by Elaina Lyons

So many times, I see authors asking questions like, “What if readers don’t like my characters?” and “What if people don’t like my book?” and a litany of others.

The thing is, it’s very possible people won’t like what you write. It’s also very possible, as an indie author, that you won’t sell many copies of your book, even if it’s absolutely incredible.

But those facts should remind you of something very important: You’re not writing for them.

You’re not writing for an audience. You’re not writing for readers. You’re writing for you. The great Ernest Hemingway once said, “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.” How true is that? We write because we have to. We write because there are words inside us that are so powerful they can’t be contained. We write to find a release for the emotions and chaos within us.

Writing for others will almost always backfire because it’s inherently inauthentic. It’s pandering. You might find success that way, but you won’t be writing what’s true to your heart, and that isn’t really art, is it?

So when you find yourself wondering if others will like what you write, ask yourself one important question first: Do YOU like what you’re writing?

Grab your copy of “The Love You Know” here.

If you’re an indie author and you’d like to guest post on this blog, email me!