tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post3505680963856585982..comments2024-03-28T08:14:28.881-04:00Comments on Authoress: Friday FricasseeAuthoresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09223228949688667517noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-18564026165556610652012-01-09T03:08:24.883-05:002012-01-09T03:08:24.883-05:00It depends on who I'm talking to. I'm a st...It depends on who I'm talking to. I'm a stay at home mom, now, but I used to work. I had lots more time to talk on the phone when I worked. ;) I use the "I'm working" whenever I'm working and need to not be interrupted. If I'm talking to my husband or someone who knows my life intimately, then it's "I'm writing" or "I'm cleaning" or "I'm fixing dinner". If it's someone that just needs to know this isn't a good time, then "I'm working" regardless of which of the many things I'm doing that constitute work. ;) I have no pretense of absolute transparency. Information is given out at my discretion. ;)Robin Lemkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12254896327174187893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-9097429789839591912012-01-08T05:36:50.372-05:002012-01-08T05:36:50.372-05:00"A final comment: My writing didn't take..."A final comment: My writing didn't take off until I finally made this level of commitment to it. Prior to that, I would sometimes allow several weeks to pass without touching a manuscript. Now, it's a 6-day-a-week commitment, no matter what. It's my passion, but it's also my WORK." <br /><br />Wow. This is an eye-opener for me. I'm in the group that would say: "Sure, bring them over. I'll write later." It's weird but I almost feel guilty if I neglect other things in order to write (maybe because writing is enjoyable and we associate work with a not-too-pleasant obligation?)<br /><br />A very inspiring post, Authoress. Thank you!<br /><br />LorenaThe Sisterhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09889577041903181315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-7874652984981754612012-01-07T11:27:02.353-05:002012-01-07T11:27:02.353-05:00It's work. It is a lot of work. I tell peopl...It's work. It is a lot of work. I tell people I'm working.<br /><br />I may not be making a ton of money at it, but I never will unless I dedicate time to it.<br /><br />Great post!Kim Mullicanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08379949268188977298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-18309291674998250832012-01-07T11:21:34.716-05:002012-01-07T11:21:34.716-05:00Thanks, Mr. A. My honey and I are usually in sync...Thanks, Mr. A. My honey and I are usually in sync, so this hurts. He loves that I'm available to edit his work, run his errands and be an at home mom for our bright, sports oriented nine-year-old who needs a lot of shuttling around. But maybe we do need to clarify our goals -- this is not the first time this "discussion" has come up in a tense moment.Sarah Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11202671048418865629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-23951286970043363632012-01-07T00:37:37.297-05:002012-01-07T00:37:37.297-05:00I have what I consider to be my "real job&quo...I have what I consider to be my "real job" that takes 40-60 hours a week of my time (which I love - not necessarily the hours, but the work). I have a husband and two kids and a house and a farm with twenty-six cows, three dogs, two turtles, and a guinea pig. <br /><br />I would love to call my writing my work. But I'm not there yet. Hopefully someday I'll find a world where everything can prosper at once. :)<br />ericaerica and christyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13074820593371226159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-41849257854670326662012-01-06T23:47:42.728-05:002012-01-06T23:47:42.728-05:00I like the idea of writing as work, and I think it...I like the idea of writing as work, and I think it's a perspective some writers need in order to treat it seriously. It's something I need to be stricter about with myself, making sure I stick to my writing/working time.<br /><br />But as for the neighbour and kids, I would agree to help out. Most 'day' jobs aren't that flexible. You need to be at a certain place between certain hours. One of the beauties of writing is that it is flexible, so if a friend does need a hand you can move your writing time to 2-4pm instead of 10am-12pm on that particular day. <br /><br />Of course, if you had one or a bunch of different people who were always ringing and asking for favours that interrupted your writing time, that's when I'd start refusing. But a one-off every now and then is part of life, and as someone else pointed out, they then owe you a favour!Bronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13029635239132926178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-27907255429432012202012-01-06T22:07:45.138-05:002012-01-06T22:07:45.138-05:00skywriter,
