Support for Indie Authors discussion

Just generally disillusioned with writing.


Went to school to pursue professional writing. Used those skills to get a generic proposal writing job to pay bills. Sucked at the job, but blogged a ton and got my book done on Amazon. Got fired. Since then though, can't get a decent, basic job with bennies even. I would be OK to write novels for little to no money if I had a decent enough job.

The constant search for a stable job consumes the time I'd rather use to write. When I do have time to write, often have no energy to do so.

Is it worth continuing on? Been chipping away at book 2 for about 3 years now, little progress because of the job situation. Potential to move to another proposal job, but not sure it's the right move.

Any suggestions? Please not "pat" answers or blowing sunshine up the keester. Just, is it worth continuing to try to write with so much opposition and so little reward?

I'm afraid this is a question only you can answer. I'm sure for many of us, if the choice was between writing and surviving, we might choose to put food on the table, but that doesn't mean that writing goes out the window. For a long time, I had a rather demanding job and a two hour commute. I didn't do *much* writing at that time, but I did write.

If it means enough, you either find the time or reconcile that you're not stopping, just taking a needed break to get life in order.

If you're writing for any other reason than your own enjoyment you're likely to have a rough time of it. Making money with fiction is tough.

At the end of the day you have to be able to support yourself. Take a job and write when you can (if that's what you really want.) Might be that writing becomes an avocation rather than a vocation for you. That's fine too.

B. wrote: "Any suggestions? Please not "pat" answers or blowing sunshine up the keester. Just, is it worth continuing to try to write with so much opposition and so little reward? "

It really depends on what rewards you're looking for. If the rewards you're looking for are a good enough income to support yourself / your family with your writing -- impossible for me or anyone else to say if you should keep at it or not. It's possible to make a living at writing, but impossible to predict who is going to be successful at it. I wish each and every one of us could make enough to live on if that's what we want, but the reality is, it's not going to happen for all of us.

The safest route, I think, is to pursue other work and keep writing on the side. It's what a lot of us here do.

For me, the rewards of writing come every day. When someone gives me a nice review or someone tells me they enjoyed a story I wrote or encourage me to write another... those are my rewards. When I have a good writing session, when I feel something is ready for publication, when I make my wife smile, laugh or cry with my work, when I make myself smile, laugh or cry... these are more rewards. I keep at it for these reasons. Some day I hope to make enough at this that I could quit my "day job" if I wish, but I'm not expecting it.

Many years ago I read a ton of books on writing and one, the best one, started with a line like this: "If you're thinking of being a writer because you think you're going to make a living at it, it's best if you stop now." In other words, very few writers are able to make a living at this. It could happen, yes. If you tap into something that a great deal of readers are looking for, you could enjoy monetary success. But, don't be surprised if it doesn't happen or if it takes many years to get there.

B. wrote: "Just generally disillusioned with writing.


Went to school to pursue professional writing. Used those skills to get a generic proposal writing job to pay bills. Sucked at the job, but blogged a t..."

Which would make you hate yourself more? Giving up? Or persevering?


Once I knew only darkness and stillness... my life was without past or future... but a little word from the fingers of another fell into my hand that clutched at emptiness, and my heart leaped to the rapture of living.

-Helen Keller


Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th.

-Julie Andrews


Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

-Calvin Coolidge

Thanks for the replies.

I'm not looking to make money really on the writing. Just have a "good enough" job and the ability to write for fun on the side. It's just really tough right now and doesn't seem worth the struggle sometimes.

haha, the calvin coolidge quote is one my dad gave me long ago! .

Charles wrote: "B. wrote: "Just generally disillusioned with writing.


Went to school to pursue professional writing. Used those skills to get a generic proposal writing job to pay bills. Sucked at the job, but ..."

That's a good question

Dwayne wrote: "B. wrote: "Any suggestions? Please not "pat" answers or blowing sunshine up the keester. Just, is it worth continuing to try to write with so much opposition and so little reward? "

It really depe..."

Yeah, i really would settle for having a day job. but it's so hard to find one right now...

