can be assholes who will shit all over it. Negative reviews or critiques are inevitable. Doesn’t matter if you’re the best damn writer in the world.

What to do:

Get over yourself. — Read more