I’ve been doing some reflection the past few days regarding whether or not writing is worth the time we put into it. Not just writing I suppose, but really any creation of art.

I was reading a thread on Reddit last week and somebody made a comment that read something like, “There are a lot of good artists that don’t make it, there’s so little chance of being successful that you shouldn’t even try to put yourself out there.”

I can understand where this individual is coming from, but is that the truth?

It’s remarkably how often you’ll hear from artists (writers, actors, illustrators, any of them) that the key is just to keep going. You’ve got to “follow your heart, never give up and you’ll succeed.” My problem with this style of advice is that it seems narrow sighted. It’s easy for a successful artist to give that advice, as they are already, well, successful.

Now I’m sure most of these individuals probably recognize very well the struggles of artists that are aspiring to have their work recognized. They themselves have likely gone through the same trials that hopeful artists go through.

And so it can seem a bit… insincere almost, for those artists to imply that simple perseverance will bring the same success that they enjoy. Consider professional football players. How many children want to grow up and play football (or any sport) for a living? How many of them put themselves to work for hours every week in high school and college to try and achieve that dream? Then, how many are actually hired by a team? Very few, proportionally and I wouldn’t be surprised if the numbers were similar to those that are successful as artists.

But does this, like the reddit user implied, mean you shouldn’t try? You should just give up?

I don’t think so. And I honestly feel like I have more authority to say this, at the moment, than many successful author or artists. And no, that’s not due to arrogance. It’s due to my own amateur status.

I sit here at my desk, completely unaware of what the future is going to bring and whether or not I’ll ever have a book published, or have anybody I don’t know personally want to read what I write. But I can’t believe that just because the odds of being successful are low, that I shouldn’t bother with trying. If that were true, then what would be the point of doing anything?

Did Stephen King know when he began writing that he would be successful? George RR Martin? Brandon Sanderson? Should they just have given up because the odds were against them?

We can stretch that thinking back for decades. Just because Bram Stoker was unsuccessful most of his career should he have just given up? HP Lovecraft? Even Edgar Allen Poe? Had these men abandoned their work, simply because they were immediately successful, we would be without some really great treasures–and some of my favorite literary work.

Instead I think it important to temper your expectations. Recognize that if you truly want to be recognized as an artist, then you have to realize that while it does take tenacity,  dedication and hard work that we can’t expect, to have the success we necessarily dream of. What that means for aspiring artists is that it isn’t prudent to focus so hard on a dream that you give up all other avenues for success. This is part of tempering your expectations. You should work for a living to provide for yourself. If your success comes, then it will come, but don’t put all of your eggs into one basket. Too many struggling artists work as waiters while waiting for their big break. Don’t wait for your big break to happen, make the most out of all the time you have and let your work speak for itself, with time. That may not come soon, it may not ever pay off big. But that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it.