Writing as a Career

Writing as a career…

So I’ve been thinking. (scary, huh?) about writing as a career. How many of us treat it like a career? And I’m not talking quit your day job write all day long career. I mean fit it in to whatever your life has to be, and make it a priority. Let the laundry pile up. Feed the family McDonalds. Demand respect for your time spent writing, just like the time your dh puts in to his job, or you put into a day job.

I’ve found I have had to give up a lot of things I enjoy to focus on my writing. I still make time with my family a priority…but frankly, that’s about it. I rarely have time for my hobbies like knitting or weaving. I read less. I do less social things. The house that used to be cleaned frequently gets cleaned only when I can’t stand it. I ask for more help from my family. We eat more fake meals. I’ve practically given up TV.

I scrape up money to go to conferences. I meet new people. Hand out cards. Get cards. Network. Talk writing. Come home fired up to take on the publishing world.

I always have stuff-out-there ™. The more the better.

I do get discouraged sometimes, but I pick myself back up and send out more proposals. Persistence is king. (or queen).

I’ve learned to do things I said I could never do very well. Write a blurb, write a synopsis, add in emotion. I’ve quit the negative self talk and the can’ts. I plan out stories for new markets and lines that open up, if they fit into my writing style. (you know my style, the one without the tag line, except for Amy’s suggestion of going with “relationshipy romance” )

There are so many hobby writers out there. They like to hang with writers, get to know them, play with RWA. That’s okay. If playing at writing makes someone happy..go for it. I’m all for people doing what makes them happy. (and really, if they aren’t submitting much, or at all, they aren’t taking an editor’s time away from serious writers anyway)

I’ve been seriously writing romance for over 10 years. I did treat it as–not really a hobby, but it just wasn’t a priority–for a few years in there while I was going through a divorce and raising the kids and just overwhelmed. Some of my writer friends stuck with me through the bad times and my limited writing, some dropped me and moved on without me. Now though, I’ve ended up with some true writing friends that have been there all through the years and stuck with me, that I think, no I know, will always be there for me. I also think I’ve managed to learn to write through anything. Given up the excuses why I “can’t” write…and just keep at it. I know that a lot of people who started out when I did are already published…by hard work usually, a bit a luck sometimes…though I think we make our own luck.

So do you treat writing as a career. Do have stuff out there all the time? Do you write everyday, or most days? What do you give up to go for your dream? Is it your dream? Do you hang out with career minded writers or hobby writers? What did you do today to grab for your dream?

I’m a published author. I’m a published author. I’m a published author. Affirmations rule!