Probably are going to face more sacrifices... but if that fire keeps burning, you can do it. I've gone exclusively indie and am working on my third million from writing mystery and thriller. I began in 2011 and now have 50+ books. Never let anyone tell you it's easy though. If it were, everyone would be doing it. You don't just write... as an indie you're the publisher too. Good luck, keep going!
That's what I call goals! You're where I want to be one day soon. Like tomorrow soon LOL but yeah, it's been one wild ride so far so expecting nothing less.
Thank you for sharing your journey and your heart! What a beautiful relationship you have with your daughter. Curious about your "(then) girlfriend." Did she stick around?
Also, do you think you will always stay with a publisher or do more indie work? I love being indie and the community through which we support each other.
I've thought about rhe indie thing again and I do see a world where that could be possible. But I really do love my publishers. They've treated me really well.
As for the girlfriend, you'll have to stick around for another post to find out 😁😬
Thank you for sharing this, so raw and honest and not sexy. To be successful we have to give up so much. Congrats, you deserve it! (also really love the fake job concept)
Kern, you are where you should be and the future has so much in store for you! Congratulations over and over again, sir!
"This March, I found out that one of my novels sold over 11,000 copies in three months. I earned out my advance and cashed my first royalty cheque. I spoke to the head of Scholastic Canada and she said the book is still selling well. My next royalty cheque will be so much bigger now that 90% of it doesn’t need to go to my advance."
Congrats on all your accomplishments Kern! I think it's really healthy to chase your own dreams and ambitions rather than sacrificing it all for family or significant others. There tends to be resentment and guilt with letting dreams go for others--I wish my parents were a little more like you in this regard lol. I'm sure your daughter learned a lot about working hard and dreaming big from you. These are worthy sacrifices (and it seems like you're doing your best as a dad/partner/friend among it all). Keep it up!
Thank you for sharing this 💜 the ‘sacrifices’ you spoke about hit hard. Especially when you’re a parent. I think if we keep true to ourselves and our passions/ambitions our kids will learn to believe in themselves. That’s what I’m hoping, anyway!
Thank you for sharing and being so honest about the journey. Your memoir class with Narratively was my first on the genre and I've been off the races since. Keep writing and please keep sharing along the way. I'm cheering you on, as I find the courage and focus myself.
That was amazing and inspiring to read. God bless you.
BTW you were the best example to your daughter. It isn't what you lost, it's what example you showed her. You taught her to be tenacious and never give up! That is priceless! You inspire me!
OMG, the debate raged in my head about whether or not to make sacrifices, and oh the struggles with the lack of certainty down the road, and this post addressed all my worries in truth. Thank you for this.
This is relatable for me. I count the costs of being a stay-at-home mum, an unambitious professional who drifted away from their profession and a part-time writer who couldn't hold down a job and progress their writing - so favoured the writing over having a job. I've been privileged to be able to make these choices but it's come at a massive cost of financial security and quality of life sacrifices for myself and my family. It's time I won't ever get back and I do question my judgement and dogged self-interested pursuit of writing. Time's nearly up for me and I'll be making a shift next year, to have a non-writing income stream while continuing to 'write on the side'.
This does not make economic sense to our writing group Kern.
Isn't obvious, a high paying job is better than waiting 10 years to sell 13000 copies of a book, and your second or third book there is no guarantee it will reach or better that sales target . All just to say: I am published. Whooopeeee !
This is outdated thinking in a changing tariff world order that is now upon us.
There is a time tested old saying: a bird in the the hand is worth two in the bush.
Most of our group have full time jobs and still write when they can or are adaptable and seek other available options to balance their lives. There is no problem, they can cushion the variability of sales as they have a backup for their sanity.
To write full time and make a living, fools gold !
I mean, I do write full time, I'm just not an author full time. And I've made a lot of money writing, hence why I mention we got the nice apartment, etc. I wasn't doing nothing for this whole time, but I wanted to make my money writing. I'm achieving that. My next goal is to make the majority of my money from being an author. Maybe fools gold to you, but it's what I want, and based on my track record, I'd say I've been pretty damn good at getting what I want.
Not just to me. Fool's gold to most that is the reality. Compare earning rate of writes of 10 years ago to now. The data tells a story. It sounds like a investment prospectus clause that says past achieved returns is no guarantee of future returns.
Thank you for sharing. I love the idea of "fake job."
We keep going! Onward!
Haha yeah, my daughter and I have so many little jokes. And yes, onward we go!
Probably are going to face more sacrifices... but if that fire keeps burning, you can do it. I've gone exclusively indie and am working on my third million from writing mystery and thriller. I began in 2011 and now have 50+ books. Never let anyone tell you it's easy though. If it were, everyone would be doing it. You don't just write... as an indie you're the publisher too. Good luck, keep going!
