Paying your dues 12/07/2011
 
The indomitable Joe Konrath just published a new 'ThoughChat' with Barry Eisler, you can check it out here. As I was reading it, I noticed the list of his older posts, going all the way back to 2005. That alone impressed me - Joe was publishing blogs in 2005, years before I even had a clue about seriously publishing my own novels. More than that, his posts from 6 YEARS AGO still hold water today ... now that's impressive!

One of his blogs in particular hit me over the head. He titled it, "No Vacation for You." He published it on December 24, 2005. I'm gonna cut and paste it below, but you can check out his original post here.

I named this blog, "Paying your dues" 'cause I've been asked by several neo-pro writers lately questions like, "How did you get _The Watchman of Ephraim_ to hit #1 on Amazon's Geopolitical Bestseller's list?" and "How did you possibly pull off a 75-day blog tour?" and "Why are you trying to publish three full-length novels a year?" and "How can you possibly reply personally to every email and invitation you receive on every one of your social networking channels?" (I'm on a pace to have written over 27,000 personal messages to people connected with me on LinkedIn, Goodreads, Facebook, and Twitter in 2011). My answer to all the questions above has to do with two tenants that I truly believe are the keys to success in any field ...

#1 Paying your dues ... which to me means, doing all the behind-the-scenes stuff, EVERY DAY, EVERY WEEK, EVERY MONTH, EVERY YEAR ... the not glamorous stuff, the sometimes difficult, sometimes boring, sometimes mundane stuff ... the stuff that usually no one sees you do, but needs to get done.

#2 "All things, all the time" - this is something my older brother Peter taught me. He made it to the top in his profession by out-hustling his peers ... getting in before everyone else and staying after everyone else leaves ... working while others watch football and baseball, while others spend a quiet day with their kids, while others go on vacation or just take the weekend/day/afternoon off. It also means that you have to get to everything. There's no time to just "study your craft" or just write or just promote or just ... anything! Remove the word "just" and you begin to understand what it takes to really make it as a self-publisher.

I have to tell you ... all of the successes in my life in business have come by living those two tenants, every day. Now I'm waist-deep in establishing my professional writing career. This is the fifth industry that I have worked in, in the last thirty years. I've achieved success in the music industry, manufacturing industry, transportation/logistics industry and financial industry ... and all of my successes are due to #1 and #2.

I simply don't know an easier way. Perhaps I'm not as smart as others or as talented as others but two thing I am ... are tenacious and methodical. I plan my work and work my plan and I never give up. I'm up at my desk around 5am every morning and I don't clock out until everything is done.

Well, apparently I'm not the only one. When I read Joe's blog, I smiled 'cause it seems he succeeded the same way I'm succeeding in publishing - 'paying his dues' and 'all things all the time.' The question you need to ask yourself after reading this is ... how bad do you want it?

Here's Joe Konrath's hard-hitting piece in its entirety: (my thanks to Joe ...)

Saturday, December 24, 2005
No Vacation for You
I haven't had a vacation in four years, and I don't expect one next year either.

This July, my family demanded some 'together time' so I took them up to a cabin in Michigan. Along the way I did signings. And I brought my laptop.

My two closest friends, whom I've known for 26 years, coerced me into taking a three day weekend off to go on brewery tours. I went with them, but managed to fit in a library event while they were boozing it up.

The kids have been off school for a week, and I managed to do some bonding. But I also did some editing, some writing, some website updating, and a few blog entries.

Am I missing out on life? In a word: Yes. And since misery loves company, I want you to miss out too.
  • Can't find an agent?
  • Can't sell your book?
  • Getting a lot of rejections?
  • Stuck on that short story?
  • Book not selling well?
  • Disappointed by your numbers?
  • Haven't finished that novel?
  • Unable to find a new publisher?
My question for you is: How much time have you put in?

Remember listening to your grandparents talk about the Great Depression? They used words like "Sacrifice" and "Hard work."

Writing involves sacrifice and hard work. That means denying yourself some things, like friends and family and free time. If you want to make it, you have to put in the hours.

I'm not going to argue that your writing is more important than your children---that isn't true. Family is far more important than career. But if your family loves you, they'll also understand how important your career is, and give you time to pursue it.

If you want to succeed in this biz, be prepared to make sacrifices and find the time to get things done.

Here's a handy list of some things you can sacrifice:

  • Vacation
  • Friends
  • TV
  • Going out
  • Reading
  • Surfing the Internet
  • Sleep
  • Eating
The harder you work, the better your chance at success. This is a business about persistence, not talent. Asimov wrote 400 books. James Reasoner just finished his 185th. How many have you done?