B. wrote: "Thanks for the replies.

I'm not looking to make money really on the writing. Just have a "good enough" job and the ability to write for fun on the side. It's just really tough right now and doesn..."

Whenever you feel like giving up, try to remember why you started.

B.B. wrote: "Charles wrote: "Wonderful quotes here Charles. "

/blush

B. wrote: "Yeah, i really would settle for having a day job. but it's so hard to find one right now..."

There's always something like pizza delivery. It isn't the greatest job in the world, and completely thankless, but it has gotten a lot of people through tough times.

I would say do what you need to do financially to be comfortable in your home situation--pursue the real job, etc.--but make sure you give yourself a one to two hour block at the end of every day to do the thing that makes you happy--writing. If you decide to "quit" or take a hiatus, there's nothing wrong with that. It took me a long time to realize writing doesn't have to be all or nothing. If the passion within you is great enough, you WILL come back to it; it won't even be a choice. And maybe until that moment, you won't really know your answer.

I suggest you go watch the 1958 film "The Horse's Mouth" starring Alec Guinness.

It's not about writing but it's the best (and one of the funniest) treatises on what it means to be an artist.

Pay particular attention to where Guinness's character is confronted by a young nephew (or something) who wants to be an artist but has more enthusiasm than inclination/talent.

I'm not saying you have to be as obsessive compulsive about being a writer as Guinness's character is about his painting...But you do need to be driven to write by something more compelling than to make a living (even a modest one) off your craft. Because you really can't rely on that.

Your expectations have to be that you won't be able to support yourself solely on your writing, but rather that the best you're going to do is write some books that you can be proud of, that you learned something by writing, that you had FUN writing.

Otherwise you might as well follow Guinness's advice to his passionate young admirer and (paraphrasing from memory): "Don't be an artist! Become something sensible, like a public accountant. Get married and have real children with real eyes that open and shut, but DON'T BE AN ARTIST!"

If you are good with computers, might I suggest finding something like a data-entry job. I did freshman application processing at our local college for 6 years. I was able to process a few applications, then I would free-write in an email to myself. When I got home in the afternoon, I had a paycheck coming to me for working, but I also had a little bit of writing done for the day. All I had to do was check my email and copy and paste it out.

I have a full-time job (as an editor, oddly enough) and a commute (fortunately not too long). So I am only just over halfway through my next novel, after five years of work. But this won't change - I will never earn a living from writing and I accept that.

Two things have helped me. First, set aside a short time each day, maybe just 15 minutes, when you will do nothing but write.That way you will always be making at least some progress. Second, have more than one project on the go at a time. That way, when you are too tired for inspiration, you can work on something that's at an easier stage (proofreading perhaps or marketing). I don't always follow these two rules, but when I do, they sort of work.

Mike wrote: "I have a full-time job (as an editor, oddly enough) and a commute (fortunately not too long). So I am only just over halfway through my next novel, after five years of work. But this won't change -..."

Good idea Mike

Micah wrote: "I suggest you go watch the 1958 film "The Horse's Mouth" starring Alec Guinness.

It's not about writing but it's the best (and one of the funniest) treatises on what it means to be an artist.

Pay..."

Will do. Shamefully, video stores are gone. I'll have to see if youtube has it, or amazon

Charles wrote: "B. wrote: "Thanks for the replies.

I'm not looking to make money really on the writing. Just have a "good enough" job and the ability to write for fun on the side. It's just really tough right no..."

That's a good idea.

Mike wrote: "Second, have more than one project on the go at a time. That way, when you are too tired for inspiration, you can work on something that's at an easier stage (proofreading perhaps or marketing)..."

Proofreading and marketing...easier than writing?

**recovers breath after fit of laughter**

Just goes to show we're not all alike, huh? ;D

Thanks all!

Yeah, I truly would be happy to resign myself to eking out a living in my customer service job if I could get PTO and health benefits. that's the main thing.

Writing for fun, at this point is all I want. At the end of the process, hopefully having something worth publishing is my goal.

