You aspire for literary greatness, even your chances are close to zero

Your name is William King. You have literary aspirations, and you hope some people will ask you if you're a distant relative of Stephen King. You read his novels, even studied and wrote about it. And your tutor was impressed at your paper on Horror fiction and American society. (You didn't tell him that your mother came from New England. You've been to her hometown a number of times.) It didn't take long for your wish to be granted, as you met a retired American citizen in Ko Samui last winter. You told him about "Carrie", but his response broke your heart. He wondered if you were related to his gardener back home. (He hails from Boston.) He drank too many cans of Chang.

Normal people settle down and raise a family, while writers pen books. If you're an aspiring author, then there's no need to be defensive about it. After all, artists march to the beat of their own drum. If you've been in the writing business for quite some time, then this is not the right venue to air your resentment. You're aware that most writers aspire for literary greatness, but only a handful will achieve it. And many of them will get it when they least expect it. William Shakespeare, the greatest playwright ever known, didn't take it too seriously, so he spent more time in the pub. This will make you depress for hours, if not days. But you must look at it thoughtfully. These are what you learn:

If you love your craft, then don't expect more. You want your book to be a bestseller. This is how to make a living. There are some things beyond your control, though. (Readership for one.) You love what you're doing, so keep it up. If you need to pay the bills, then consider other options. (Academics is not bad as you think.) Keep one eye on authorship, where you write during your free time. No one can tell how it will turn out, so a positive attitude will be better.

You may be good at it, but there's still room for improvement. Artists can be their own worst critic. (Nothing is good enough.) This is a good sign, as you strive to be the best you can be. And you won't realise it until you notice the warm reception. Read whenever there's a chance to do it. This is the only way to improve your written skills. Don't forget new experience, which will give you an idea. If you can turn a dreary life into a magical existence, then it will be better.

Don't take it seriously, as you still have to make a living. At the end of the day, you must provide something to the table. If you have a family, then their welfare will be more important. Don't worry about not having to write for weeks, if not months. There will always be a time for it. There are also other ways to inspire you to write. And it has nothing to do with Stephen King.