Lately I’ve been coming to better understand myself as a writer, and I’m coming to terms with the likely probability that I will never be a “popular” author, or even a “best-selling” author. Yes, part of that is because I dislike marketing, but without marketing it’s hard for the public to know about you or your books. (All of that is a topic for a different blog post, but anyway…) 

The biggest part of why I’ll probably never be considered a “popular” author is because I don’t follow trends. I never have, actually. I was always “uncool” in school because my clothes, and favorite books, shows, and music, were never what was popular or trendy at the time. Sometimes I’m just late to the party with trendy things (like finally watching a popular TV show eight years after it ended). But most of the time, whatever is popular and trendy just never interests me. 

This is very true of books, I’m learning. I do try to (sort of) keep up with knowledge of trends in the book world (especially with sci-fi/fantasy stuff, since that’s what I write). I do buy new books, both from indie authors and more “popular” mainstream authors. But after several years now of studying “trendy” books and watching book marketing videos, I’ve learned that that’s just not me. 

I have a wide variety of rather niche interests, which tends to drive both my reading and writing choices. I’m also a rather slow writer (I wrote a bit about that in a previous blog post), and cranking out one book every 3-5 years is not the best way to hit a meteoric rise to popularity. Of course I do hope to develop a loyal following of readers. And if anyone reading this blog post is a book influencer with a huge following and feels like sharing my stuff, well I won’t stop you. 😉 But in all seriousness, I’ve learned that I just need to write what I feel like I need to write, regardless of trends or popularity. 

Please note that I am not putting down anyone who reads or writes to trends. If you follow trends and popular tropes because they sell well or just because you like them, then please keep doing it! I’m not writing this to insult any particular trend nor anyone who likes them. There’s enough room in this world for everyone to read and write what they love, whatever that might be.

That being said, if you’re a reader or writer who doesn’t follow trends, I hope that this blog post encourages you. If all your favorite reads are a bit esoteric and weird, or if you’re feeling like a failure as a writer because you’re not ticking all the boxes that the popular authors do – it’s okay! There are a lot of us who read and write stuff that’s a bit off the beaten path. Read the things you enjoy, and write about the things you feel you need to write about. 

Like what you’re reading? Buy me a lemonade!