This Ain't A Dream Job

Last week I had a very interesting conversation about misconceptions when it comes to writing and publishing; namely the fact that some people think that writing is easy, takes little time, and that it’s not necessary to improve the craft.

So, so untrue.

Contrary to what some might think, publishing doesn’t mean a person can stay at home with their family and write when they want. That would be a dream job. With deadlines, edits and future projects, I’m always working. As soon as one thing is wrapped up, something else comes along. I spend anywhere from eight to ten (oftentimes more) hours per day working. If my youngest child is in a giving mood, I’ll start in the morning and work through the night. If she demands more of my attention, I make up lost time by locking myself in my office after dinner is served and my husband gets home. And guess what?

It’s hard.

The truth is I want to spend more time with my children and husband. I want to be able to read a great book when the mood strikes or watch the latest movie on DVD. Unfortunately that simply isn’t possible. In fact, I’ve noticed that I spend far less time with my family or doing the things that I love than I did two years ago. Not only do I have to improve my work, I also have to keep writing. There just aren’t enough hours in the day.

To put it bluntly -- writing can suck. I don’t always want to write, nor do I want to edit. Yet each book I work on teaches me something. Each edit brings more to the table. I apply these things to the books I create, meaning it’s not as simple as sitting down and pounding out words (what I used to do). Likewise, I know I have to make writing a priority. Being published means what I do is no longer a hobby. Those days of writing because “I feel like it” are over.

For some, being published might not be such an issue. Not so for me. Every single check supports my family. Since I count on my readership, I want to make sure they aren’t wasting their money. I look at it like this -- readers pay me to entertain them. If I slap together books that lack care or attention, I’m not doing what I’m being paid for.

I like to remind folks that the authors who rise to the top and strike it big are not the norm; they are the exception. There are literally hundreds of authors to choose from, all of whom are struggling to obtain recognition. That means every effort has to be done all the way -- no half-ass attempts. Trust me, I learned early on that bad edits or a poorly written book will come back to bite an author in the rear. Writers are far better served when they realize their books are their product and their names are their brand. If you do things right with a release, readers might check out your back list. If you do things wrong, a reader might not give your work a second shot.

Things don’t get easier when you’re published. However, they can (and often will) become more difficult. I’m not sure about the successes of others, but I can tell you that I don’t have a yacht or a beach house. No one pays my rent or purchases my groceries. In order to keep afloat there are no breaks or nights when I say, “Fuck it, I’m not in the mood,” and don’t write or edit. Every free moment I have is spent working.

Sounds fun, right? I thought not.

Simply put: If you’re in this field for an easy out, you’re not in the right place. Publishers don’t hand out dream jobs, they issue contracts. The rest of the work (writing, edits, revisions, promotion) is up to you.

I’ll be back in a couple of weeks. Hope you all are enjoying the New Year.

Jaime AKA J.A. Saare