>>> Item number 34205 from WRITERS LOG9407D --- (155 records) ---- <<< Date: Tue, 26 Jul 1994 18:35:02 JST Reply-To: WRITERS Sender: WRITERS From: Mike Barker Subject: SERMON: Income from 'writing' ??? Hi, Greg (ac161@LEO.NMC.EDU (Greg Ozimek)) You'll probably decide I'm a sarcastic SOB about halfway through this and want to throw things at me. I probably am a sarcastic SOB, so you thinking that won't upset me. But I hope you'll read this all the way through and perhaps think about it a bit before throwing things. My main problem is that I don't believe in magic--I believe in perspiration. If you happen to stumble on some magic, let me know--I could be wrong... [you're in luck, my guru robes are back from the cleaners. knock your head three times against the terminal and proclaim loudly "I BELIEVE!", then proceed to read with saltshaker in hand in case there's a bird lurking nearby...] - How can i call myself a writer and have an income i can live from - (from writing, of course!) ??? First let me suggest you separate the questions: 1. How can I call myself a writer? 2. How can I have an income I can live from? 3. How can I have an income from writing? These are NOT equivalent. They are not even directly related. Therefore, it can be quite a bit easier to deal with them independently. 1. How can I call myself a writer? Easy. Do so. If you really want to succeed, though, let me suggest you not worry too much about what you call yourself. Don't even worry about what others call you. Just do it. Let other people get all hot and bothered about just what to call what you do. Doing it is much more important than what anyone, including you, calls it. (Next Zen Lesson at 1:00 PM sharp, Network Universal Virtual Time! If you're not on time, you're probably off!:-) 2. How can I have an income I can live from? Seriously? Start at the other end. What kind of living do you think you need? Talk to an artist. Try to find one who has actually tried to sell their work. Ask them how they make a living at it. Be prepared to hear about teaching, selling supplies, "other jobs," and various odd methods of keeping body and soul together while the vocation is fitted in wherever possible. Decide what you need. Figure out one of the many, many ways to make that much (Einstein did patent clerk. Some writers have done night guard, bartending, and other oddball stuff. Many, many writers just have ordinary jobs.) Pick one you like or think you'd like, because you will have to live with it for a while. Again, do it. At a guess, you are in college. There are career counselors and other wonderful people who will help you if you ask. Use the resources while you have a chance. It gets harder when you are trying to figure it out later. Don't even bother listening to people who promise you instant wealth, easy work, etc. If they knew how to do that, they wouldn't be so busy offering you a chance to hear the magic secrets of how they do it, would they? Watch how they bust their butt skimming your money while you pay attention to the glittering promises...that seems to be their real business. Settle in for the duration, chum. No shortcuts, but you'll get somewhere. Everyone does in time. 3. How can I have an income from writing? Quit telling people what kind of writing etc. you want to do. Study the markets and so forth, then do what they will pay for. As terrible as it may sound, I'd recommend the mass market--there's more money there, and more chances. Press releases? Fine. Computer Manuals? Great way to support yourself right now. Practically any nonfiction field makes money right now. Fiction? Skimpy, but possible. Start writing novels now, and in a few years you may have something to show for it. T.V. and so forth? As long as you understand it is long, hard work, extremely risky, and you'll probably start as gopher, typist, and otherwise bottom of the heap, what the heck, go for it! Don't be surprised when you find out that twenty people will have their thumbs in your eye while you work, the actors and other stage people will rearrange it to suit, and when the fat guy with the wallet says so, everyone hops around the stage. You're looking at one of the least individualistic, most heavily "mass audience" oriented media around. The hype says the talent is special. It must be--I believe it is hard to find people who will swallow that kind of group effort and bend that far over, even for that kind of money. (can you tell I don't really appreciate television?:-) You mean how can you write what you want right now and instantly become a success? Do you really want me to sell you the Brooklyn Bridge? Even people who have done it agree that they don't have the slightest idea why the lightning hit them and not the other thousand or so people who were right there doing the same things. And since I haven't got a handle on that lightning, I'd suggest settling down for a long trudge. All right. Here's my version of the writers' secret. (I'm going to start charging for this one of these days, and then you'll be helping me to make an income from writing!) Ready? Take a deep breath and start along the four-fold path of the writer... Write. Revise. Submit. Keep going. (and the Great Editor smiled on him, as he was struck with enlightenment and started to write...and write...and write!) thus endeth today's fortunetelling! please cross my palms with... crud, Federal Reserve notes again? I prefer real money, but I guess I'll settle for wastepaper. tink [BTW--if you don't believe me, try reading some of the articles and books on the business. you can make money at it, you can even make a living at it. but it isn't going to be fast, it isn't going to be rich, and you had best love it, because there is little or no chance that the rewards will be worth the pain otherwise. If you're looking for money, become a salesperson.]