Expectations Versus Reality—What TV & Movies Won't Tell You About Being an Author
Because we can't use TV magic to skip over the hard parts.
Whenever I see movies or TV shows depicting writers or authors, I can't help but roll my eyes a bit. Even though the publishing world has changed dramatically over the past few decades, you'd never know it by looking at how writers are shown on-screen. These writers occasionally talk to an editor or publisher, and we sometimes hear of vague deadlines. Rarely do we see these characters sit down to write. Eventually, though, they have a creative breakthrough, and suddenly, their book is published, and they're a rich, best-selling author with accolades and fame.
Okay, maybe showing outlines, research, and revisions wouldn't make for exciting TV, but the truth is that there is a lot more to being an author than we see in films.
Thinking about this made me consider how authors' experiences vary from how authors are represented in film and TV. So, let's talk about what expectations these shows might set authors up for and how they often differ from reality.
Expectation: Authors know all about the publishing process, seemingly without having to do any research, and there is one route (traditional publishing) authors follow to get published.
Reality: Authors are often inundated with information about the ever-changing publishing world, and there are many ways to get published.
Most on-screen authors seem to know how the publishing process works, and there are rarely conversations about how the landscape of publishing is changing. In reality, there is an infinite amount of information about how to write, publish, and market your book. In the real world, it takes time for authors to figure out what works best for them as writers and creators.
Though traditional publishing is often what readers and new authors think about when it comes to publishing, there are now other ways to publish books. Self-publishing is a great option for writers who want to maintain creative control and who may have smaller budgets. You can also self-publish a book relatively quickly, which many authors appreciate. Plus, authors who self-publish don't have to share royalties with publishers.
Authors may instead choose to work with a guided self-publishing company or hybrid publisher that assists them with editing, formatting, and other elements of publishing. These options allow authors to still maintain creative control and ensure their books look polished. Both hybrid publishers and self-guided publishing companies tend to offer more customized approaches to publishing. Typically, authors pay upfront costs for these services, but the authors receive the royalties.
Traditional publishing is of course still an option for authors as well. This process often (but not always) requires authors to work directly with literary agents or editors at larger publishing houses who will pitch the author's work to publishers. Authors work with the publishing company and often receive advances prior to the book being published. After the book is published and the advance is "paid out" (i.e., after enough copies of the book have been sold to cover the cost of the advance), an author will then share royalties with the publisher. The publishing process can be lengthy with a traditional publisher, and while authors have less creative control, traditionally published works often come with a sense of prestige.
Expectation: The writing community is homogenous (if it exists at all).
Reality: There is a lot of discourse in writing and author communities, and authors can benefit from talking with each other (even if they have different opinions).
Since the way we write, edit, market, and publish books has changed so much in recent years—with self-publishing becoming easier than ever, the rise of generative AI, and new tools, conferences, and tech popping up every day—writers have many different thoughts on how to write and publish books. The truth is, you're not going to agree with every writer's approach to writing, editing, etc. That's okay!
For instance, many authors, publishers, editors, and artists are understandably wary of the use of AI. However, some authors use AI programs to spark new ideas or use AI as a sort of beta reader, asking for critiques. They may find that AI enhances their creativity. (To be clear, we're not talking about using AI to write your book for you!) Just as many writers also find that AI can do the total opposite, lessening their creativity and making the process of writing harder and less enjoyable. They prefer to avoid the use of AI altogether. There are also lots of conversations about how to use generative AI ethically (or if it's ethical to use at all).
Even though you'll have your own opinions, it can be incredibly beneficial to be a part of a writing community. You can learn so much from other authors whether you're a seasoned pro or working on your first book, and talking about what's happening in publishing with others (and doing your research) can help you form your own educated opinions.
Expectation: Writing, editing, publishing, and marketing a book is primarily a one-person job, and authors will automatically find success on their own.
Reality: Successful authors rarely go it alone.
"It takes a village" doesn't only apply to raising kids—it's also true when publishing a book.
But what if I self-publish my book? Do I still need a village then? you might wonder. You definitely can self-publish a book on your own without involving other people; however, if you want to sell your book and get it into readers' hands, it's incredibly helpful to have a community of people around you to support you.
Though we see authors having book signings or hitting bestseller lists on shows and movies, these things take planning and community support! Before you publish your book, think about the people who would be willing to share your posts, leave reviews, and tell other people about your book. Your friends, family, and loved ones can help make your book a success! Additionally, if it's within your budget, you can hire a marketing or PR expert to help let people know about your book.
Beyond the fact that you'll likely sell more books when you have a team of people helping you get there, it's genuinely a more enjoyable experience to celebrate and share your book with people you care about. Your loved ones want to support you, so don't be afraid to invite them to be a part of your launch team!
What expectations or misconceptions have you seen about authors on shows or in movies? Let us know, and if you found this post interesting, please restack it to share it with others!
If you are writing a book and want a hand, let us know! Our team—Kim, Emily, and Jean—would love to help you with creating your book. If you'd like to talk about your idea or want advice, we are here for you. Even if we don't work together, I'm happy to share what I know. Book a 30-minute complimentary consultation by clicking here:
https://www.kwepub.com/consultation
We look forward to hearing about your incredible book project.
