Hello dear,
This is your humble writer friend and I have been thinking…
A “Writer’s Life"… What image does that bring to your mind?
Mahogany desks
Old-fashioned typewriters
Windows overlooking impressive vistas
Coffee, coffee, and more coffee—maybe cigarettes and booze
Hefty advances, travel, long realxing vacations
Some of that is true, for some of us, but most likely not.
My writer’s desk is a $20.00 wooden pre-owned deal I got at a yardsale. It lives in my bathroom; the only room in my home I could fit it in. It’s all good—there’s a little window I open so I can hear the birds outside.
Hollywood has done a glorious job at glamorizing the life of writers—after all, writers write that stuff right?
To write perchance to dream?
A writer’s life, as we lovingly call it, is difficult. The work days do not end. I mean that. It really is a way of life that can be toxic if you aren’t careful. This week, for example, I am working to get my second novel started. It’s a bit like being possessed with ideas. Sleeping becomes difficult. Communicating with others is shaken down to the bare “necessary” and time spent behind closed doors becomes an amplified mental game.
There has been a lot of restlessness. Pacing. (No, I am not nervous…I am thinking myself in circles.)
In short, writers, who give us stories, television, movies, books and more, suffer to some degree for their art. Some, more than others. Personally, the isolation is the most difficult part because I love it too much. I have to push myself to get out some and live a bit. I have to keep a constant check on what is “healthy” for me.
Most writers make pennies for their work—some make dollars—fewer make a living.
A book that could take years to write and edit—then more years to get published, could earn as little as a few thousand bucks. Total.
Writers that write for the money are likely to “lose their sh*t” as we say here in the south. I’m being frank here. Sometimes my southern comes out. You understand.
The Inside Scoop
We take on freelance jobs and work to sell articles. We diversify our work and appreciate every way we find to monetize our work. (Which is why you see things like Support My Art (my Kofi link) which is a donation site for artists and writers (etc), or get invited to subscribe to a paid newsletter or something called Patreon. These are places writers write “inside news” or special content for their most loyal fans who are willing to pay small fees per month. Some writers earn such a following doing this that they are able to bring in a regular income, although this does not seem to be the norm.
My Kofi site has brought in 3.00. That was a lovely day. Someone said “I see you. I appreciate you. Keep going.” with that 3.00 sent from another writer friend in India.
My point? Read. Watch the stories. Enjoy the work that we do. That is all. If we are fortunate to get a book published, buy it.
It’s better than telling a new mom or dad their baby is the most beautiful baby you’ve ever seen—it’s that kind of gushy. Just enjoy the stories. Follow our work. Understand that what we do really matters, even if the paychecks aren’t there sometimes.
Quick Update on Elephant Song
This week Beta readers are reading and responding to the manuscript for my first novel, Elephant Song. It is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Beta readers are gold. Their encouragement has me gearing up to start my next novel.
The next step is to do any edits that need to be done after the Betas are finished making their recommendations or catching typos —I swear I read this thing 4 times through and still missed a few typos—and then draft what is called a “query letter” which I will send to probably more than 100 agents. Querying agents and trying to get representation for my book could take years.
Sometimes, well often, writers can write multiple novels before an agent will take a chance on their work.
Finding an agent is like finding a lawyer to represent you in court. The agent represents you to publishing houses and fights to get you a deal for your book. To find this person, they have to be impressed by your work and think it will be a lucrative investment of their time. You get a few short sentences in a query letter to convince them of the value of your book and hope they request to see a portion of (or all, if you’re lucky) your manuscript.
Most writers receive hundreds, thousands of NOs before they get a yes. Something else the Hollywood images of a writer downplays.
It’s very difficult to endure. But I am as ready as I will ever be.
Please keep my first book in your well-wishes, your mind, your spiritual conversations—thank you.
These are just a few thoughts on the writer’s life today, as I sit here, still in my nightgown at noon and hoping to “be productive” today. Truthfully, I have been working for a few hours already and haven’t taken the time to put on pants. Who need ‘em anyway?
It’s hard to focus on anything but the main character of book 2, who is playing out scenes in my head.
Her name is Rainy. Why???
Nice to meet you Rainy. I am ready to tell your story.
Novelly yours,
Christina
If you enjoy reading my work, check out this cute article: The Brilliant Writing Lesson of Harriet the Spy