The Biggest Problems Writers Have That No One Talks About

Writers in media are often portrayed as either the lonely hermit sitting in a dark room and talking to themselves as they typic almost frantically on the keyboard or the rich celebrity walking down red carpets and fending off movie deals left and right. 

The sad reality of a writer's life is often left romanticized by some and seen as lazy by others, but the biggest problems often remain unacknowledged.  

Isolation 

While it takes a team to publish a book and craft it into something that meets industry standards, the actual process of writing it is often a lonely and solitary endeavor. Sure you could talk the book out with other writers or a supportive partner, but they'll never be able to see the story in your head just like you can. 

Many writers fight off feelings of loneliness as they spend hours on end sometimes in small corners of the room while they bring to life charters who have supportive families, role models, and many other things the writer may wish for in their everyday life. 

If you are a writer suffering from this, you are not alone and there are hundreds if not thousands of writing communities you can join that will sit silently in those corners with you, not interfering with your work, but being there if you need them. 

If you have friends or family that are writers, remember to check on them and let them rant about their books, you may be the first person to ask them. 

Rejection 

Rejection is so commonplace in writing and publishing that it is also romanticized in a way, well not everyone sees a nail in the wall full of impaled rejection slips as motivation to keep trying. Some just see it as a failure.

Yes, rejection can be a learning experience, a stepping stone, or that burst of motivation a writer needs to keep trying and to keep writing, but that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt or that each "thanks, but no thank you," email doesn't chip away at a writer piece by piece until they can't bare to see another one. 

Financial Instability 

Publishing and writing can be a profitable business, but the sad reality is while an author may see $7,000 in sales one month, the next could only see $70 and then back up to $8,000. For a writer, no two paychecks ever look the same.

This unpredictability, especially for new writers can seriously impact a writer's well-being both in their physical and mental health. 

Imposter Syndrome

This writing buzzword is sometimes seen as a funny reel or mentioned in someone's post, but these don't usually go into the dark feeling a writer can experience while going through it. 

A writer's mind can think of the most magnificent things and create worlds in their mind's eye that others couldn't even begin to consider, but imagine that this mind turns against its creator and causes them to spiral down a dark path. 

These feelings of inadequacy, lack of confidence, and thoughts that any earned success is based on luck and no skill can kill the creative mind and crush a writer from within.  

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I did not choose writing as my profession, my drive to create stories and record them in a way that I could share them with the world is what chose for me, but there are some days when the hardships outweigh any gains. 

Making others, as well as writers aware of these struggles can promote and foster a supportive and empathetic relationship with each other so that there is no reason for writers who may be struggling or hide behind closed doors to continue in silence. 

Writers, you are never alone in your journey and if you are struggling with any of the above issues always reach out to friends, family, and your community. They will be there for you every step of the way. 

With my love and support, 

B.K. xo xo

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