That's what I call goals! You're where I want to be one day soon. Like tomorrow soon LOL but yeah, it's been one wild ride so far so expecting nothing less.
🫶🏻🤩
Thank you for sharing your journey and your heart! What a beautiful relationship you have with your daughter. Curious about your "(then) girlfriend." Did she stick around?
Also, do you think you will always stay with a publisher or do more indie work? I love being indie and the community through which we support each other.
I've thought about rhe indie thing again and I do see a world where that could be possible. But I really do love my publishers. They've treated me really well.
As for the girlfriend, you'll have to stick around for another post to find out 😁😬
Awesome! I love a good cliffhanger! ❤️
Thank you for sharing this, so raw and honest and not sexy. To be successful we have to give up so much. Congrats, you deserve it! (also really love the fake job concept)
The fake job is one of my favourite memories.
Kern, you are where you should be and the future has so much in store for you! Congratulations over and over again, sir!
"This March, I found out that one of my novels sold over 11,000 copies in three months. I earned out my advance and cashed my first royalty cheque. I spoke to the head of Scholastic Canada and she said the book is still selling well. My next royalty cheque will be so much bigger now that 90% of it doesn’t need to go to my advance."
🎊🥳👏🏾
Congrats on all your accomplishments Kern! I think it's really healthy to chase your own dreams and ambitions rather than sacrificing it all for family or significant others. There tends to be resentment and guilt with letting dreams go for others--I wish my parents were a little more like you in this regard lol. I'm sure your daughter learned a lot about working hard and dreaming big from you. These are worthy sacrifices (and it seems like you're doing your best as a dad/partner/friend among it all). Keep it up!
What an inspiring story! Congrats!
Thank you for sharing this 💜 the ‘sacrifices’ you spoke about hit hard. Especially when you’re a parent. I think if we keep true to ourselves and our passions/ambitions our kids will learn to believe in themselves. That’s what I’m hoping, anyway!
That was my hope too. Seems to have worked out.
Beautifully realized story, Kern; clearly, you were born to be an author.
It certainly feels that way!
Thank you for sharing and being so honest about the journey. Your memoir class with Narratively was my first on the genre and I've been off the races since. Keep writing and please keep sharing along the way. I'm cheering you on, as I find the courage and focus myself.
Thanks James! Glad to hear you're moving forward, as well. We need more stories, not less, so I'm cheering for you, as well :)
That was amazing and inspiring to read. God bless you.
BTW you were the best example to your daughter. It isn't what you lost, it's what example you showed her. You taught her to be tenacious and never give up! That is priceless! You inspire me!
OMG, the debate raged in my head about whether or not to make sacrifices, and oh the struggles with the lack of certainty down the road, and this post addressed all my worries in truth. Thank you for this.
This is relatable for me. I count the costs of being a stay-at-home mum, an unambitious professional who drifted away from their profession and a part-time writer who couldn't hold down a job and progress their writing - so favoured the writing over having a job. I've been privileged to be able to make these choices but it's come at a massive cost of financial security and quality of life sacrifices for myself and my family. It's time I won't ever get back and I do question my judgement and dogged self-interested pursuit of writing. Time's nearly up for me and I'll be making a shift next year, to have a non-writing income stream while continuing to 'write on the side'.
Huge cost, lost opportunity cost.
This does not make economic sense to our writing group Kern.
Isn't obvious, a high paying job is better than waiting 10 years to sell 13000 copies of a book, and your second or third book there is no guarantee it will reach or better that sales target . All just to say: I am published. Whooopeeee !
This is outdated thinking in a changing tariff world order that is now upon us.
There is a time tested old saying: a bird in the the hand is worth two in the bush.
Most of our group have full time jobs and still write when they can or are adaptable and seek other available options to balance their lives. There is no problem, they can cushion the variability of sales as they have a backup for their sanity.
To write full time and make a living, fools gold !
I mean, I do write full time, I'm just not an author full time. And I've made a lot of money writing, hence why I mention we got the nice apartment, etc. I wasn't doing nothing for this whole time, but I wanted to make my money writing. I'm achieving that. My next goal is to make the majority of my money from being an author. Maybe fools gold to you, but it's what I want, and based on my track record, I'd say I've been pretty damn good at getting what I want.
Not just to me. Fool's gold to most that is the reality. Compare earning rate of writes of 10 years ago to now. The data tells a story. It sounds like a investment prospectus clause that says past achieved returns is no guarantee of future returns.
Good luck of course.