♦Welcome to another edition of the Open Book Blog Hop!♦
Topic #332
What’s on your writer’s wish list? List 5 things you have
been wanting to buy or try as a writer.
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First and foremost, I wish I could afford my own subscription to word. Since Microsoft went in on the big cash grab, I haven’t been able to afford my own copy outside of what my day job provides for me. When I retire, this will become a huge burden for me to continue forward. I have not yet figured out a solution to the problem, but I am sure something will come up in the next few years to resolve that problem.
Second, a similar problem with Adobe.
After that, I really only have readers on my wish list. With an ample readership, all the above and more resolves. The business would be self sustaining and I’d be able to go ahead and write as much as I want. I’ve been suppressing my gift, because it takes a great deal of investment on my end to fully produce each work without the payout at the end to cover it.
Finding readers is tougher than you think–especially for someone like myself who doesn’t get immediate attention from the public. What I mean is, either the algorithm on social media and or I don’t have what it takes to rise the ranks and get the necessary attention. The work I put it, quality or quantity, doesn’t make a difference.
Look, I have studied and worked on my skillset for well over 20 years. That alone says I know what I am doing. In addition, I take a lot of care and put in a lot of effort in my work. Yet, that still doesn’t gain me the attention needed to get them read. The problem is that I can’t find my readers. They’re out there, of course. However, they’re rarely where I am at. That seems a bit confusing, as I am a fan of the topics on which I write, and I frequent those spaces.
I can spend years in these spaces and no one realizes I am a writer until one day it comes up in conversation and they’re suddenly surprised to find it out. That doesn’t necessarily translate to them obtaining a copy of one of my works. At this point, our established connection cancels out the possibility of me being a capable writer. I couldn’t begin to tell you why that is. I wish that I could. Add this to my wish list, too. I’d love insight into why I fill potential readers with such deep doubts about my ability.
Unfortunately, I can’t walk around with my credentials pasted on my person to attest to my skill, nor the reviews I’ve received on my work. I’m not sure what I am supposed to look like that would be reassuring. Is there a uniform for writers? Perhaps, because I am not masculine presenting?
Making all kinds of videos and additional companion material to go with my books, and doing it proficiently has not served me in the least. My wish is to know where the readers are that will take me seriously instead of dismissing me at face value without having evaluated an ounce of my work.
I think most writers have this at the top of their list, even if they won’t admit to it.
Let’s hop through the other responses to see if there is anything I have missed. My colleagues all have interesting perspectives, and are worth the journey!
I too have had trouble finding my tribe of readers over the nine years I’ve been doing this. In my case, it’s probably due to writing in several genres and having to spread my marketing thinly over them all.
Have you tried LibreOffice? It’s free, doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of Word, but works!
I’m very wary of freeware. It’s always loaded up with bugs and infects your computer.
I think every Indie author has lost readers since Amazon stopped free advertising. I long ago gave up any hope of ever earning a decent living from writing and just treat it as a hobby. I think that’s the best way to look at it.