How to Stay Motivated as a Writer Even When You Feel Invisible

Do you sometimes feel invisible—like you’ve worked your tail off at writing for years and still no one is paying any attention?

Have you tried a variety of ways to get your work out there, only to find that you’re still basically in the same place—with a handful of fans (or less) and no real measure of progress on the market?

Do you wonder sometimes if you’re writing away in obscurity and will continue to do so for the rest of your life?

If so, you’re not alone. Many writers today feel like they’re invisible, and that can wear on one’s creative soul after awhile. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to keep your motivation high and increase your chances of breaking through down the road.

What’s Good About Feeling Invisible?

First, let’s take a step back and remember what we’re doing here. Today’s culture is so centered on celebrity that writers can forget they’re actually artists, and their highest calling is creating works of art, whatever shapes they may take.

Sure, we all want to “make it” as authors, and though we may have different definitions of what that means, usually it involves selling lots of books, making a good enough income to support ourselves, and finding some sort of recognition or notoriety among our readers. But typically, these aren’t the reasons we start writing in the first place.

Instead, we’re called to the craft because we like escaping into our own worlds, expressing ourselves, and telling stories, or for a number of other reasons that have nothing to do with getting noticed. When we start out writing, often we’re just writing because we feel compelled to.

In the beginning, it’s good that we can operate invisibly, because it’s the best way to learn and grow and find our unique voices. Most of us are glad that our early works remain unknown, and I know many authors who even once they do reach bestseller status, no matter how grateful they are, sort of miss that period when they were writing in obscurity.

Eventually, though, most of us hope to find readers, and in today’s social-media-focused, people-centric society, that means becoming better known. Unfortuantely for many writers, that’s also when then heartache starts.

Feeling Invisible: The Struggle to Get Noticed as a Writer

Says writer Jewel Eliese over at “The Writing Cooperative, “…lately I’ve been anxious. I’ve wanted to jump out of my skin and yell because of one thing. Something we all need.

I want my words to have an impact. To be noticed….And not tomorrow. Today. I don’t want my words to be invisible anymore.”

Most writers come to this conclusion at some point in their writing careers, and you may be at that point now. You’ve put in your time. After writing for years, and found your voice.

You’ve enrolled in workshops, gone to conferences and classes, and made every effort to improve your writing. Now, you’re about ready to put your first book out there, or you’ve already put one or more out there, and you’re ready for things to change.

You’re ready to find readers, so your writing isn’t an isolated activity anymore.

Just being ready isn’t enough, however, as other writers will tell you. Whether traditionally or self-published, you can have a number of books out there and still feel like no one is really paying any attention. You sell a handful of copies, maybe even a few hundred, but nothing much changes, and you want something to change.

“Sometimes we can begin to feel like we’re drowning in the sea of all the other books,” says inspirational author Jody Hedlund, “that we’re mostly invisible, that even when we supposedly do everything ‘right’ to spread the word about our books, we still go largely unnoticed.”

It’s true that there are more books out there than ever before. It’s also true that readers have a lot of other forms of entertainment available to them. So if you feel like you’re a needle in a haystack, you’re right in many ways. And though that may help to put things into perspective, it probably doesn’t help you feel much better.

“The literary world spins on, unaware of your existence,” says novelist Janalyn Voigt. “Bookstores and libraries or virtual shelves are already crammed full of books, and there doesn’t seem to be any room for more….No one sees you, understands your writing, or cares whether you succeed. You’re an invisible writer.”

What can you do about it?

5 Ways a Writer Can Deal When They Feel Invisible

It doesn’t do any good to complain about the shrinking number of bookstores, the limited number of big publishers, and the difficulty of marketing. Instead, try the following five tips. They may help you feel better about the struggle, so you can jump back in with both feet.

1. Consider how you feel as a reader—overwhelmed with choices.

Since I regularly feature writers on Writing and Wellness, I’m often asked to read and review those writers’ books.

Though I would enjoy doing that, I have to decline, because there’s no way I could find room in my schedule to fit them in. I’m already reading 8-10 books at a time, and there’s no room for any more.

I’m sure you feel the same way. There’s a reason that old saying, “So many books, so little time” (credited to Frank Zappa) has become so popular. We all want to read more, but there are only so many hours in the day.

Remember this when you start feeling invisible. Everyone else out there in the world is busy, too, and they’re reading books they love in those precious few minutes of leisure time that they have. It’s not an easy task, despite how much we might want to read more.

