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Tuesday, January 1, 2019

IWSG: On the Road




Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time - and return comments. This group is all about connecting! Be sure to link to the IWSG page and display the badge in your post. And please be sure your avatar links back to your blog! If it links to Google+, be sure your blog is listed there. Otherwise, when you leave a comment, people can't find you to comment back.


Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!


January 2 question - What are your favorite and least favorite questions people ask you about your writing?

Remember, the question is optional!

 
The awesome co-hosts for the January 2 posting of the IWSG are Patricia Lynne, Lisa Buie-Collard, Kim Lajevardi, and Fundy Blue!
I'll get to the IWSG question in a minute, but for now, just want to let people know that the Ninja Librarian is pretty much away from civilization at this point, and won't be able to make return visits and comments for a while. Actually, today and tomorrow we are in Te Anua, so I'll try to do some visiting--but we'll be scrambling, getting ready to hike the Routeburn Track. As I've noted elsewhere, the blog will mostly be on a break this month, with something of a return to normal for February and March (and chaos will reign again in April and May, as we'll mostly be on the road during those months, first in New Zealand and then in the US).

Now for the fun stuff--the question of the month!

I love it when people ask me about what I'm working on. It makes me think about the WIP, and it makes me take my work more seriously. Yes, it can be a bit embarrassing if I'm not working, but it's also a motivator.

What I hate is when people ask about what I make at writing. Maybe I'm just embarrassed that I don't usually make enough to pay the power bill (was that Steven King who said that's the marker for being a professional?). Plus, I work hard at remembering that writing is a labor of love, not something I do for the money. 
Or maybe I'm kind of put off by the personal question. After all, I was taught that you don't talk about what you earn, or ask others what they do.

But I'm afraid the bottom line is that I don't like to think about it, because I can't deny that it's a bit of a disappointment to me that I don't earn more.

There. That's my insecure writer truth: I net only a hundred or two a year, and that bums me out when I think about it.

23 comments:

  1. In polite society we don't talk about money ;-) I hope you have a successful 2019.

    Ronel visiting on IWSG day 2019 Goals, Resolutions and Questions

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  2. I'm the same as you when it comes to people asking me how much I make. I never know how to answer that. I definitely need to get better at changing the subject.

    Hope you guys are having a fabulous time on your travels.

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    1. We should just say “oh, it pays the bills.” Just don’t add that the bill is for a single cup of coffee :D

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  3. Sounds like you're having a fantastic trip. I wouldn't want to be asked how much I make from writing either. It's too personal.

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  4. I always find it awkward when authors talk about not just how much they made, but how many books they sold. They go hand in hand as being one of those things you don't talk about, but personally I kinda want to know how everyone is doing. But it gets weird when someone says "I had a great month!" because they sold 5 books, and someone else had a slow one and "only" sold 100.

    Good luck and have fun on your trip! Happy New Year and stay safe!

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    1. How we feel about selling 5 books is definitely an individual thing!

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  5. Rebecca, I'm brand new to IWSG, and already I'm impressed. When you tell us...."It's a bit disappointing to me that I don't earn more. That is my insecure writer's truth." you are speaking for a lot of us.

    It seems to me our challenge is to not let those "numbers questions" deter us from the storytelling journey we find so satisfying, even when no one else seems to appreciate the results we produce. We can't let the "insecurity" win.

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    1. Right! I started doing this because I have stories in my head that need out. Having people besides my Mom read them and say they enjoyed them is a nice bonus. Money is less important really but hard to let go of anyway.

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  6. Have a nice break and travel safely!

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  7. Yes, getting the stories out of your own head is worth its weight in gold.

    I was following up a comment on my own posts about the Furry Writers Guild. Believe it or not, they require indie authors to earn (net) $200 in a 12 month period in order to qualify for membership. I don't do that with my 'furry' books which is why I'm looking at the guild! But they only want one paying short story in a qualifying publication, so I reckon I'm okay after all...

    Obviously anthologies are the way to go for indie authors to gain respectability these days.

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    1. Interesting. Is it make $200 or be published, or do you have to do both?

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  8. Have a great time out there. I'm a bit late in getting around, too, but I don't have the romantic excuse that you do.

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  9. I don’t think anyone has ever asked me outright how much money I made at writing. They hint at it though. Imagine asking how much money someone makes! How rude! LOL. Happy traveling!

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    1. Yeah, it’s more hinting, or wondering if you can make a living at it. I was raised not to tall about money! I end up making deprecating jokes.

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  10. Aw, if it makes you feel better, earning more as a writer comes down to marketing, not writing better (or more) books. Learn how to market your work to the people who will love it, and you'll see a difference. Still learning this myself.

    Enjoy your travels! Happy New Year.

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    1. You are so right about marketing—and that is certainly not happening while I’m hiking New Zealand! I do need to look out for more opportunities though.

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