Now I fully expect some vehement disagreement. Replies that speak of values and priorities and happiness and importance, and examples of authors on the bestseller list who take plenty of time off. I'm sure plenty of folks will feel sorry for my family, or for me for not 'getting it.' Some of you will insist you can have your cake and eat it too, and some of you may indeed do that.

But the next time you're lamenting your career, ask yourself two questions: What have I done so far? & What have I sacrificed?

If you've never finished a novel, have only gotten 50 rejections, and plan on using the holiday break to relax, are you entitled to the disappointment you feel about the state of your writing career? Or if you published your book, then did minimal self-promotion, can you really feel betrayed that you sold so poorly?

Here's an axiom that no one likes, me included, but I adhere to it anyway:

"You can always do more."

And the next time you're relaxing, pick up a copy of Who's Who, or crack open a history book, and look at all of the successful, famous people that our society reveres. How many of them are in there for being good parents? For taking vacations? For watching a lot of television? For partying with friends?

Happy Holidays! I gotta get back to work.
 


Comments

S.M. Carrière link
12/08/2011 6:44am

He's right. I vehemently disagree with him!

Certainly, work your arse off. I get that. But sacrifice friends? Right. Get rid of your support networks in favour of fickle 'fans' who'll drop you the moment you misstep.

A business of persistence, not talent? Persistence AND talent, thank-you. I'm afraid that after reading that line, I am not likely to pick up one of his books.

Sacrifice reading? That flies in the face of everything a writer is, for a writer is first and foremost a reader. Any successful writer... well, almost, has said as much. Stephen King, for example. Neil Gaiman, for another. And frankly writing demands research, which includes (gasp) reading. It might even include watching T.V. or surfing the net, particularly if writing about the time in which we currently live.

And Mr. Konrath might value fame over being a good parent (or person, for that matter), but I most certainly do not. I get the feeling that he'll take fame, even if it's the world over snorting derisively at him (hey, at least they've heard his name, right?), over every other thing.

It is possible to work one's arse off, and still be there for their families and their friends. It is possible to work hard and become successful while sparing a couple of weeks a year resting and recharging.

Yes, you can always do more. I suppose the line is drawn along with one's values. Would I squeeze in a book signing event after going through a brewery tour - you bet your arse I would. Would I ignore my children and guilt them for wanting a parent's affection by saying, 'If you loved me, you'd leave me alone.' Hells no!

Incidentally, Mr. Konrath, King Richard (the Lion Heart) is (in)famous for partying with his friends in France. You'd know that if you had cracked open a history book...

Honestly. This man has officially grated my nerves.

Reply
g link
12/08/2011 8:09am

Can always rely on you to weigh in when the feeling takes you, sista!

Regarding your thoughts, my pennies ...

+ On sacrificing friends ... I'm with you, in fact, I don't believe you could sacrifice a true friend by pursuing your goals in life, for a true friend would know you, respect you, and admire you for such a cause. I think Joe was referring to the casual friend though (since he mentioned having very long-term dear friends - ones that he has apparently kept throughout is path to success). I agree with him there - anyone engaged in a career path that involves no time-clock punching, traveling and communicating with lots of folks, will undoubtedly be unable to maintain casual friendships (at a level of true friendship, i.e. intimate conversations, regular get-togethers, etc.) I know this from years of being a successful musician and now also as a professional writer. My close friends are actually a very small group indeed - smaller than most folks with more traditional employment.

+ One thought on "fickle" fans ... honestly, I've had many more fickle friends than fans in my life. As a matter of fact, I dislike the word "fan" altogether, as I've found that those that have stuck with me throughout my life, through thick and thin, and admire me for my body of work ... is more a friend than a fan. My only regret is not being able to be even more friendlier than I can be towards them (there in lies the sacrifice, for me)

+ I think you missed his point about persistence and talent. I've known many artists, musicians, and writers with more talent than those well-known for the same - BUT - they remain unknown and worse, their works remain unknown. Joe is correct, talent is nothing in BUSINESS without an equal portion of persistence! He did NOT say, that talent wasn't necessary or important. He was making the point that, in order to become successful in the publishing business, as in any other business, one cannot make it on talent alone. Persistence is the key that unlocks the door to success in any business.

+ No argument with writers being, at heart, readers HOWEVER, I believe he's correct, at least in my case, and in the case of many other artists in all arts. While in a band, I couldn't listen to the amount of new music by different artists that folks that weren't professional musicians could - for a few reasons - time constraints (read: sacrifice) and also (and this is a personal thing) I believe there is a time in an artist's life when he should expose himself to as much art as he can - but once I start creating the art - I do limit myself, so that I'm not overly influenced by others. I want my voice to speak and I want my voice to be unique. This is not something about which I can be criticized - it is simply "my way," just as I don't criticize others for reading voraciously while creating. I guess Joe could have qualified that point by adding: (for some). I find myself speaking for him here, but I really don't believe he meant all the research methods you mentioned - Joe would consider that 'research' and part of your craft, which is part of your road to success. He's talking about reading, internet, TV, etc. as a form of entertainment (time-passing).

