Comments on: Writing as a Career

By: Kacey’s Wine on the Keyboard . . . » Getting Things Done

Kacey’s Wine on the Keyboard . . . » Getting Things Done — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 12:01:09 +0000

[...] I have GOT to get a grip on things. Suzanne McMinn has a post up on Romancing the Blog today (which I’m not going to link to, because they have some kind of ping thing going on that quotes a big chunk of your own blog post on the pingback–and I don’t particularly want the first part of this blog post posted over there) But go read the article. It’s good. It’s about treating your writing as a career. Which we’ve discussed on my blog before here. [...]

By: Cece

Cece — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 02:44:33 +0000

Great post Kacey! And yes, I treat it like a career though after the last few months, I think I should put myself on probation.

By: Teresa

Teresa — Thu, 30 Jun 2005 01:06:47 +0000

Great Great Great post Kacey!!! This isn’t a hobby. I’m fortunate my husband believes in me.:love:

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 23:18:01 +0000

I gave up pretty much all my hobbies except for occasional forays into home decorating and gardening. I gave up keeping my house clean all the time. I gave up my sanity. :crazy2: But I love being a fulltime career writer! It’s the best job in the world!

By: Kelly =)

Kelly =) — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 17:51:05 +0000

Yes, Kacey, I treat myself as a professional in my own mind. I don’t try to spread it around my relatives, though, because I don’t think they’ll consider me one unless I sell a book. But it’s all about being in your own state of mind, not those around you.

I have also giving my love for drawing and creating things, but I have little to write and I have to make use of it. We have to be professional if we want to succeed. =)

By: Melissa

Melissa — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 16:27:19 +0000

I’ve always wanted writing to be my career. But for some reason, it’s been rather difficult the past few months to really get SERIOUS about it again. I guess it’s because I’ve been hee-hawing over my whole MA degree and wanting to enter the historical profession. Then I think, “No, I want to get a boring day-job so I can come home and write.” Since I started working, I think I work on my writing more – but often, I’m so darn tired at night I just want to crash on the couch.
I just need to win the stinking lottery.

By: Amy K

Amy K — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 16:19:25 +0000

I’m in this for a career, and so are the writers I’m closest too. I guess I have stuff out there most of the time, but it’s only been to one line so far. (I’m slow to finish stories…not so slow on the writing part but turtle pace on the idea phase.)

With the exception of the last couple of weeks, I write every day but force myself to take off two Saturdays a month. It’s something I have to concentrate on. lol

Things I’ve given up…hobbies, definitely. I love to scrapbook, but haven’t for over two years. And I used to quilt, kind of, was just learning, but I just sold/gave away all my quilting stuff. I don’t watch TV with one exception–one show on DVD every night before I go to sleep. It took me a long time to be able to do even that, but now that I do, it’s what I look forward to and how I reward myself for a day of work.

As for today, I haven’t done anything yet, but the boys are going to Grandma’s this afternoon. The page goal is 10. And in the last two I’ve written 14. So I’m getting back on the horse.

By: Tori

Tori — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 16:04:33 +0000

Ack! I’ve only just realized I’m a hobby writer. Nooooooooo!!!

By: Emily

Emily — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 15:54:51 +0000

I’ve been saying I’ve been a serious writer for about a year and a half. Six months ago I made a conscious decision to be a *really* serious writer (quit my job with the husbands support to write full time).

In that time I’ve written 2 300+ pg mas, a novella and a short story. I’ve sold 1 ms(not written this year) and the novella to epubs.

The mental decision I made to be completely serious was probably one of the best things I’ve ever done.

By: Rene

Rene — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 14:30:54 +0000

I do not treat it as a career. I should. I do not get much support from my family with regards to my writing. My dh (the “d” does not stand for “dearest” right now) will pay me lip service with regards to my writing, but I know he doesn’t take it seriously. It actually motivates me to sell. I’m going to sell a book and totally rub his nose in it. That maybe his plan, I could be walking right into it, he’s pretty sneaky.

I do try to write every day. As for having stuff out…sigh…I’ve had the same ms out there for over a year. It is still making the rounds. I have another ms ready to submit, but I don’t want to until the other ms has petered out.