[Dumas]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

The 10k figure is something I picked up in an article on-line and I can't for the life of me find it now. It was one of those articles about self-publishing and the realities of the writer in the digital world. As far as I remember the 10k figure is based upon each one of those people offering up a minimum of $3 over the course of any one year, whether in donations or through sales of t-shirts and merchandising (not through the selling of work). This would give you $30,000 (or mid 20's after tax), a living wage.

Thanks for that. I'll keep my eyes open.

Originally Posted by Moejoe

As to why it won't happen for me, well, I'm not pursuing that goal, I can't achieve what I don't set out to achieve. I also believe that anything other than being satisifed with the writing itself only detracts away from the writing. If the goal becomes 'attaining x amount of a fan base' or selling 'x amount of products' then what have I become? I'm then a marketer, I'm a promoter, and none of these occupations are what I want from my life or my writing. Writing isn't an occupation to me, it's a drive, a need, as biologically necessary as breathing or eating food. Money, fame, riches, even an audience must be a by-product of the writing itself. If I wanted to make money I'd sell "The Secret to White Teeth" ebooks or "Gain Fabulous Abs in 20 Days" pamphlets.

As to the building of audiences and signatures, well, I usually change my sig from day to day to reflect my mood or what I'm thinking or doing. It's not there to advertise. I'm not an advertiser, and I suck at self promotion and taking compliments.

I agree that there are a lot of activities that could detract from the act of writing itself. It also sounds like you know your strengths and weaknesses. As far as promotion, that is where fan clubs and word of mouth pick-up.

I happened to stumble across a related issue. Zoe Keating is a cellist, composer, looper, and indie success. She is evidently so successful that the music industry doesn't believe her self-reported success. They only believe their own statistics as reported by sales figures measured by Soundscan. They definitely don’t like it that Zoe has done it without them. She has 1.3 Million twitter followers - a bigger audience than Billboard Magazine.

(Read more about and other related anecdotes here.)

Originally Posted by Moejoe

Sometimes I write a pleasant word or two and these pleasant words form not unbearable sentences. I put enough of those sentences together and I have a story. Sometimes I share those stories with other people. Sometimes. But my writing is not a career. It is not a business opportunity or a gimmick. This not a nine to five kind of thing, this is an every waking moment kind of thing.

Based on your clarification, if you made your writing available, then it sounds like an online journal, or if open to comments a blog. If you don't make your work available, then it doesn't really matter.

My point is, if someone did want to succeed in this kind of endeavor, there are a lot more things in their favor now than there were in the past.