I thought about approaching publishing companies about Zōsan and Tamaishi. I still debate about this internally — the idea that you’re not a “real” writer until you get to that point. Before that, it’s just a hobby. It’s not serious.
Even before I read my friend Diana’s take on this subject, I realized why I do this: it’s not that serious. It’s about enjoying the process, not deadlines, contracts and paychecks. I don’t condemn anyone who wants to make a living writing; I just gather it entails compromises to my creative process, family life (among other things) that I’m not willing to make.
Self publishing is not a “shortcut”, or simply a means to bypass the traditional publishing world. That world is just not what I want.
Alas, publishing is not free. Hence the Kickstarter: I turn to my prospective readers to offset the costs beforehand, rather than try and recoup it all after the fact. While I agree that would be a highly rational business-minded approach, that’s not how I’m wired.
I considering a blessing that I’m able to this at all. And a blessing from all of you, my readers and backers, that believe in what I’m creating. I am grateful that you have helped me bring my creative work to life.
I don’t believe at all that someday I’ll be a “real” writer by doing anything different. I may not ever make a living doing this, but I’m definitely a writer, and more importantly, I’m happy with what I’m doing. Judging by the waves of support that come in through Kickstarter, I gather that others are happy with what I’m doing too — and I couldn’t ask for more than that.