Thoughts on the art and business of writing
I wrote the following comment for earlgreytea68, but I wanted to post it in my journal as well. I'm in the process of tuning up my life after a long slump, starting in 2008 when I lost my home business and had to go work in an office. My fiction was pushed to one side and I felt trapped, angry, and bored.
Fortunately, things have improved over the years. I have an interesting job now, which really helps. I've started a new fitness routine with Nerd Fitness-- yes, some guy has built a community just for me. I'm actually going to Camp Nerd Fitness this September to hang out with geeks like me.
Best of all, I "woke up" about 2 years ago, rejoined a pro SF critique group, and started actively marketing my fiction: sending it out and keeping it out. This led to many sales, hooray! But I still haven't figured out how to carve out sufficient time for writing new fiction.
Well, the time is now. I'm not sure how, but I'm going to do it. If I can do my fitness routine every morning (which I've now been doing for 2 months), if I can eat healthily even on busy days or traveling, I can certainly work fiction back into the mix. It's a huge part of who I am. I need to make room for that spirit to grow and be nourished. Today, I figure out how. :)
Anyway, earlgreytea68 wrote about her first novel publishing experience here, and I responded below. And, to my surprise, wrote this post inspired by it.
I want to thank all of you, the reading and writing and supportive community, for your comments and encouragement. It's because of you I'm writing. It's because of you, I'm happy. You are all wonderful.
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.
Fanfic is a rescue for me, and a way to rejuvenate my writing when I feel stale. I also get wonderful feedback-- not just by comments. If I post a section and it falls flat, I realize there's something wrong with that piece. It's a more immediate way of receiving feedback than from a writing group or certainly an editor.
I envy your book publishing process. Mine was a nightmare. The publisher I had rapidly became a bully, reneged on her conditions, and made the whole process so trying I was put off from book publishing for 10 years. Instead of being elated, I was depressed. What rescued me? MASH fanfic. Through it, I found joy in writing again.
I've also learned how to deal better with the business of writing. I have a schedule and a spreadsheet, and it isn't so much work anymore. It's sort of like doing laundry; a routine chore, but if I keep those stories in the mail I keep selling. And it's nice to see my craft improving, so I feel my newest stories are strongest. That's what I want: to be the best writer I can be. That takes practice, but also love. If I don't love it, why do it?
Thanks for sharing your experience. Best wishes to you in the pro world!
Fortunately, things have improved over the years. I have an interesting job now, which really helps. I've started a new fitness routine with Nerd Fitness-- yes, some guy has built a community just for me. I'm actually going to Camp Nerd Fitness this September to hang out with geeks like me.
Best of all, I "woke up" about 2 years ago, rejoined a pro SF critique group, and started actively marketing my fiction: sending it out and keeping it out. This led to many sales, hooray! But I still haven't figured out how to carve out sufficient time for writing new fiction.
Well, the time is now. I'm not sure how, but I'm going to do it. If I can do my fitness routine every morning (which I've now been doing for 2 months), if I can eat healthily even on busy days or traveling, I can certainly work fiction back into the mix. It's a huge part of who I am. I need to make room for that spirit to grow and be nourished. Today, I figure out how. :)
Anyway, earlgreytea68 wrote about her first novel publishing experience here, and I responded below. And, to my surprise, wrote this post inspired by it.
I want to thank all of you, the reading and writing and supportive community, for your comments and encouragement. It's because of you I'm writing. It's because of you, I'm happy. You are all wonderful.
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.
Fanfic is a rescue for me, and a way to rejuvenate my writing when I feel stale. I also get wonderful feedback-- not just by comments. If I post a section and it falls flat, I realize there's something wrong with that piece. It's a more immediate way of receiving feedback than from a writing group or certainly an editor.
I envy your book publishing process. Mine was a nightmare. The publisher I had rapidly became a bully, reneged on her conditions, and made the whole process so trying I was put off from book publishing for 10 years. Instead of being elated, I was depressed. What rescued me? MASH fanfic. Through it, I found joy in writing again.
I've also learned how to deal better with the business of writing. I have a schedule and a spreadsheet, and it isn't so much work anymore. It's sort of like doing laundry; a routine chore, but if I keep those stories in the mail I keep selling. And it's nice to see my craft improving, so I feel my newest stories are strongest. That's what I want: to be the best writer I can be. That takes practice, but also love. If I don't love it, why do it?
Thanks for sharing your experience. Best wishes to you in the pro world!