Unfortunately, I can't talk to him...skywriter,<br /><br />Unfortunately, I can't talk to him, since my wife is anonymous. :-)<br /><br />But, I think you need to sell him on the fact that you are getting agents to read part of your manuscript, which is akin to odds on the back of a lottery ticket.<br /><br />Seriously, you both have to decide how important this is to you. That is what Authoress and I did. It is not easy for husband or wife to bear the full financial weight. However, what is your goal as a couple?<br /><br />Good luck!Mr Anoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-6706121894161756442012-01-06T21:11:00.891-05:002012-01-06T21:11:00.891-05:00If this had been a facebook post, I'd have hit...If this had been a facebook post, I'd have hit "like" a thousand times.<br /><br />My family "gets" it, and I do call it "work." The problem is, I don't always use my "writing time" effectively. And that is ONLY my fault, and no one else's. I have these great stories running around in my head, but it's so much easier to find something else to do.Susabellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16028522408918172500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-59941928523560271002012-01-06T20:44:15.601-05:002012-01-06T20:44:15.601-05:00Interesting comments. My kids call me a writer, bu...Interesting comments. My kids call me a writer, but my husband hasn't accepted that yet. Right now I'm fine with that. I love my paying job. It gives me the chance to interact with different people, see other lives. And I love my writing. Finding time for that's hard, between family and my job. But I realize what Authoress says. I have to make the time, though often the only time is after all the homework's done and everyone's off to bed.By then my brain's gone to sleep and there I am, staring at the screen and it's 2AM already.Sujahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16899054126546663789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-27240349040884780532012-01-06T20:34:19.750-05:002012-01-06T20:34:19.750-05:00I do earn money from my writing and I have an agen...I do earn money from my writing and I have an agent, but I'm terrible about setting aside "work" time for my writing. I know I should, I really would be much more productive. :) Thanks for giving me a New Year's resolution.Victorinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06052077366367623323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-31741376766699386932012-01-06T20:31:51.947-05:002012-01-06T20:31:51.947-05:00I tell people I'm working. It's too much w...I tell people I'm working. It's too much work to be called anything else. :P<br /><br />No but seriously, people don't always understand why I have to say no, but I figure if they can't understand it, then they're not going to be friends who last as I build to my business. My writing business, that is!M. Dunhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00624479956106759407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-38054516829910365952012-01-06T19:51:30.962-05:002012-01-06T19:51:30.962-05:00In the case you mentioned, Authoress, I'd say ...In the case you mentioned, Authoress, I'd say working. Usually, I'm in the group that uses "writing" with those that understand and "working" with those that probably wouldn't. <br /><br />However, I don't have a fixed time for writing. I tend to fit my writing around the rest of life. A lot of that is because my "day" job has such a variable schedule i can't set a fixed time for anything. <br /><br />Actually, I lot of my writing time is done during downtime at my day job, especially on nights and weekends. That's because I actually have a lot less distractions at work than when I'm at home. Also, at work I have room to pace freely, which I need when I'm working through plot elements and scene problems. <br /><br />That said, I actually find that since I've really gotten serious about my writing (mainly since I finally finished a rough draft on a novel) I have found myself spending almost all my free time on my writing. If I'm not actually adding to my word count, I'm plotting, or researching, or working out ideas, or planning future books, looking up agents, querying, etc. So I guess I'm working pretty much all the time. <br /><br />But when I'm actually adding to my word count, I do hate to be interrupted, especially at home. That's why I usually do it when everyone else is asleep or gone. If I had a work space with some privacy, I might have an easier time finding writing time at home.P J O'Learyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01121749745553250222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-87440288914142621642012-01-06T19:30:17.519-05:002012-01-06T19:30:17.519-05:00I work more than full time at my job. I write as o...I work more than