write; be recognized, earn or resent

The title sums up the mindset of some writers - published & unpublished - revealed to me in a blog entry that was advertised on Twitter by Ellen Meister. I think it's by US agent Jenny Bent.

I have to express how much it saddens me to read how it's a given that some writers resent another's success and feel selling a book for "15k" is disappointing. Surely six figure deals are hard to come by. In my view, "15k" is a huge amount of money & a huge success. It should be seen as an incentive to do better if money is a motivation. I understand how the point of writing full time is to earn enough so the day job can go but what's so awful about keeping a full or part time job? Surely it serves as inspiration or motivation?

It just hadn't occurred to me for a while that there are writers out there who are motivated by equal measures of a passion for writing and earning potential. And it absolutely hadn't occurred to me to envy other writers for their success. I have two playwright pals who I feel nothing but ecstacy for whenever they achieve. I don't need a blog by an agent to remind me to be positive. I am positive. Anyone letting themselves get down because of another's success and a lack of recognition is undeserving to me. Write cuz u luv it, and for no other purpose. Don't whine on about how so & so is doing better than you. *shakes head* exhales. Rant over.

p.s. I appreciate how naive I come across in this post but I don't care.

Being a writer

If you have talent, god-given or not, a natural talent for something, do you make a living out of it or keep it as a hobby?

NOTE: a natural talent is something you excel at naturally, not something you have to try hard at in order to excel. You may work hard at your talent, but it's enjoyable, not a chore.

A student law tutor once asked my class this: "is it fair to work all your life at school, university, & get a highly paid job, when someone who succeeds in making their hobby their career, can earn more than you in a life time?"

If you chose to make your dream your career, what led you to do this?

It's one thing to WANT to be a poet/singer/designer/sporting success/DJ, etc, but it's another thing to actually give up the 9 to 5 and DO it, day in, day out. Making your hobby your career means doing a low-paid part time job & having the motivation & discipline to actually DO your hobby for so many hours every day, finish a project & submit to the higher forces.

Dear god, is it worth it?

I'm doing it now & it sure as heck is worth it. But writing this blog means procrastinating so I'm off to get on with my book!!!!! Good luck :-)