Beautifully said, Jen. I feel every word—exponentially with the weight of other writers expectations weighing on me as well. Where does the money come from? How do we find someone to read our books? Does anyone have time anymore? My ideal writing life looks a lot like you described reading and writing in the morning with my cats and dogs. A really productive day sees me chasing ideas all the way to lunch… 6 hours if I get up early. And in the afternoon I would speak to the world… answering emails and such, walking, gardening. And to be fair my routine is a lot like that, but with a handful of other people’s books in progress on my desk. The emails scream for attention and ever the good girl who doesn’t want to disappoint anyone, I answer those first. They keep coming all day and I don’t ever get to dip into my imagination.
The emails ... I can relate to this so much, Kim. The greatest wealth most days is time. I think that's something people like you and I really have to fight (even ourselves sometimes) for.
My ideal world- retire alive with the ability to still go for a paddle in the moonlight my hands not to arthritic to hold a pen.
I love my current job. Working with children feeds my writing with fodder. It keeps me in touch with my audience and gives me moments of play.
The job also leaves me exhausted, without time or energy to write and feeling like my life is half lived… like the husband with a chainless watch and wife with long unbridled hair selling what they have half of to make the other’s complete.
And marketing is too much work. It’s not my strength. It’s time consuming. If I’m writing for money then I’d make more at Tim hortons.
In an ideal world my stories would be grabbed up. Not declined or rejected. It makes me keep my stories close and protected when really they were built to be read!
I’ve decided to write what I want and not compromise the integrity of the story that I believe is the right one. I write for the children, not the publisher.
Yes, I’ll edit, edit, pursue “marketing” etc. with some of the time i have- because really what i want to do is write
One man in publishing made a suggestion to change an element in my story in a public critique. Afterwards several women writers came to me saying please don’t make that change.
I know my heart is right and for now I keep my circle of fellow writers tight.
"I’ve decided to write what I want and not compromise the integrity of the story that I believe is the right one. I write for the children, not the publisher." YES, Sara. Thank you for sharing this.
Beautifully said, Jen. I feel every word—exponentially with the weight of other writers expectations weighing on me as well. Where does the money come from? How do we find someone to read our books? Does anyone have time anymore? My ideal writing life looks a lot like you described reading and writing in the morning with my cats and dogs. A really productive day sees me chasing ideas all the way to lunch… 6 hours if I get up early. And in the afternoon I would speak to the world… answering emails and such, walking, gardening. And to be fair my routine is a lot like that, but with a handful of other people’s books in progress on my desk. The emails scream for attention and ever the good girl who doesn’t want to disappoint anyone, I answer those first. They keep coming all day and I don’t ever get to dip into my imagination.
The emails ... I can relate to this so much, Kim. The greatest wealth most days is time. I think that's something people like you and I really have to fight (even ourselves sometimes) for.
Wonderful dream. I love that quote, the child who has survived.
Keep going. Thanks for being a wonderful example.
So well put and inspiring!
My ideal world- retire alive with the ability to still go for a paddle in the moonlight my hands not to arthritic to hold a pen.
I love my current job. Working with children feeds my writing with fodder. It keeps me in touch with my audience and gives me moments of play.
The job also leaves me exhausted, without time or energy to write and feeling like my life is half lived… like the husband with a chainless watch and wife with long unbridled hair selling what they have half of to make the other’s complete.
And marketing is too much work. It’s not my strength. It’s time consuming. If I’m writing for money then I’d make more at Tim hortons.
In an ideal world my stories would be grabbed up. Not declined or rejected. It makes me keep my stories close and protected when really they were built to be read!
I’ve decided to write what I want and not compromise the integrity of the story that I believe is the right one. I write for the children, not the publisher.
Yes, I’ll edit, edit, pursue “marketing” etc. with some of the time i have- because really what i want to do is write
One man in publishing made a suggestion to change an element in my story in a public critique. Afterwards several women writers came to me saying please don’t make that change.
I know my heart is right and for now I keep my circle of fellow writers tight.
"I’ve decided to write what I want and not compromise the integrity of the story that I believe is the right one. I write for the children, not the publisher." YES, Sara. Thank you for sharing this.