Writing Excuses 8.34: Survivorship Bias

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Writing Excuses 8.34: Survivorship Bias

From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2013/08/25/writing-excuses-8-34-survivorship-bias/

Key points: survivorship bias is created by only paying attention to successes, without comparison to failures. Brandon and Dan's method: write lots of books, talk to editors, send out lots of books. Mary's method: go to conventions, write short stories, be prominent on the Internet -- be approachable and agreeable. Howard's method: start a webcomic! A space opera comic! With a regular update schedule. BUT just because it worked for us, does not mean it will work for you. Beware advice such as "Get a professional headshot" or "Novellas will work for you." Don't forget to check the graveyard -- see what is similar between success and failure, and what is different. Get the data! Imitation does not automatically lead to success, nor does failure mean you are doing something wrong.
( Swiss Family Robinson? )

[Brandon] All right. We need a writing prompt. And...
[Dan] I got one.
[Brandon] Go for it.
[Dan] Okay. Go back to the cargo cult idea. A very successful author, or artist in whatever, then they have a fan who decides they're going to emulate their life in every aspect in order to achieve their same success.
[Brandon] Excellent. This has been Writing Excuses. You're out of excuses, now go write.
[Howard] About somebody wearing my skin.