Will I make it? Will I support myself writing? What will I do if I don’t? I’m not sure, but I’m sure what I won’t be: a failure. So I can just chill out and try to enjoy the ride for now.
As I gear up for another promo on Amazon starting tomorrow–with hopes that it might be my most successful to date, as I’ve put some money behind it and it’s for my first novel, which has been out long enough that it has some fun reviews to back it up–the whole situation makes me think of how far I’ve come this past year, and how far I have left to go.
I had a really fun and amazing 2012 where my fiction is concerned (as you can see here). I made some huge strides toward making my dreams of establishing myself as a writer come true.
The thing is, I was a writer before I published. I had three novels written before I published, and that qualifies someone as a writer. I think people shouldn’t be afraid, or too doubtful of themselves, or too embarrassed to claim that title for themselves. If you write, you ARE a writer. Own it.
Anyway, publishing my novels was really exciting for 2 obvious reasons. The first was the idea of people who aren’t my beta readers giving it a shot, reading it, and hopefully learning something from my work or feeling touched in some way. The second was that it was the first step towards maybe–just maybe–being able to support myself financially with my writing.
I doubt that will happen anytime soon, if at all, but I guess you could say it’s my goal. My lifelong dream. I don’t care about fame, and I don’t need to be rich. I just want to be able to make enough writing so that I won’t have to work a day job, so I can concentrate on writing as a full-time job.
Writing makes me happy. My faith comes first, but as far as a career goes, there is nothing that fulfills me more than my fiction. The thought of being able to write all day, every day, novel after novel, is just so thrilling. That would be a big part of the perfect life for me…. I’m not counting on it coming true, but it’s not an impossible dream. And even if it turns out to be just that, well….
Impossible dreams are okay by me. And Don Quixote, according to “Man of La Mancha.” I guess I didn’t get that master’s degree in Spanish literature for nothing! And if I have to keep toiling in the workforce, well, an office job, or freelancing editing/translation wouldn’t be too bad. I’ve just picked up my first freelance translation jobs, and while they’re on a volunteer basis or for little income, it’s a nice way to beef up my resume and establish myself as a freelancer. I’m have a lot of fun with the work (even if it’s drastically cutting down on the time I can devote to my fiction.)
I know what you are saying. It is not as easy way to make a living and it varies so much. You don’t have a set monetary amount to rely on. It was really a fluke that I was able to write full-time. I became disabled after a series of blood clots (legs and lung). When I had a return with them in both legs and my diabetes problems they approved it right away. It isn’t very much to live on. I am hoping that I will be able to rely on my writing to support me so I can get off of it, but at least for now, I know that I have it to live on. I can write when and how much I want to and if I am not feeling well that day, I don’t have to worry about calling in sick or worse, getting fired for being sick. I have lost quite a few jobs due to illness. Frankly, I am happy to be done with all that. Now I can do what I’ve always wanted to do.
good for you, Rebecca! Health problems are never fun but it seems to me you have the right perspective to deal with them. Thanks for sharing, and here’s wishing you all the best, health-wise and writing-wise!
Thank you for the kind words and the inspiration and help I get from all your posts.
you’re very welcome! the same to you, for your insightful comments
Very nice. And I wish you the best of luck.
thank you!!!
Victoria, if I may wax philosophical…
Just keep making forward progress in the direction you want to go. At any given moment it might not feel like you are getting anywhere, but you will only get where you want to be by going in that direction. If you turn aside, then you’ll go somewhere else.
Look up and find the star in the sky that hangs above where you want to be, and follow that star. You might never reach the star itself, which is okay, because the star is not your actual goal. But it is a perfect guide.
thanks Michael!!! you’re right: one foot in front of the other in the right direction is moving in the right direction
and that’s what counts!
Full time writing would be nice. Until then, being published at all is great. Good luck on making your dream come true.
thanks, Brian! same to you!!!