It's an age-old question that has broken friendships, torn apart families, and destroyed societies!

Okay, so that might be a bit hyperbolic, but still, if you want to start an argument, tell a Harry Potter books purist how much better the movies were to the books! Just be ready for a wand duel if you do! 

But who is right? Is anyone right? Or are both sides of the argument wrong? 

To determine which is better, one needs to understand the history of books and movies. 

Back in the day, and I mean WAY back in the day before people created the alphabet or any other form of writing, oral tradition was the only tradition. Stories and histories were memorized and recited to younger generations. This method was a surprisingly accurate and efficient way to recall history, and oral traditions survived over hundreds and even thousands of years. All that changed, however, when people started writing their stories down. Now the original storyteller could have their words preserved and spoken to later generations, and no one had to wonder if they were telling the story wrong. 

The next great change came from the Gutenberg Press. This combined the written word with mass production. Now, not only the elite of society, who could pay for the transcription of older texts, would receive the written histories, but the common folk could get their hands on these writings as well. 

But nothing prepared man for the invention of video. 

Now, instead of just reading words and imagining speakers, people can watch events occur on a visual plane. Of course, this all exploded when social media came on the scene. Instantaneous recording and distribution of events has changed the world forever. If a picture is worth a thousand words than a video is worth a million. 

But I write fiction, so what does that have to do with the books I write? Don't people like the book versions of classic stories better than the movie adaptations? 

Most people probably do like the book versions better, but let's explore why that might be. Books take a long time to read. Sometimes, getting through a book can take weeks and maybe even months. While in the pages you are walking hand-in-hand with your favorite characters, seeing what they see, hearing what they hear, getting a glimpse at what they think. In other words, you are bonding with these characters. 

Then a movie rolls on by showing actors that are different than your imaginative avatars. The storyline, which was so careful crafted by the author, seems to have been chucked out the window by the screenwriters. Why would they do this? Didn't they have excellent source material at their fingertips? 

But this reaction fails to recognize the limitations of movies, namely as it relates to time. The screenwriter has to squeeze ten hours worth of time into two. They just cannot recreate the quantity of time a reader spends with their favorite characters in a story meant for the silver screen. 

So, which is better? 

When accuracy is required--like in the documentation of real and historical events--video is absolutely preferrable. 

If, however, you want to bond with characters and really get to know them on a personal level, books may be the better alternative. 

But if you're just looking to unwind, to stroll with these characters rather than hike, then watching a movie might be your best solution. There is nothing wrong with either option. 

​

Content, content content! the marketing gurus cry! But what do you do if you don't want to develop an audience and market? After all, we as writers do our best work in the quiet hours, alone and undisturbed. Most of us don't like to meet new people or to explore the world outside our little caves. But in this industry, it's not the best writers that thrive, but the ones who know how to market.

So we find ourselves forced out of our shells, beyond the walls of our comfortable little dwellings only to run into yet another problem: Time. 

Most authors starting out don't get that fabled million dollar deal. If they get a publishing deal at all, it's usually without any advance whatsoever. Then there are the self-published folks who shell out their own cash (a brave move) just so their books will see the light of day. This means having a primary job or other source of income is a must. And as for marketing? If you're expecting your publishing company to fill in that gap, think again. It's rough out there and authors are expected to do as much if not more marketing than their publishers. 

I don't know what to tell the authors who are unwilling to branch out and socialize at all. Unfortunately, we need readers to rationalize our existence. But to those lacking time, I do sympathize. 

I am more than just a writer. I'm an employee, a teacher, a nurse, a soap-maker, a volunteer, a homesteader, but most importantly, I'm a wife and a mother. My family comes first. 

I'm blessed to have a husband that works full-time so that I can spend most of my days with our kiddo. While I do work two days a week, it's nothing like the schedule full-time moms have to deal with. I know that I am blessed in this regard, and I love the adventures that this life opens me up to. I had a balance: I would write in the evening and spend the rest of my time with the people closest to me. But now marketing has taken a bite out of my time and I find it leaking into my day, taking me away from my son. 

So, that's going to require some changes. 

Sacrifices are an inevitable part of life whether they are consciously made or not. Either time with my son will be sacrificed, or time with my book will be. Now, this is not to say that I'm letting this writing dream go. My book, SURVIVING MIDAS is coming out December 1st, and I want it to succeed, but not at the expense of my family. So I'm going to get up early, write my blog, and then move forward with my day without a look back. 

I'm not going to shoot for the recommended ten posts per day. I'm not going to obsessively hit refresh on Twitter. I'm going to wall off my marketing time and pursue my other dreams as well. The chips will fall where they may, but if at the end I look up to see a well-adjusted, strong, kindhearted man, I will have succeeded in life.

I will have mothered a good man. 

And that will be my success.