On Writing as a Job, or How Fanfiction Saved My Writing Life

[earlgreytea68]

There was a time in my life when I actually didn’t want to publish a book. It wasn’t a time in my life when I wasn’t writing, because generally I am always writing. (There was a dark period when I didn’t write. We speak not of that period.)

Comments

[acciochocolate]

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts about writing with us. The world of fanfiction is rather special, isn't it? And almost instant feedback, too. :)

The Night Circus is on my tbr pile. :) I have no idea if you are at all interested in this sort of thing (perfume oils by independent creators, not the alcohol-based stuff found at dept. store counters), but Beth at http://blackphoenixalchemylab.com/ is working w/ Erin to create a line of perfume oils based on the book. :)
(I've been buying from BPAL since around 2007/8 and am a happy customer.)

[earlgreytea68]

Ooooh, that's interesting! I could see that partnership working really well there! THE NIGHT CIRCUS has such a sense of *atmosphere,* it's amazing.

[oninomaggie]

Okay, I've missed it - what's the name of your published Original Fiction?? I must buy it and support my Authors!

[earlgreytea68]

It is THE GIRL WHO NEVER WAS: http://www.amazon.com/The-Girl-Who-Never-Was/dp/1402292538/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405875313&sr=8-1&keywords=the+girl+who+never+was

:-)

[rifleman_s]

"There’s so much more to writing a book than just writing a book, and all of that meant that it was so different from the act of writing as I’d known it."

It's great to know how much you've gained from the experience - I'm absolutely thrilled for you, becoming a published author.

*is proud to know you, you over-flowing-with-talent-lady*

[earlgreytea68]

Awwwwwwwww! :-)

[editrx]

Even though I'd been in the publishing world on the editorial and production ends for decades, when my own nonfiction book was published, I had terrible culture shock and no "practice" at all with feedback from fans (I'd been a columnist for BYTE by then, but was pretty much writing in a vacuum; it was weird). I know just how you feel, though you've expressed it much more elegantly than I ever could!

Oh, we have so much to natter about-- can't wait for your reading & talk on the 8th at my little store!

(So when do I get a peek at book #2? You left us hanging, you evil woman you!!)

[earlgreytea68]

All writers really need a support group!

And HAHAHAHA I AM SUCH AN EVIL PERSON!!!!! :-)

[mariole]

Wow, it is spooky how similar your feelings are to mine about the act of creation vs. the business of writing. I've been writing (and occasionally publishing) original fic since college. But the business of it, the endless marketing and rejections and resends, can sap a lot of fun out of it. And I'm aware when I'm writing a pro story I'm writing a product for a market that has certain needs and expectations. So in some ways, you can say original fic is less original than fanfic, which has no such rules

[earlgreytea68]

Ugh, I'm sorry you had such a terrible publishing experience, but I'm glad that you regained your love of writing. Thank God for fanfiction being there!

And I find it interesting what you say, about fanfiction actually having the ability to be more original because it's not constrained by market forces.