Writing: a conversation
This week, my friend Jen shared her thoughts on writing on her fabulous blog, Champagne Wednesdays. I’ve included her post and my response below. I’d also love to hear your thoughts — fellow writers, bloggers — please take a moment and share them.
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Jen @ Champagne Wednesdays
“I come out of my blogernation (that’s the words blogging and hiberation conjoined like wiggly newborn twins) to bring you this article.
Is writing for the rich?
To me, it often seems like more of a luxury than I can afford (whether that be with the riches of time, energy, currency, etc). My fellow blogger Christina, on the other hand, meets the sacrifice with devotion, and makes it all look very glamourous in the meantime (yes, even in a green barista apron). Her practice works - and career-wise, seems to be working very well for her. That is not to say, however, that writing isn’t still a huge struggle even for the successful - and living off of it a whole different story. I write without expectation of pay. Mostly in private, but sometimes (here) very publicly. I can only imagine that if you were willing to fundraise for my employer for free, I would be ousted in no time at all.
So I ask then is writing now purely for the hobbyists? Do I dillute the efforts of the truly brilliant with my on-air ramblings?
I wonder. I wonder. I wonder…out loud.
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My response:
Jen. Your post took me by surprise. Sent me into a bit of an afternoon tailspin.
I write for a living. It’s true.
It isn’t glamorous. Even without the green apron (which I tossed for good last September.) Writing is a lonely pursuit and requires a self-discipline that evades me all too often. But it is worth the effort in the end because, after all, we writers must write because we must.
All the same, writing for a living is an incredible gift. Your post, more than anything, reminded me of this. And I want to thank you.
Many writers will turn a phrase for free. I won’t, but I will write copy. We, the trust-fund free, must write for love and for milk.
I have much to be grateful for. Thank you for the reminder.
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What are your thoughts? Is writing just for the rich?
4 comments
Additional thought: I wouldn’t have had the guts to start writing full-time if I didn’t have the emotional and financial support of my husband. Hmmm…
Hi Christina! I am so glad you put this out for discussion…I suppose I was fishing for your thoughts more than I realized by posting about you on my blog. I apologize too for any consequential tailspinning…you are just such a strong example of what I always convinced myself could not be done : living and writing, living off writing, living for writing.
Looking back at what I wrote (writing seeming to be more of a luxury than I can afford), I am thinking I should have said: more of a risk than I have been willing to take. Though that too depends on whether I want to classify writing as a hobby/interest/itch or a calling/passion/vocation…. and I am not sure my soul’s needle has decided yet.
J xo
I have some thoughts, because I plan to do more writing after I graduate, and because I am taking an excellent prose class at Regent.
I think the main point of the article is that people can’t write full time because so many people will write for free - but writing full time has always been occupied by a minority of people, from what I understand. Most people write and have a second job, or write and have a partner who doesn’t want to write and has a different career that pays more.
I don’t think writing it for the rich but for the TENACIOUS. That is a word that keeps coming up in class - tenacious, courageous. Writers have to be willing to try, try, try to get their stuff out there and maybe, someday, they will be able to do it full time.
But there are also different kids of writers. Christina has found a niche that allows her to write and also connect with creative organizations that appeal to her, as well as write other pieces for various publications. Making it as a fiction novelist, on the other hand, is a whole other ball game. Or a poet! (That would be the most difficult, I would imagine.)
I think that some write as a hobby, or keep a blog to connect with friends etc. So when we talk about writing we need to clarify that it is a big field with many different niches, publications and networks. So while a writer need not be rich, she will need to be tenacious and know why she writes.
Agreed, Anneli. Tenacious indeed. A quality you, Jen and dare I say I, share?
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