Don't Quit Your Day Job.

[Sabledrake]

If you get paid for writing that makes you a prostitute... no wait that's sex... I get confused...

You and Moliere, who said, "Writing is like prostitution. First you do it for love, and then for a few close friends, and then for money." I used to use that as a sig

I'm one of those who hopes to someday make a living with my writing. I've sold a few short stories -- just recently upgraded to "Active" status in the HWA, actually! -- have one novel that's been under consideration at a publisher for two years now (well, only seventeen months since they requested the entire manuscript, but two years since I sent in the initial query and first three chapters), and am about to start the rounds of agents with my newest book.

But I am lucky enough to currently have a non-demanding night shift job, so I can write on the company clock and still have a paycheck and health insurance. I am nowhere near ready to take that big plunge.

Sabledrake

 

[neonlyte]

I'm aiming to be published. I think I need another year to work chapters from work in progress into a condition ready to approach agents. I am given to understand (from research) that an agent will need to see 'evidence' that I am capable of producing more than one story, particularly at my age (55). The stories I am working on are largely non-erotic.

My erotic work has received some publisher interest, but not in UK. To that end I'm visiting Poland in June, invited to present something to a literary festival - it's scaring me already - and to meet with a publisher.

 

[carsonshepherd]

Discipline is a big problem for me. I write well when the inspiration hits. The rest of the time I just fuck around, waiting for it to hit. I write 6 out of 7 days, at least a little, but I only really work about 1 or 2 days.

I think that's one of the things I need to work on. I need to make that a goal. Also, I need to spend more time editing and polishing. Another goal is to read more. Sometimes I know what I want to say, but I don't have the context of education and literature to put it in. Educated people make me feel insecure because I subconsciously worry they'll know I'm a fraud and I really don't know anything.

Ten years? Maybe? I'm thirty now. By the time I'm 40 I might have something to say that someone will want to read (and pay me money for!)

 

[NoJo]

Discipline is a big problem for me.

wrong forum

 

[BlackShanglan]

BTW, the fastest growing area in porn these days is "Romantica": bodice-rippers with graphic but tasteful sex scenes.

That's frightfully good news for the Beast. Perhaps there's hope for me yet. Although I find the whole "finding a publisher who's interested in this sort of thing" step a bit daunting.

Shanglan

 

[BlackShanglan]

wrong forum

Yes. He's been a bad boy for posting it here ... very bad.

Shanglan

 

[BlackShanglan]

Oops.

 

[scheherazade_79]

I'd love to quit my day job - mainly because it takes up so much of my spare time and leaves me with so little time to write. I'm a chicken, though. I wouldn't quit until I got something published, and once that happened, I'm sure I'd have the confidence to just chance directions in life. I'm trying to get more organised so that I write on a regular basis, and I also have a new girlfriend who's super-organised, believes in me and has a lot of drive. She's already doing me the world of good, so I have my fingers crossed for 2005.

 

[Boota]

I get paid to write, but not nearly enough to make it on. I'm currently looking for a day job that I hope to quit as soon as possible. My situation is a little strange because I'm on the verge of success in two careers, but with no promises. My band is in the middle of a campaign for the 2006 Grammy Awards, which could lead to a recording career, and my book is being shopped around Hollywood, with a lot of positive response. (But no damn money yet!) Potentially I'm a millionaire author/rock star. Realistically, I'm an unemployed loser struggling to pay my bills.

 

[LadyJeanne]

I get paid to write, but not nearly enough to make it on. I'm currently looking for a day job that I hope to quit as soon as possible. My situation is a little strange because I'm on the verge of success in two careers, but with no promises. My band is in the middle of a campaign for the 2006 Grammy Awards, which could lead to a recording career, and my book is being shopped around Hollywood, with a lot of positive response. (But no damn money yet!) Potentially I'm a millionaire author/rock star. Realistically, I'm an unemployed loser struggling to pay my bills.

That must be so exciting!

You'll remember all of us little people when you make it big, right?

 

[Black Tulip]

I get paid to write, but not nearly enough to make it on. I'm currently looking for a day job that I hope to quit as soon as possible. My situation is a little strange because I'm on the verge of success in two careers, but with no promises. My band is in the middle of a campaign for the 2006 Grammy Awards, which could lead to a recording career, and my book is being shopped around Hollywood, with a lot of positive response. (But no damn money yet!) Potentially I'm a millionaire author/rock star. Realistically, I'm an unemployed loser struggling to pay my bills.

That must be really weird. What will you do when both adventures get successful?

LOL

http://www.addis-welt.de/smilie/smilie/snowman/smile.gif

 

[Boota]

It is exciting, and a little frustrating. I feel like I am always in the middle of something and spinning my wheels while I wait on something else to happen. It's nice to have something to look forward to, though. (I'm a big guy. It seems that every one I remember is little.)

I really hope both things happen for me. Not to sound too greedy, but I absolutely love both of these endeavors. Plus, the guys in band could sure use a boost. The weird thing is that I was planning to give up music as anything except a hobby back when the book started to happen. Then in every interview I did for the book I spent more time with the interviewer talking about my music than we did about the book. Out of the blue one day I was notified by the guy who runs our website that he is on the Grammy committee and thinks we have a shot, so he's pushing us. We have about half a year to get this Grammy campaign into full swing, so we're back at it.

I guess if everything works out for me I will learn to write on a laptop in a tour bus. LOL. The book and the band seem to be already helping each other. People who buy my book usually end up searching me out about my music, and vice versa. I'm talking with a bookstore about doing a concert/booksigning this spring. That could be fun.