Writers and money, part 3
I’m in deep hiding today, because there is not only one worker here, but two. That way one can continuously hammer while the other one drills. Special!
But they’re taking a lunch break right now, so I thought I’d scurry in here and send you over to Tess Gerritsen’s blog again. If you haven’t already, read her previous two posts before this one. Then take a look here.
I always appreciate how honest an author of Tess’s stature is willing to be about the business and emotional sides of her writing career. She sets a good standard for author blogging.
When you’re done with her, take a brief peek over at Meg Cabot’s blog today. Scroll down to the part toward the end where she talks about wanting to quit way back when. Every beginning writer out there should keep that in mind!
Oops, lunch break is over. Back into hiding . . .
Technorati Tags: Writing, Publishing, Writers, Writers and Money, Tess Gerritsen, Meg Cabot, Authors
February 11th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Great links, Robin! Before you know it, your kitchen will be done and you’ll be further along in your writing. All the noise will be worth it…
February 11th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
Thanks, Vivian. I need that assurance!
February 11th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
I don’t know how much I agree with Tess on that third post.
I don’t think law students enter college with any guarantee that they are going to pass the bar, yet that endeavor requires a little more upfront cash/loans - and I’m guessing, WAY more time than writing 10 crappy first novels.
So, what can a law student who fails the bar make, after deducting for student loans?
But, that’s just my perspective…
February 11th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
That’s an interesting comparison, Patrick. Because there is this idea that if you go into a “traditional” job like banker or doctor or lawyer, just deciding to head down that route equals getting to your destination. You don’t think about the people who flunk out of law school or med school or who decide banking isn’t for them.
Why do we treat writing as a profession differently?
February 11th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Robin asks: “Why do we treat writing as a profession differently?”
Because there is no codified, comprehensible, proven pathway to success.
For medicine, the law, banking, etc., the steps are all outlined for you. There are tests to take at specific times, classes to take, licenses to apply for, and so on. And while knowing all of this does not make it AUTOMATIC that one will succeed, it at least gives context to one’s attempts: If I go to law school, I know that I’ve hit a certain minimum threshold on my way to lawyerdom — going to law school is the first step. If I am tenth in my class, I have a rough idea of where I rank with other lawyers, what sort of job/pay I can reasonably expect, and so on.
That people can (and do) fail at such endeavors is immaterial — the issue at hand is that they have a roadmap and if they are competent enough, they will be able to follow it, with relatively foreseeable consequences.
Writers, however, have no roadmap whatsoever and certainly nothing even resembling foreseeable consequences. There are no licenses, no governing bodies, no required classes. (I think that the urge to HAVE a roadmap is what makes graduate courses in writing so popular — those who wish to write as a profession feel like they’re at least doing SOMETHING and taking positive action.)
In writing, it is entirely possible to be competent (indeed, to be MAGNIFICENT) and to either fail miserably or never achieve one’s due or never even break in. Whereas a competent lawyer WILL get a job as a lawyer, as long as he or she looks for one.
Whew. An entire comment without snark. This is difficult for me.
February 11th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
I suspect that’s because most people think because they can write a sentence, they can write a novel.
I liken it to a conversation in high school, when the captain of the soccer team walked up to me - a track & field guy - and said, “If I ran everyday, I could be as fast as you. I mean, it’s just running.”
to which I responded,
“You’re welcome to try.”
February 11th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Barry, thank you for the well-reasoned and snark-free comment. It felt good, didn’t it? I think your analysis is right.
And add to that Patrick’s comment–love what you said to the captain, P.
This all brings me back to my usual thought when someone says they’ve always wanted to be a writer: It’s easy to start a novel, not so easy to finish one. The finishers are the ones who get to keep going. Maybe that’s our version of a diploma. After that you still have to intern, but the first step is always finishing your work.
February 11th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
but the first step is always finishing your work.
Are you trying to tell me something?
February 11th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
Pursuant to comment #6: Yes, Patrick doth speak true.
February 12th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Just wanted to say thanks, all, for this advice/encouragement/reality check about writing. As one of those who hasn’t finished a novel and who barely finds time to read fiction, much less write it, I’m definitely at the very beginning of this unpredictable adventure. It would be easy to say “forget it,” but I long to write, whether or not my writing will ever be read by anyone other than me. The very act of writing on my novel is soul-cleansing for me. You’d think I’d make more time for it!
February 14th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Robin, I totally sympathize–we’re just getting done with some household construction and it was really distracting! It’ll all be worth it when it’s done, though…
February 14th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
Thanks, a. fortis! I need to hear that!
Kelley, I’m glad you find this stuff helpful. I certainly do. I’m always interested in learning from other writers who are further down the road than I am.
Patrick, der. Get on it.
Barry, I thought Patrick was always right. That’s what he says, at least.