Why now is the best time to be a writer

There has never been a better time in history to be a writer.

The internet has completely changed the way people read. Gone are the days where get their information from traditional print media like newspapers and magazines. People today are spending 3+ hours a day reading content online.

The barrier to entry has never been lower.

By the way, this week I am going to try out something new. I am going to do a short article and then talk about what I am reading this week at the end.

In order to get traditional published you need:

• Agent Approval

• Publisher Approval

• Editor Approval

If you are self-publishing, this is all you need:

• A computer

• Internet connection

• The courage to press submit

The internet has democratized attention to those who are willing to work to achieve it.

That's why I would recommend anyone interested in writing to start publishing online. It acts as a forcing function for your writing. It gets the words out of your head onto the page.

Now you can start asking and answering questions about your writing:

• What do people like? (and dislike?)

• Who is my audience?

• What am I trying to make?

If we wait around for someone's approval, then we'll end up spending our life on the bench never getting started.

The only approval you need is your own. Don't let perfectionism stand in your way either. Nobody is perfect, and it takes a long time for small gains to compound.

What I am reading this week.

I have been on a LitRPG reading spree lately and I am currently reading The Unorthodox Farmer Series.

What I find interesting about LitRPG is the way they blend the Science Fiction and Fantasy genres. The Science Fiction part comes from the "system" which is a kind of meta-AI that tells the main character (MC) about stats, item descriptions, and quests. The fantasy aspect comes from the main character trying to live a virtuous life despite being isekai-ed (transported to a different world). 

The three LitRPG I read over the last two weeks had very different styles when it came to representing the system.

In books like Dungeon Crawler Carl, the system is an active antagonist with lots of "dialogue." 

In other books like Battle Mage Farmer, the system is more neutral and in the background.

In all cases though, the system provides an overarching global plot for the MC. The MC's external goal is to beat the system by exploiting its rules and becoming overpowered. The system is also a metaphor for society. The MC is put into difficult moral situations by the system, giving the MC to prove their morality by making the humane choice.

Have you read any good LitRPG lately? Let me know in the comments below! (I read and reply to every comment.)