J.A. Konrath
"I encourage writers to not look at their reviews, and I usually don't." (artist)
— J.A. Konrath (artwork by Charles-Joseph Traviès de Villers)
for Creatives | create for YOURSELF, artist integrity, creative fear, art, artists, J.A. Konrath, reviews, feedback/criticism/rejection, drawing/illustration, Charles-Joseph Traviès de Villers
"Writers are a pretty insecure bunch, but I've never met one who blames their sales on their bad writing."
— J.A. Konrath
for Creatives | artist integrity, creative fear, J.A. Konrath, writing, reaching your audience, never stop LEARNING
"Hemingway said that stories are never finished, they're simply due."
— J.A. Konrath
for Creatives | J.A. Konrath, writing, storytelling, Ernest Hemingway
"I don't want to release something I don't think is ready. I feel I have one chance to hook readers, so I should show them my best."
— J.A. Konrath
for Creatives | J.A. Konrath, writing, reaching your audience, writer-reader relationship, editing
"My success is based on luck. Not on how good I think my own books are."
— J.A. Konrath
for Creatives | J.A. Konrath, the successful artist, writing
"Every book is a billboard for your entire backlist. If that book is enjoyed, it will lead a certain number of readers to your other books."
— J.A. Konrath
for Creatives | books, J.A. Konrath, writing, reaching your audience, KEEP CREATING, Jennifer Weiner
Follow Your Curiosity"Finding readers is a crapshoot. Keeping readers is a crapshoot."
— J.A. Konrath
for Creatives | J.A. Konrath, writing, reaching your audience
"The world will always need storytellers. That won't change. What will continue to change is how storytellers are discovered by readers."
— J.A. Konrath
for Creatives | reading, J.A. Konrath, writer-reader relationship, storytelling, value the art
"I wish all writers realized that agents, publishers, book doctors, vanity presses, and how-to seminars, have a cost attached to them—sometimes a very high cost—with zero guarantees. You can be a writer, and have writer be a part of your identity, without any of them."
— J.A. Konrath
for Creatives | J.A. Konrath, the successful artist, writing, solitude of creating, publishing, writing groups, editors, agents
"Now I believe a writer is someone who writes. Maybe you get paid. Maybe you don't. Maybe people agree. Maybe they don't. You don't need anyone's approval or acceptance or imprimatur or validation to consider yourself a writer. But legacy pundits like agents and publishers don't want you to believe that. They want you to feel that the only way you can call yourself a writer is if they agree. And their approval comes at a high cost. The legacy world doesn't want you to feel like you're a writer if all you do is self-publish. Because they need you to make money. Your peers may not consider you a writer if all you do is self-publish. Because they need to protect their own identities, and that means dismissing yours. You may not feel like a writer until you meet certain criteria. But consider this: who sets those criteria? You? Or an industry that wants to make money off of you? Readers don't care. Readers just want a good book. Maybe we all should worry less about labeling, and more about writing. ...Writers write. Depending on your identity, that could empower you, or scare the crap out of you."
— J.A. Konrath
for Creatives | reading, artist integrity, J.A. Konrath, writing, publishing, agents, feedback/criticism/rejection
"Writing is a job. It isn't some special calling for the elite. It isn't some form of magic where the shaman practitioners must be deified. I'm a writer, and damn lucky to be one, but I'm no better than someone who makes toasters on an assembly line."
— J.A. Konrath
for Creatives | creating isn't easy, magic/mystery of creating/art, J.A. Konrath, writing
"I enjoy the challenge. Writing in a new genre is like dating someone new. It's exciting. It's fun. It's uncomfortable. It forces you to try new things, tests your limits, teaches you how to overcome obstacles, and is an opportunity for growth."
— J.A. Konrath
for Creatives | creating isn't easy, J.A. Konrath, writing, genre, never stop LEARNING
"The best advertisement for your writing is your writing. Write a book that people want to read. Then another. Then another. Keep at it until the world can't ignore you anymore."
— J.A. Konrath
for Creatives | J.A. Konrath, writing, reaching your audience, KEEP CREATING
"Some writers hate the idea that luck plays a big part in success, but it does. But I've found that the harder you work, the luckier you get."
— J.A. Konrath
for Creatives | creating isn't easy, J.A. Konrath, the successful artist, writing