Sure, publishing is feeling the crunch along with every other industry. But that doesn’t mean you should tell yourself there’s no point in working on your novel and put it aside until things get better.

In fact, there’s never been a better time than now to get that manuscript out of the bottom drawer and get back to work in earnest. Here’s why.

Writing is free entertainment. Movies cost you money. Netflix costs you money. Eating out costs you money. Books cost you money. But writing books? That’s free entertainment! And anything we can get for free these days is worth a lot.

You can escape the stresses of the real world into a world of your own making. Have you got headaches at work? Is your job secure? Do you have a job? Is your household feeling the pinch? What better way to escape all of these stressors than into a world of your own making? In your novel, the world is as you create it.

Talented newcomers have never been more appealing to publishers. In this economy, many authors’ book sales are poor. Publishers must entice booksellers with new authors who come without baggage— i.e., a bad sales track records. There’s nothing more appealing than a fresh talent with limitless possibilities.

It is often in a new author’s best interest to accept a lower advance to get that foot in the door. And low advances are another plus for struggling, risk-averse publishers.

So what are you waiting for? Get to work on that novel before too many other writers see this blog post!