+ Your thoughts on Joe's parenting are judgmental and in my opinion, harsh. Joe spoke of time away from his children and family as 'sacrifice.' He never said he values fame over his family. In fact, I believe Joe was doing what a person should do, IN ORDER to take care of his family (read: sacrificing time now so that later on he can take care of them financial AND spend time with them). He also never said he completely isolated himself from his family - he just made the point that he did sacrifice maximizing his time with them - BUT - in order to ultimately take care of them! I'm particularly sensitive to this point because A.) my Dad, who was my best friend AND the person I most admired AND the humblest human being I have ever known ... sacrificed time with me and my brother, in order to make a living and take care of us! You know what ... I NEVER judged my dad on the AMOUNT of time he spent with me ... what remains with me, to this day, is the quality of time he spent with me! More than that, by his actions and his sacrifice ... I admired and loved and respected him more! and B.) I have also had to sacrifice time with my family, in pursuit of my goals (ultimately taking care of them). Anyone in the military or salesmen or musicians or others that have to travel or those who must work away from their families understand my meaning here.

+ It may be possible for you to spare a few weeks a year resting and recharging ... but not for me (and many others). Personally, I haven't taken a vacation in years - mostly because I can't afford the time. Yet, my faith allows me to 'recharge' and 'rest' every seventh day ... to that, I add, "dayenu ... it is sufficient!"

I've had to explain to my sons many times that I needed to work, instead of being with the

Reply
g link
12/08/2011 8:23am

... being with them. I believe they admire me as much as I did, my dad, for the same reasons.

King Richard may have partied in France, but certainly Nelson Mandela did not while imprisoned while pursuing his goals. Mandela understood and accepted that, in order to attain his goals, ultimately of taking care of his family and people, he would have to be away from his loved ones and friends and give up many other luxuries. He did so with the same aim as most of us - that there will be a time in the future when - we will achieve our goals ... and then our sacrifices can end or ebb.

I admire Joe Konrath for his dedication and persistence. His article from so long ago is a motivational support for me now as I trek the same journey he once did ... walking the same paths, ultimately with the same goal of spreading my art to the masses and by so doing, taking care of my family.

Reply
S.M. Carrière link
12/08/2011 12:55pm

I too have a very small group of friends (or people I consider friends. Friendly acquaintances aren't included... sorry guys!), and I value them greatly. I think that maintaining that friendship requires effort and time. And yes, they are there rooting for you when you are so busy you can barely breathe, let alone see them.

I'm afraid that I read 'persistence, not talent' as to mean precisely that - no talent required. I completely agree that persistence is key and just having talent with no drive won't help you. It's the 'not talent' I take issue with.

I work differently from you with regards to reading for pleasure while creating, I suppose. I tend to read all kinds of things, and the things I learn unconsciously help me to become a stronger writer. I also will watch a TV show, for pleasure, and see something that sparks a creative idea. These 'downtimes' are so important for the creative process. For me. Everyone is different, and that's cool.

You can ask those who edited me for my very first time how neurotic I am about keeping my voice - the unique style of writing that identifies me as the writer. I find Mr. Konrath's blanket statement to be misleading. You and he may work in similar ways, and that's awesome. However, for him to declare, essentially, 'my way or the highway' is... arrogant. Everyone is different.

I might be a little judgemental on the parenting thing. I didn't mean to offend, but the final paragraph about famous people and why they're famous really got to me, particularly when combined with the 'If you love me, you'll shoo' attitude he previously mentioned. The issue of parental affection is a little touchy for me, I guess. I get working to put supper on the table. Trust me. Starving artist and all that rubbish.

The thing I took issue with was he seemed less about sacrificing his time with his children to set up a more stable future. The tone of the post felt more about fame to me.

Of course, you would interpret it according to your experience. Since you have more of that (I'm not a parent - I just have them), you're likely right in this instance.

Don't get me wrong, Mr. Konrath made it. I totally admire his determination and persistence as well. I mean, come on! He made it! I'm just not fond of the implied reasons for doing so in his post. I also don't think that his methods are for everyone, and for him to imply that they're the only way to make it grated on my nerves a little.

O.K. A lot.

Of course, I'm sitting pretty at a grand total of 7 sales, so I'm not really one to talk. Perhaps Mr. Konrath would say that I simply don't want it enough.

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