Write on!
Kim Eley
KWE Publishing
“Everyone who’s ever taken a shower has had an idea. It’s the person who gets out of the shower, dries off, and does something about it who makes a difference.”
–Nolan Bushnell
Register Now for Our Free Masterclass with Robbie Samuels!
We’re excited about our masterclass with an incredible special speaker, Robbie Samuels! He shares, “I believe authors should stop paying for Amazon best-seller campaigns, which are disingenuous at best and bogus at worst. Find out why I founded the Biz Book Pub Hub and how as a book launch strategist I help entrepreneurs get 50+ Amazon reviews while building a pipeline to sell their next offer. My three books have received over 650 reviews and led to new revenue.”
Learn the best way to launch YOUR brilliant book in this fantastic masterclass!
Join Jennifer Ledet’s Virtual Book Club!
Jennifer Ledet, author of Live and Lead by Choice, Not by Chance: Flourish at Any Age, Stage, and Season of Life, will be hosting an upcoming virtual book club featuring her amazing book! Jennifer shares:
Life moves fast, and if you’re not intentional, it’s easy to end up in reactive mode—just trying to keep up instead of showing up as the leader (and person) you want to be. That’s where Five Weeks to Flourish comes in.
This interactive, high-impact book club isn’t just about reading. It’s personal and professional development on steroids (the legal kind, of course). It’s about applying real, practical strategies from Live and Lead by Choice, Not by Chance to help you grow professionally and personally.
This weekly book club will run from May 7th to June 4th with one-hour meetings held every Wednesday at noon CT. Don’t miss your opportunity to connect with others and boost your professional and personal development!
Check Out the Upcoming Nonfiction Writers Conference!
Recently, Sandra Beckwith, author, speaker, and creator of BuildBookBuzz, shared information about the upcoming Nonfiction Writers Conference (along with her affiliate code for a discount), which she’ll be speaking at. I wanted to share this with our amazing authors and anyone else who may be interested in attending! She shared:
I’m speaking at the Nonfiction Writers Conference on May 7-9, and I just found out that the early bird discount ends this Friday, April 11. I don’t want you to miss this chance to save 30%!
This is one of the few events I recommend without hesitation. It’s virtual, so you can attend from your couch (or your favorite writing chair). And it’s designed specifically for nonfiction authors who are serious about building a real career from their work.
Whether you write how-to books, memoirs, personal development, business, or something else entirely, you’ll find real value here—stuff you can use immediately. No fluff. No hype.
The lineup this year? Does the name Roxane Gay ring a bell? She's the keynoter. You'll also learn from experts on publishing, platform building, book marketing (me!), and author income streams, along with agents and industry insiders who know how to help authors actually move the needle.
And those agents? You’ll have an opportunity to pitch them your next book idea, too!
If you’re looking for:
Actionable strategies to sell more books
Insider tips from successful authors and publishing pros
Clarity on your next steps as an author
... then this is 100% worth your time.
Here’s my affiliate link to get details and register. Save 30% with code NFWC30 before the end of the week.
Grab Great Books at Low Prices with the Tax Refund 2025 Kindle Cross-Promotion Campaign!
I'm happy to share that I’m part of the Tax Refund 2025 Kindle Cross-Promotion Campaign alongside dozens of fellow authors! We’ve each dropped the price of our Kindle books to just 99 cents—for a limited time.
Starting April 25, you’ll be able to grab 40+ business books for just 99 cents each! Categories include:
Book Publishing & Marketing
Personal Transformation
Business Communication
Workplace Communication & Leadership
No email opt-in is required! You just receive great content at a great price.
Comment or reply “BOOK” on this post, and I'll DM you the link when the sale goes live!
Why We Like Smelling Books (It’s Not Just You!)
In a recent meeting, the topic of smelling books came up, which was so interesting to me! When I looked into this, I found a great post by Nicole M. Hewitt all about book sniffing! She shares, “Turns out, there’s a reason old books smell good. Old books actually release different chemical compounds than new books that give off sweet odors similar to vanilla, almond and flowers! No wonder people love to sniff those old books! Makes me hungry for a book right now…”
Do you like to sniff books? It's okay to 'fess up and share!
Resources:
Here at KWE Publishing, we want to share a few of our favorite resources with our newsletter readers. Check back weekly to see what resources we recommend!
A good historical fiction book seamlessly pulls you into a world that didn’t quite exist but seems like it could have. Writing an immersive, well-researched historical fiction book isn’t easy, though, especially if you’re new to the genre. Luckily, The History Quill is there to guide writers through the process!
Created “with the aim of providing dedicated support to historical fiction writers at every stage of the writing process,” The History Quill offers a multitude of resources and services for authors at all levels of experience who are interested in creating their own works of historical fiction. With novel templates, writing prompts, and more, historical fiction writers can sharpen their skills. Even if you don’t write historical fiction, The History Quill offers a great array of helpful blog posts about the publishing and writing process, so don’t hesitate to check out the site!
