Here’s a perfect start to this week’s blog entry.

I have just spent the last twenty minutes checking whether or nor ‘oversaturated’ should be written in such a manner, rather than as ‘over-saturated’ or ‘over saturated’. I was reasonably certain the form I had chosen was correct, but these types of needling doubts can chip away at an author’s sense of worth over time.

A form of self-gaslighting, if you will.

It doesn’t help when various dictionaries and thesauri (thesauruses?), both in online and physical formats, contradict one another on a regular basis. Add regional preferences to this mixture, and you have the perfect recipe for one big headache.

Any aspiring writer can relate to such things, no matter their background nor years of experience in the industry. We collectively aim for perfection in our works. Sadly, this is often at the expense of our own mental health and general well-being. The above anecdote is but a small example of the internal monologue we go through with regards to editing or proofreading potential submissions.

Alongside concerns over the constant need to expand our vocabulary and mastery of grammar, we also face the interminable pressures of a market going through unprecedented growth. The number of writers who are putting themselves and their work on display has never been so great. Thousands of new novels come out across the globe on a daily basis.

Unfortunately, this is very much a double-edged sword.

On the one hand, a vast community of would-be authors supporting one another has grown across social media, and it has never been easier to find books covering niche topics through these networks. More people than ever before engaging in the pursuit of producing literature across all genres can only be a good thing for society, or so the little voice in my head consistently assures me.

Photo reels of gorgeous bookstores, cafes and reading nooks can be found in spades. I love to observe and follow individual passions for this arguably bloated industry we share, and it has never been easier. Moreover, given what I’m about to write next, I’d argue it’s never been more vital.

As you will no doubt have gathered by this point, the other hand opens to reveal a more grim and disheartening situation. The volume of fellow writers can leave one feeling utterly overwhelmed, as though they are one ant amidst millions who dreams of becoming a spider. I just finished reading ‘Children of Time’ by Adrian Tchaikovsky, you’ll have to forgive the allusion to his superb work of science fiction.

Actually, I’d like to use the above reference as a segue into my next point: It can feel as though you’re up against competition which you have no right to measure yourself against. Upon reading the work of such individuals who are at the top of their game and able to produce books of such brilliance they win prestigious awards, it can make you examine your own portfolio and feel a wide range of emotions.

Insecurity. Angst. Melancholy. Futility…

I can practically feel this resonating through your own bones from here, presuming you’re an aspiring writer in the earlier phases self-publication of querying for representation by an agent. Some of us are naturally better suited to dealing with such instability and conflicting stimuli than others. I likely fall somewhere in the middle.

One of my connections through social media just posted about having submitted their paperwork to hundreds of potential agencies over the last three years, with only fifteen asking to read the manuscript in its entirety. Fourteen of them rejected it for various reasons.

Hopefully you managed to spot the olive branch I’ve extended to your ego’s increasingly battered ramparts:

I said fourteen turned them away.

With a raising of the champagne glass and ordering their favourite takeaway, my fellow writer celebrated their securing a contract for traditional publication after many trials and tribulations. It’s stories like these which give me continued inspiration and hope with regards to my own pursuit of success as a creative writer. Sure, the literary agents’ slush piles have never known such heights in years gone by, but for now let us just rejoice in someone’s accomplishments.

That leads us nicely into the question of how I personally cope with all the pressures of the modern age. In an industry where you need to be increasingly tech-savvy, mastering anything from SEO to targeted advertising campaigns across a multitude of platforms, my sense of purpose is bolstered by a combination of past experiences, current support and future goals.

Prior to embarking upon a career as an author and everything it entails, I successfully completed a doctorate at a Russell Group university. This is by no means any attempt at a ‘humble brag’ nor moment of intellectual snobbery. In fact, I only bring it up insofar as the degree relates to my skills at editing or proofreading. Sadly, most people lack the privilege and opportunity to receive such advanced levels of training on the subject. It’s something I will always be grateful for as my career progresses, no matter the eventual outcome.

Likewise, I am also fortunate enough to maintain close bonds with my family and friends. If I had a penny for every time my parents, brother or other close connections have served as bouncing boards to my frustrations, I could easily retire and just write novels for fun. This may seem like a clichéd example or filler, but it’s absolutely sincere. Without them, I would have thrown in the towel many years ago. Writing can be a solitary experience, and some would say it’s the nature of the beast. If true, that’s all the more reason to be thankful for any opportunities you do have to engage with others.

I’m not saying to suddenly go out and utterly leave your comfort zone, particularly given the tendency for many of us to feel varying levels of social anxiety, simply that interaction is important on some level. It’s easy to become lost in your own echo chamber.

You’re trying to write compelling dialogue, remember?

Another ongoing benefit which keeps my spirits raised is nearby access to bookstores and libraries. At least four times per week I head out for some fresh air with the intent of browsing the shelves. Seeing rows upon rows of authors who have ‘made it’ can act as a counterweight to all of the above vectors of stress. Not only that, but viewing the incredible cover art people are capable of these days is breath-taking in and of itself.

When it comes to how my goals help me feel as someone other than an outsider, one who is brazenly trying to peek through the frosted windows into the cosy, warm and safe homes of reputable authors, I try to break them down into manageable bites.

I suppose that’s one legacy from my past experience in academia and teaching.

Short term, medium term and long term plans help me maintain a sense of structure over both my workload and intended direction. Whether or not things go according to such ambitious attempts at control is another matter entirely, one arguably fit for its own future blog post. What would living as a writer be worth without a little chaos thrown in for good measure?

If you’re ever truly struggling and thinking of giving up, here’s my foremost suggestion:

Talk to someone and then pick up a book.

Preferably one of fantasy or historical fiction, cough cough. Escapism can work wonders for the mind, just don’t lose yourself to the point of neglecting your own responsibilities. There are some pretty deep rabbit holes out there.

On that note, I’m going to go spend the weekend reading ‘Perdido Street Station’ by China Miéville. Don’t worry, it’s only around nine-hundred pages.

Best wishes,

C.A. Fitzroy