full time at my job. I write as often as I can because I love it. Honestly, I can't imagine thinking of it as "work" -- but that's semantics, it doesn't mean that I'm any less dedicated to it. But would I reschedule my writing to help a friend? You bet! I'd do the same with my job, if I could, but I can't (my boss is picky that way). I also reschedule my writing to cook, clean, help my kids with homework, take them to practice, the doctor, pick them up from school as a surprise so they don't have to ride the bus home sometimes, run errands for my husband and my mother, take the dog for a walk because no one else has had time to, and occasionally to exercise. Do I wish I had two hours every day to write? You bet! Do I? No! Because I choose not to, because I have other people and things that I am responsible to and for--and I wouldn't change that. Some day I hope I might have a schedule that allows for it. If my fellow writers do, more power to you!<br /><br />I once heard a broadcast from a famous writer saying that no one who didn't write at least two hours a day could consider themselves a writer. That bothered me for oh, about 5 minutes, knowing I couldn't spare that time on an every day basis. Then I considered what a very small world that writer must live in. There are days and times when I am able to dedicate significant time, but does it mean I'm not a serious writer because there are days that go by that I don't have one minute to myself to do one thing that I want to do? I refuse to believe that. Call it work, call it writing, all I know is that I do it as often as I can and I love it.JL Dannorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15144540248274739914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-10333909626349661222012-01-06T18:13:37.229-05:002012-01-06T18:13:37.229-05:00You've raised some good questions! I do always...You've raised some good questions! I do always say "writing." Although my day job I get paid for is teaching & when people say, "Oh, it must be so nice to get so much time off," I usually do clarify that I'm still 'working' on my 'writing' so actually, I get no time off! I think it's just b/c I love writing so much that I don't think of it as work. In the beginning, I blew everybody & everything off to write. Now, not so much . . . everybody in my family is too needy;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-41202500933698175512012-01-06T18:03:39.823-05:002012-01-06T18:03:39.823-05:00Writing is definitely work, whether or not it has ...Writing is definitely work, whether or not it has paid off (yet).<br /><br />If the neighbor asked that question about her kids, my response would definitely be "I'm working." Partly, this is because of the popular perception (popular among non-writers) that our writing time is NOT "work" and can be interrupted at others' convenience. If you say "that's my writing time" the neighbor will think you're being obnoxious for refusing - even though if you did have to work at a "real job" during that time she would totally understand. Hence..."working."<br /><br />You're absolutely correct that no writer gets published until (s)he makes the commitment and considers it a "real job." It's impossible to get the time and practice required to hone craft to publishable quality until that commitment (and the resulting hours) are put in.Susan Spannhttp://www.susanspann.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-39996095498414563232012-01-06T17:42:01.926-05:002012-01-06T17:42:01.926-05:00Writing is my work. Sure, I have a day job (which...Writing is my work. Sure, I have a day job (which I often work at night - go figure), but writing is the profession I want to be remembered for, the one that is my all consuming passion. When I sit down to write, it is work, just the same way sitting down to answer emails or write screening schedules is work. <br /><br />Unfortunately I have to fit this important work around the less important work because I don't want my kids to starve...Kate Larkindalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06202347563426692610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-70025299238419136232012-01-06T17:20:37.665-05:002012-01-06T17:20:37.665-05:00It depends who I'm talking to. If it's som...It depends who I'm talking to. If it's someone who understands, then I'll say I'm writing. They respect that as work. But if it's someone who doesn't respect that you just can't stop everything and switch gears when writing, I tell them I'm working. <br /><br />I write everyday. I set aside time to critique my CP's writing and I spend about an hour a day in the marketing part of it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-24016960385915870822012-01-06T17:16:46.209-05:002012-01-06T17:16:46.209-05:00I have been saying "I'm writing" but...I have been saying "I'm writing" but from now on, after thinking about your post, I'm going to say "working." That describes what it is, as you pointed out so well. Thanks for this perspective on it.Elizabeth Varadan, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01708206753256682635noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-58928963040557969712012-01-06T17:05:59.295-05:002012-01-06T17:05:59.295-05:00I use both 'writing' and 'work'. I...I use both 'writing' and 'work'. I tend to use 'work' more since I signed with my agent. In fact I've only really 'come out' as a writer since that happened (which also, interestingly enough, happened just after I quit my day job.) <br /><br />Now my kids know Mom is a writer : DRuthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02046492434737362097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-73507380742916067232012-01-06T16:19:00.225-05:002012-01-06T16:19:00.225-05:00And GOOD LUCK, Skywriter, on your partial!And GOOD LUCK, Skywriter, on your partial!Dana Ehttp://momslifeponderings.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-55899576171338835432012-01-06T16:09:19.273-05:002012-01-06T16:09:19.273-05:00Are the three-year-old twins sweetie pies or holy ...Are the three-year-old twins sweetie pies or holy terrors? :)<br /><br />I have a full time job so I tend to view my writing as a hobby. But I find when I'm not writing, I feel a little guilty. (I may have to look into that.)<br /><br />I often set goals with my writing, and I don't like to not meet those goals, so that sort of makes it feel like "work". <br /><br />Regardless...I am so blessed to have two "jobs" that I love (only I'd feel even more blessed if I got paid for both of them.) :)Dana Ehttp://momslifeponderings.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-33151753316280139722012-01-06T15:57:53.984-05:002012-01-06T15:57:53.984-05:00I tell people I have three jobs. Two full time -- ...I tell people I have three jobs. Two full time -- mother/wife (which we all know takes more than 40 hrs/week) and writer (because I put in at least 32 hrs/week on that). And one part time -- 15-20 hrs/week to help pay the bills. Juggling family and writing are tough, but I do it because I *must* write. Every day. It's not a hobby. I've always treated it that way and am so grateful that my family respects my writing as work, not a joke. I know not everyone is that fortunate, and I have tremendous respect for writers who forge ahead despite a lack of support.Monica Enderle Piercehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08906580310155422359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-45422704559982002842012-01-06T15:56:30.891-05:002012-01-06T15:56:30.891-05:00Great post! My careers have always involved home o...Great post! My careers have always involved home offices, and even though I worked for a Fortune 500 company for 15 years, my husband still thought when I was home, selling my million dollars worth of product to accounts each year, I wasn't really "working". Trust me, we've had discussions! While I do get paid for my writing now, it's not the writing I would like to be paid for. However, now is not the time for me to be physically writing (life has intervened), but it doesn't stop me from mentally planning and plotting.<br /><br />As for the babysitting, it all depends on if this neighbor is there for you when you need her.If she's saved your tush in an emergency, then by all means, watch the kids!DJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14359760998871484565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-22905021328247702582012-01-06T15:10:48.834-05:002012-01-06T15:10:48.834-05:00Mr. A, can you talk to my husband? We just had a ...Mr. A, can you talk to my husband? We just had a big "discussion" about this "writing thing" and when am I going to go back to "work." This said when I just finished a full revision, am in the midst of querying and have an agent reading a partial?! And I'm a mom, and a caring wife. He's fantastic, just a stressed moment for a guy who carries the whole $$ load.Sarah Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11202671048418865629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3615675676021392217.post-28811871191873756252012-01-06T15:04:02.337-05:002012-01-06T15:04:02.337-05:00great question! with my kids, I tell them I'm ...great question! with my kids, I tell them I'm working and I hear them say to each other sometimes, don't bother her right now, she's working on her writing. With my adult friends who know I don't hold a paying job, i say I'm writing. Yes it is work, but when one day i'm a published author making money from the books I write then I will say I'm working. I think the connotation for me works better in that situation. Then again, I guess I'm always really working, because being a SAHM is the HARDEST job I've ever had and it really is WORK.Melaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03696084321447737813noreply@blogger.com