Micah wrote: "Mike wrote: "Second, have more than one project on the go at a time. That way, when you are too tired for inspiration, you can work on something that's at an easier stage (proofreading perhaps or m..."

Haha, yeah.

Micah wrote: "Mike wrote: "Second, have more than one project on the go at a time. That way, when you are too tired for inspiration, you can work on something that's at an easier stage (proofreading perhaps or m..."

No we're not. But proofreading is mechanical - you don't need inspiration, just concentration. Much marketing is fairly simple as well, like configuring giveaways, ads etc. I will never find those things as hard as writing a good book.

B. wrote: "Thanks all!

Yeah, I truly would be happy to resign myself to eking out a living in my customer service job if I could get PTO and health benefits. that's the main thing.

Writing for fun, at this..."

There's no way out but forward.

Simple answer? Yes!!! I decided a while ago that one good description of art is stuff you can't help doing. Sounds like you can't help but write. We all want to be the next Stephen King--or just make a living at it, but most of us won't..
But we have to write! Thank goodness we can publish ourselves now!

B. wrote: "Writing for fun, at this point is all I want. At the end of the process, hopefully having something worth publishing is my goal."

There you go, then. It's worth continuing on. As long as you're enjoying it, good. Not expecting to get rich, good. Have a goal of your finished project being "worth publishing", excellent.

As for the job market, yes, it's a bit rough still. Fortunately, I have found a career I love - taking care of disabled adults. The pay isn't quite what I'd call wonderful, but there is paid time off and the benefits are good.

I started writing during lunches, breaks, and before work on my day job. Writing keeps me sane. So... I will write, but I will also pay my bills. So, I suggest you find a job that pays the rent and write because you love it. If it pays off one day, then good. If not, you're stilll doing something you love, and how many people can say that?

Morris

Lots of good thoughts here. I'll add just one: writing isn't so much something you do, as something you are. You can be disillusioned and you can do other things and it doesn't make you "not a writer". It makes you a writer that needs or wants to put more energy somewhere else right now. You can come back to it at any time; you can write when you want to; when it gives you satisfaction. But I don't think writers really ever give up writing, they just take breaks.

My last break lasted for over 10 years. It took over 20 years before I got something finished I felt was worth publishing (with a co-author). But we published it, and two more, and are working on our 4th and 5th books, and they are doing pretty well. Sometimes it just takes time.

Take care of yourself.

Stop writing. It's harsh, but if you have to ask, "Should I give it up?" Then you've already answered your question. I've got to echo Owen here (hmmm... do that a lot), Take care of yourself.

That means get healthy, get some fun stuff going, forget the non-essentials until you've got some security. Don't go all "Moon and Sixpence." Just don't go there, I have and it's dark.

My two bits... worth every nickle you paid for 'em.

B., it sounds like you're rather depressed and discouraged. You need to look at priorities. You need to know where the rent/grocery money is coming from. Focus on getting a secure job that you like. Once things settle down and you feel more secure, then you'll write if you feel like it.

It's okay to take a break from writing. That doesn't mean you can't ever come back to it. Once a writer, always a writer. It's probably in your blood. But you have to have some financial/emotional security in your life - i.e., have a steady paycheck, probably before you can write. I know I have trouble writing if I'm worried about paying bills.

Just my 2 cents worth...

April

I'm going through the same thing right now April. I lost my full-time job in 2011 and haven't been able to get back on track since then. I was let go from my job and since then I've been doing temp jobs or long-term part-time assignments and it just doesn't pay enough. I had to move back home with my mom and I had initially hoped that losing my job would give me more time to focus on my custom cake business(i've been baking cakes for nearly 30 years and did them on the side while working a 40 hour week at my full-time job). But ever since I legalized in 2013 I have gotten little overall success with it. So my book isn't selling well(hence the desperate overtones of every post I put in this group LOL), my cakes not selling that well even though I do get customers from time to time and I cannot find a full-time job to save my life. My former employer from the part-time job contested unemployment so I have no money coming in from that, and we just had to put in for assistance from the state (for food, because my little vegetable garden will only give us so much before the winter comes )because we literally have nothing. my mom has been helping me pay what bills I have and is going bankrupt in the process, being that she's a 72-year-old woman on a fixed income. So all that being said, I understand you. All we can do is try to hang in there and hope that things will get better. Don't give up because I don't plan to. Even if I have to die trying I'll still keep trying. It sucks being in this situation and sometimes you wonder what you could've done to deserve your whole life ruined over a damn job loss, but I guess it will all work itself out eventually.

