Welcome to Part IV of my eighteen part series, Best Advice For Writing Your Novel, which I’ll admit may or may not have begun with John Blumenthal's post and Caroline Hagood's but the ideas were flying so fast and furious it was hard to keep track. That said, I’m sure they would be only happy for me that I was given a large advance to write The Best Advice on Writing a First Novel for Dummies.*

While John Blumenthal's post illustrated the ridiculous (and realistic) odds of writing a successful novel, my retort did not include success as a criteria for writing a novel. It doesn’t have to be. Walk into any Barnes & Noble and do the math. They are 3 million different titles on the shelf. Hard to get noticed. There is probably not one single tortured soul making a living writing poetry (teaching and bumper stickers doesn’t count). Yet it’s never been easier to write a novel.

Books are not a great business model and most won't pay your electricity bill but it’s about getting your voice out, sharing your art. Guerilla advertising stuff. Beth Mann left a insightful comment that hit a nerve with me on Part III of this series. Here’s an excerpt;

“...Once upon a time, when I was a performance artist and did all this experimental theater, I wrote a piece called The Dog. I was getting ready for my first performance one evening. I was on the bill with a few other excellent artists, very excited, very proud. I called my mother and expressed to her my excitement. She said, "Well, I hope this turns into something for you eventually." I could have smacked her. Here I was, making something happen–I created my own show. The house was sold-out. I would receive good reviews and great feedback. But more than anything, I was an artist emerging. This IS that something, I wanted to tell my mom. THIS is it.

“But we're always thinking–especially for the creative arts–that there's some magical pot of gold and if you don't have that, you're just...in waiting...I'm not waiting.”

An example I have personally is an app in the Apple Store. It’s one of the first of just an individual’s work, in my case, my cartoons. Apple sells it for 99¢ but there is no chance that the developer, distributor or I will make money from it. The cost goes to expenses and all of us just break even at best. It’s not even really viable as a branding campaign. It is what it is–sharing cartoons with others and enjoying the art. And that’s fine.

I was just at a book event at Barnes & Noble in Park Slope, New York for The Vampire’s Handbook and while there I asked the manager if they carried my book. It’s a huge brand new store and I figured it didn’t hurt to help myself while I made the hour trip there. He said it was a personal favorite and that he gave it to his dad last year for Christmas.

That’s why you want to write a book. When you get an email from poet P.K. Page or a handwritten note from Michael Palin saying he enjoyed the book. Because some woman wants you to sign and draw little snowmen on 50 copies she’s giving away for charity. For the free bottle of water you get at signings that says, yes you’re a writer. Because your mom told everyone on her job. You do it because there’s a 70 yr-old woman sitting in the front row wearing a snowman sweater and snowman earrings. Because of that scary goth girl in Border’s who asks you back to her car after your appearance. That’s why you become a writer.