I am scrolling through social media and notice many indie authors on Tik Tok, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. When you ask people are they reading books, many will say without shame they don't read. In the age of technological progress, people are so busy that they have no time to read.
Hear and see, those actions have an advantage over reading. Tik Tok is based popularity on videos and teenagers will brag they don't read. If they read, they wish to read about how to make money or get famous.
I made a poll on Tik Tok, 70% of people said they don't read indie authors. Based on the teenager's pattern, they probably think about how reading is a waste of time.
This makes my next question: Why write and who will read?
First, you must reject the old stereotype of how the author is an old man with glasses or authoress is an old lady who is boring and not pretty.
Nowadays, authors use social media, and technology and they look great.
More than ever, your appearance is important for the first impression. Authors make videos and perform, they gather their audience in various ways.
People who don't read are limited, not because they are stupid or lazy, they miss a great experience.
It is not that you must buy a book and sit somewhere in peace. You can read on your computer, in Kindle, while you are waiting in line, sitting on the bus or tram, or expecting someone.
The problem is about ego. Everyone thinks their book is a masterpiece or bestseller, and they don't want to look around to read others.
If you are an author, and you are not reading, you are a bad example. You need to find your audience.
What is important, readers need to be captured by a book. It is not a duty, nor obligation, and nobody can force them. Something in this book will remind them of their own experience, or they wish to know what happens with the characters. Maybe they sympathize with them, maybe they judge them, but reading shall be the journey, not homework.
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