The creative journey can be a lonely road. After spending two years crafting my debut novel “Karakorum” – a 90,000-word labor of love – I’ve learned some hard truths about storytelling in the digital age that I believe resonate with writers of all kinds.
Connect with Don on Substack HERE.
TLDR
My mother’s response to my novel was: “I’m not sure it’s my thing. Your auntie and sister are confused too. The writing seems alright though, like something you’d see in a proper book.” These responses highlight a crucial lesson about audience engagement that every writer faces at some point. Creating the work is only half the battle – finding the right readers is equally challenging.
The Marketing Maze
Like many writers, I threw myself into the “business” side of creativity. I invested in blog tours, advertising, and countless hours consuming YouTube videos about optimization and marketing. I watched my creation – something I’d poured my heart and soul into – struggle to find its footing in the vast wilderness of digital publishing. It’s a common story: thousands of new books appear every year, each competing for attention in an increasingly crowded marketplace.
Embracing New Platforms
The landscape of storytelling is evolving. Just as I’m exploring Substack as a new platform to connect with readers, writers need to consider how different mediums and platforms can help build their audience. The traditional path – writing a book and hoping it gets discovered – might need to be supplemented with new approaches to storytelling and audience building.
After just a few days on Substack, I’ve experienced something transformative. I’ve found a fresh audience for my work, received immediate feedback, immersed myself in other writers’ work, and participated in meaningful discussions. I instantly feel like I’m part of a vibrant community where I can build and connect with my audience – the polar opposite of my Kindle publishing experience. Where Amazon felt like shouting into the void, Substack feels like joining a conversation already in progress.
The Role of Visual Storytelling
In adapting to new platforms, I’ve embraced AI tools like Adobe Firefly and Midjourney to add visual elements to my storytelling. While this might seem controversial to some, it represents an important principle for modern storytellers: we need to be adaptable and willing to use new tools to enhance our narrative capabilities. This might mean exploring different formats or using visual elements to make our stories more engaging.
Finding Your Community
Stephen King describes writing as a form of telepathy – a connection between writer and reader. This connection is the heart of what we do as writers. Whether it’s through novels, short stories, blogs, newsletters, or social media, finding ways to connect with your audience directly is becoming increasingly important.
The Future of Storytelling
The truth is, very few of us will make a living solely from our writing. But if you’re like me, you can’t stop creating. Sertraline couldn’t silence that voice in my head – and maybe it shouldn’t. Because while the path might be challenging, the act of connecting with others through story remains one of the most meaningful things we can do as creators.
This is a call to think beyond the traditional boundaries of our craft. Embrace new tools and technologies that can enhance your storytelling. Be willing to experiment with different formats and platforms. Your book might be your primary focus, but consider how you can build an audience and tell your stories across multiple platforms. The future of storytelling isn’t just about writing great books – it’s about finding innovative ways to connect with readers and build a community around your work. Don’t wait for permission to tell your stories!
Remember, every great story starts with an idea that demands to be told. But the challenge isn’t writing it – it’s finding the right way to share it with the world.
Don McVey has worked for over 20 years in the Film and TV industry. After winning the H.G. Wells award for his short story ‘Transference’, he decided it was time to get round to writing a novel. His debut novel Karakorum was released in May 2023.