Honestly, it sounds to me like your current experiences are just going to give you more to write about. Look at how many people just on this thread can relate to what you're going through. Now, incorporate that INTO your writing, and you may find an instant audience. As far as finding the time, there's really only so much time you can spend looking for a job, so it's the other things you spend your day doing that you have to ask yourself if you'd rather do them or do some writing. Even a chapter a day can be a book in a month.

Good luck, and don't lose hope.

First and foremost, keester sunshine works VERY hard; don't disparage keester sunshine. Silliness aside, and I believe many have already voiced this observation in numerous ways, the doing what you want verse what you have to do is the eternal struggle. Although there are no easy answers, I'll ask you this: do you enjoy writing?

If the answer is yes, the only rational thing to do is make time to write, regardless of how difficult that may seem. If you stop writing all together you'll deprive yourself of something that makes you happy; if you do that you only punish yourself and, point blank, that's no way to live.

Personally, I find it difficult to write in times of personal hardship and stress...but those times don't last forever. I don't think any true writer could give up writing- there's been times where I've given up for years on end in blocks! Perhaps asking big questions like this of yourself is only adding to your pressure. I wish you the very best of luck in your writing and your circumstances.

OK, so survival should come first. Get your job sorted, so you can eat and have a roof over your head.

Then find your balance.
If you are passionate about writing you will continue to do so. Never give up on your passion.

I have a full time job, practice holsistic therapies and am a part time step mum. But still I have to make time to write. It's what lights me up.

For some reassurance on how we all struggle (even the greats), take a look at my blog... http://tlclarkauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2...

Good luck hunny.

Love & light.

Balance is a idealistic concept I keep hoping for but instead I find that trying to incorporate writing into my life is like a wrecking ball swinging wildly back and forth. Most of my time is spent working my day job (engineering), working side jobs teaching self defense and canine behavior courses, marketing my first novel and then spending time with my dogs and the few friends that put up with me. Somewhere along the way the wrecking ball of creativity actually smacks something and slows down enough for me to finally work on the second novel.

I must admit though it has been a while since that has happened which is why I'm taking time off in September to just write. If I don't make that effort, that sacrifice, then my second book will never get past the first draft and darn it, it is a good story and I want to get it finished :D

I do hope that you will be able to find that balance of provision for yourself and also the ability to write. To not use that gift, to me, is a great waste that too many people do.

Troy; I have just done the same thing. Book 5 has taken me over a year to write, and I was getting nowhere fast. So I booked a 2 night stay in a beautiful, quiet hotel and locked myself away in my room on my own, and wrote. Needs must and all that. I got a large chunk of writing done, and kick-started the creativity and enthusiasm again.

I hope you find your palace of solitude soon. Good luck. xx

Troy wrote: "Balance is a idealistic concept I keep hoping for but instead I find that trying to incorporate writing into my life is like a wrecking ball swinging wildly back and forth. Most of my time is spen..."

I've never been disillusioned with writing. It's the only way I can get the stories in my head out!

I'm very disillusioned with the entire sales part of it.

Melissa wrote: "I've never been disillusioned with writing. It's the only way I can get the stories in my head out!

I'm very disillusioned with the entire sales part of it."

I think that's true for many of us--certainly, for me!

To the OP: I've had to take several breaks from writing over the last few years--family health issues, being a "sandwich" parent, etc. During such times, I've found it very difficult to write, even if I had a few minutes to spare.

My suggestion is to take time out. Focus on your job search, and when things are more stable, you can still go back to writing.