‘Write what’s in your heart.’ So says my writer friend Jim Bates, and I’m sure he won’t mind if I quote him on this important matter. It makes the point that writing is about so much more than identifying a gap in the bookselling market and manufacturing something to take advantage of it. It also makes the point that writing is not about making lots of money or becoming world famous. For most of us, most of the time, it’s about self-expression, pure and simple. As a writer you might never reach the fame-and-riches that non-writers usually think you want. If all your writing comes from the heart, as Jim advises, you might never find much commercial success – but you will always have something to be proud of, that represents the essential you. This is why I’d never recommend writing as a means of earning a good living. Having said that, it’s surprising where the heart can lead you.
After parting company (peacefully!) with my publisher a few years back, I decided to return to first principles, and write what I loved. I gave no consideration at all to the commercial possibilities – I simply wrote what I wanted to. It gave me the creative freedom I needed, and led, in time, to acquiring further skills. I took up illustration again, after a very long gap, and ultimately learned bookbinding so I could literally make my own books. I sold them to friends and enjoyed it all immensely, and would happily have continued to do that indefinitely.
But writing from the heart had another effect: the fact that my stories weren’t crammed into an uncomfortable genre, or designed for any particular audience, made them quite unusual. I’m a great believer in fate, and it eventually intervened when I crossed paths with a local publisher whose magical turn of mind meshed perfectly with mine – and, hey presto, the books are being printed as I write. Will they make money? I don’t know, but I hope the project will do reasonably well for my publishers’ sake; they certainly deserve it for the time, care, effort and money they’ve invested. And for their patience and good humour, too.
So, I guess I’ve proved that writing from the heart doesn’t necessarily cancel out a commercial outcome. For me, though, the importance of writing what I love will always outgun the practical marketing considerations, and maybe that’s as it should be for any writer. I heartily recommend it.
A word from my publisher:
‘Two brand new quirky tales based on plants and herbs found in Dorset. Both books are written and beautifully illustrated by Kathy Sharp. Imaginative, well-written and thoroughly delightful. The Herbarium and The Chesil Apothecary are available on pre-order as a pair at the special price of £15.00 from https://www.veneficiapublications.com/ ’