2. Realize how much amazing talent there really is out there.

Step back and think for a moment about all the choices readers have when it comes to good books.

There are not only the great masters of our own time, but decades and even centuries of other masters from previous times. There’s a reason big publications come out with “100 books you have to read before you die” lists, just to help us all to wade through all the choices.

In addition to that, you have an amazing amount of young, new talent coming on the scene every day. I’m constantly stunned by the quality of writing there is out there, and there is more and more every year, coming from all corners of the world. The competition is not just stiff, it’s ridiculous.

When you’re feeling a little invisible, take a look at the new releases. Read a few pages. Remind yourself that if your books are going unnoticed, it may not be because of their quality. Most likely it’s simply because there are a lot of great books out there.

Feel Invisible Tip 3. Look at it objectively—separate reality from your emotions.

Whenever a writer starts to feel invisible, it’s usually because she’s dropped into an emotional way of thinking.

Maybe she’s tired after working so hard for years for what she sees as a minimal response from publishers and/or readers. Or she’s frustrated, and starting to blame herself or her writing. Maybe she’s going through a period of burnout and realizes that she just can’t keep up the same pace anymore.

“Most of us get wrapped up in our own emotions,” says Deepak Chopra. “Try looking at your situation as if it’s not happening to you but to a friend who has asked you for advice.”

As usual, Chopra has great suggestions. Next time you start getting down about being invisible, give it a try—what would you tell a friend who was feeling the same way?

4. Keep going—big backlists are key to writing success.

Check around the writing-sphere and you’ll see that today’s successful writers have one big tip: write more and more and more, because a large backlist is the key to success.

“This is going to sound strange,” says bestselling author Hugh Howey, “but you are MUCH better off with your 10th work exploding than your 1st work. You’ll never have quiet time to crank out quality material ever again. And when your backlist matches the growth of your first breakout, you’ll do very well for yourself. Be patient.”

Writer and founder of “The Complete Creative” Russell Nohelty agrees: “The most important thing that self-published authors have is a backlist of 15-20 books. This is because most self-published authors make the bulk of their money on their backlist.”

So until you have that many books out there, keep your head down and keep writing!

Feel Invisible Tip 5. Let the struggle show you who you really are.

At the end of the day, the biggest question we face when we’re feeling invisible is, “What’s the point?”

You may be surprised to hear that if you start asking yourself this question, that’s a good sign. It means you’ve reached a certain point in your career. You’ve got some experience under your belt. You know what it’s like out there, and what you can expect. You know that you may or may not ever get the success you crave.

That’s a hard thing to face, but all of us have to face it eventually. So try to welcome the occurrence. Now, you can finally find out if this writing thing is for you or not.

Give yourself some time to think it over. Quit writing for awhile if you want to. See how it affects you. Then, author Rachael Toalson suggests you ask yourself three more questions:

1. Do I love this?
2. Am I passionate about this?
3. Does it really matter whether anyone shows up or not?

Whatever your answers are, remind yourself that writing is, as they say, a marathon, not a sprint. Decide if you are in it for the long game, or not, knowing full well that at the end of it all, you may not have much to show for your efforts but your works of art.

Will that be enough for you?

How do you cope with feeling invisible as a writer?

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Sources
Chopra, D. (n.d.). What to Do When You Feel Invisible. Retrieved from http://www.oprah.com/inspiration/feeling-overlooked-invisible

Eliese, J. (2017, October 9). How to Stop Being an Invisible Writer and FINALLY Get Noticed. Retrieved from https://writingcooperative.com/how-to-stop-being-an-invisible-writer-and-finally-get-noticed-2fe942d8bb77

Hedlund, J. (2014). When You Feel Invisible in the Crowded Book Market. Retrieved from http://jodyhedlund.blogspot.com/2014/11/when-you-feel-invisible-in-crowded-book.html

Howey, H. (2015, February 21). My Advice to Aspiring Authors – Hugh Howey. Retrieved from http://www.hughhowey.com/my-advice-to-aspiring-authors/

Toalson, R. (2017, January 16). How to Persevere When You Feel Invisible ? Writers on Writing ? Medium. Retrieved from https://medium.com/writers-on-writing/how-to-persevere-when-you-feel-invisible-56445725db1e

Voigt, J. (2016, January 28). To The Invisible Writer – Live Write Breathe. Retrieved from http://livewritebreathe.com/invisible-writer/