The stellar career I mentioned in my first post did not end up being the lifelong pursuit I had hoped it would be. In fact, I dreaded going out the door knowing I was headed back to that place. When I lost my job there, it did really bother me. I was upset. I had lost my job. How was I supposed to buy groceries, pay my medical bills, or work on getting the millstone of student loans off my neck?
Here I will take a brief intermission and thank God for the amazing husband he sent me. How he put up with my whining, complaining, and emotional roller coaster through this time without strangling me is a miracle. He deserves more than one crown in heaven. Not to mention, how well he treats me on normal days. (End Intermission)
While I was "inside my pity pot", as he puts it, he encouraged me to pursue my dream of writing since I now had all this time on my hands. I'll be honest. When I started my writing endeavor, I had daydreams of becoming independently wealthy, sipping smoothies from a lounge chair located in a warm, sunny place while I nonchalantly worked on my next big book. I didn't write out of a desire for money, but I thought if I can do something I enjoy and make a good living while doing it, why not?
After struggling through writing and publishing my first book, I was really excited. I checked Amazon and Create Space multiple times a day to see if anything had happened. It was thrilling to see that someone had purchased the book that I had written. Then the new wore off, and I realized that the rate at which my book was selling was not really that impressive.
It did not take me long to discover that the stories of people becoming sensations seemingly overnight by self-publishing was not the path my writing career was going to follow. I am pretty sure I owe the majority of my book sales to friends and family who have supported me throughout my life, and I appreciate them and their support immensely.
Sure making more money would have been nice and helpful financially, but there is still a sense of satisfaction in knowing you have accomplished the first step in a goal. I started writing and I did make a little money at it. Not enough to quit my day job,,..but it's a start.
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Why am I doing this?
Why am I writing a blog?
The short answer is that it is supposedly a good way to get your name out as a writer and an easy way to market your work.
The long answer is a little more complicated. Well..... if I'm honest to myself, I would probably consider it a lot more complicated.
I spent lots and lots of money I didn't have to get a "fabulous" college education from a magnificent institution that would open worlds of opportunity to me. Let's just say that fairy tale didn't come true. I did get a job and was making the money I was promised, but before I had worked three years in this supposed lifelong career, I lost my job to a computer. To say I was disappointed, was an understatement.
What do I do now?
I started to look for work that matched my college degree and while I was searching took a minimum wage job. I finally was offered a position in my "career" which was part-time, very part-time. Now I have all this time on my hands and a limited budget.
How can I make some extra money in my time off from work?
Write a book! I naively thought I would be able to do this easily. I have thought about it many times and didn't want to dedicate any of my time to it. Now, I'm sitting at home twiddling my thumbs trying to decide what to do with my time. It's the perfect opportunity to write my best-selling novel I've dreamt about. I'm an intelligent person. I've read lots of books. I know what I like when I read. This should be no problem for me.
WRONG!
I sat and stared at the blank paper. I have no idea what to write about. I love to read fantasy and science fiction, but I have no ideas for a plot or even a good character to start the story. How am I supposed to get to 500 pages when I can't even come up with the first page, not even a first sentence? Maybe I should start with something easier. My goal then changed from a best-selling novel to a 24 page illustrated children's book.
OK, I've now got an attainable goal. I think. I might be able to do this. How hard can it be to write a few pages with just a couple of sentences on them? The answer: harder than you think. I did eventually muddle through and a year after I self-published this "masterpiece" I have now made about eight dollars, but I am an author! (Cue trumpet fanfare and confetti shower).
I still hope to one day write an entire novel. I do finally have some ideas rolling around in my brain, but as of yet have not put a syllable on paper.
The short answer is that it is supposedly a good way to get your name out as a writer and an easy way to market your work.
The long answer is a little more complicated. Well..... if I'm honest to myself, I would probably consider it a lot more complicated.
I spent lots and lots of money I didn't have to get a "fabulous" college education from a magnificent institution that would open worlds of opportunity to me. Let's just say that fairy tale didn't come true. I did get a job and was making the money I was promised, but before I had worked three years in this supposed lifelong career, I lost my job to a computer. To say I was disappointed, was an understatement.
What do I do now?
I started to look for work that matched my college degree and while I was searching took a minimum wage job. I finally was offered a position in my "career" which was part-time, very part-time. Now I have all this time on my hands and a limited budget.
How can I make some extra money in my time off from work?
Write a book! I naively thought I would be able to do this easily. I have thought about it many times and didn't want to dedicate any of my time to it. Now, I'm sitting at home twiddling my thumbs trying to decide what to do with my time. It's the perfect opportunity to write my best-selling novel I've dreamt about. I'm an intelligent person. I've read lots of books. I know what I like when I read. This should be no problem for me.
WRONG!
I sat and stared at the blank paper. I have no idea what to write about. I love to read fantasy and science fiction, but I have no ideas for a plot or even a good character to start the story. How am I supposed to get to 500 pages when I can't even come up with the first page, not even a first sentence? Maybe I should start with something easier. My goal then changed from a best-selling novel to a 24 page illustrated children's book.
OK, I've now got an attainable goal. I think. I might be able to do this. How hard can it be to write a few pages with just a couple of sentences on them? The answer: harder than you think. I did eventually muddle through and a year after I self-published this "masterpiece" I have now made about eight dollars, but I am an author! (Cue trumpet fanfare and confetti shower).
I still hope to one day write an entire novel. I do finally have some ideas rolling around in my brain, but as of yet have not put a syllable on paper.
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