Writing for Pay is Hard Work and Demoralizing

A book critique I had done by a published author almost turned my writing world upside down! 

I expected she would love my book. But she tore it apart with red ink everywhere! 

I let it simmer for some time, packing the brown envelope away into a drawer, before ever returning to it. 

When I returned to the manuscript, I took her criticism to heart and re-wrote almost the entire book. Then I went ahead and published a new version on my own deciding not to get another critique or hire a professional editor. 

I charge about the price of a Starbucks Grande for my books. KDP takes their cut of the payment. In that case, why would I invest $500 or so in something where I may earn back less than $100? 

This is my blog and a place where I'm allowed to vent. It is my safe space. So here it goes:

Writers give up plenty of free time because they have something to say and love writing. It's as simple as that. 

Being a Christ-follower, I know Jesus said, a worker deserves her wages. That being said, Jesus doesn't seem to shower me with income from my writing. It's pretty independable! That part I will never understand this side of heaven. I mean, if He called me to be his scribe, why not pay me a decent worldly income for doing so? 

Putting out a blog post, article, or Kindle book in front of the general public is scary. Selling any book or article is a risk. It's one I take regularly. 

A Tool Called Natural Reader

Are You Called to be an At-Home Mom 
book on Kindle

I may have offered these ideas before. Just now, I re-loaded a nifty program I had on my last laptop. It's called "Natural Reader." Get it here. 

It's just another way to proofread your documents. Choose the voice you'd like to read your document, upload your document and hear it read. 

I've used this program for editing. It allows me to rest my eyes at times. It allows me to walk around the room, stand, and just listen. If it reads well, I'm set. If it does't read well, I'm sure to catch the needed changes.  

There are times I rush to publish or send in my submissions without leaving a block of time for my mind to simmer. More often than not, leaving a block of time between writing and editing is better. Leaving my writing overnight, over a few days, or even over months or years allows me to return to my writing with fresh eyes. 

I want to put out my best work, which often requires several go-throughs. Natural Reader is one more tool I often use. 

Late Night Writing and Other Matters

It's late at night. I was about to head to bed, but I felt the need to update this blog. 

I am accustomed to staying up late at night. It seems to be a part of my natural rhythm. Since I work from home, I often feel compelled to strike a balance between writing and taking care of household chores that surround me. If I were working in an office, I wouldn't constantly be reminded of the things that need to be done. I find that I can write better during late hours, perhaps because I am free of the competing thoughts and distractions that come up during the day.

Not only do I tend the home, but my dog can be pretty bossy demanding walks as often as possible. She doesn't understand, "Momma's got to sit and write today." 

My dog is a good fitness coach, but everything I do for her is time-consuming too. My writing is often traded off for dog walks, shampoos, and feedings. 

By day's end, it seems natural to push aside all the other responsibilities and finally focus on writing. The husband is in bed, and the dog sleeps at my feet. 

SOMETHING TO CLARIFY 

But the above isn't what I was going to share just now. Here's what I wanted to write about dreary-eyed as I am:

During a recent meeting, a woman shared off to the side her suspicion towards individuals who have experienced a difficult situation, wrote a book or became a speaker and earned a significant amount of money from doing so.

I wanted to correct her. Why? Because most writers don't make millions of dollars from their books. That is a myth many believe.

The person this woman was referring to who had solved her problem and written a book wasn't a high-profile individual with a broad platform. Today, publishers will rarely take on an average person. They want writers with credentials. They want to know the writer will bring in book buyers and do successful marketing themselves. Becoming published is hard enough and selling books is harder. 


DEBT

The idea that an average woman who's written a book will make millions is inaccurate. Most writers put in more unpaid time than they will ever make back. Publishing on Kindle is free, but Kindle takes a cut of the sales. Personally, I only make about $2 to $4 per book. It makes it hard to justify all the time I put into my ebook writing.

Self-publishing hard copies is even more problematic. It's difficult to sell hard copies especially when shipping costs need to be factored in. Shipping across borders is even more problematic as there may be exchange rates and duty payments included. 

I know a few women with garages full of unsold self-published print books. And these are books they paid out-of-pocket to have produced. Some will see a financial loss. 

Why Writers Write 

I pondered this friend's statement and reflected on it as the web content and eBook writer I am. I decided the purpose of writing for most writers is to share our story with the hope to encourage or inspire someone. We may hope to hit it big financially, and that's not unheard of, but we write because we have something to say. And more of us write because we love writing. 

The woman seemed to mock the idea of the woman writer's sad story. But most good stories have a crisis and turning point in them. Even self-help books point to problems and provide solutions. Hallmark movies always have a crisis and turning point. (I know there are more official terms, but I can't think of them just now.)  

Sad stories are part of telling a story. 

I'm not sure what the woman was so skeptical of unless she sensed impure motives by the woman speaker she'd recently listened to who had a book for sale. Maybe she wasn't impressed with her story. That's okay. She doesn't have to buy the book. 

A Writer's Life Needs Balance

(reprint of article from 2011)

As I have mentioned in this blog, writing is something I must do.  I write all the time, not always on paper or on the screen, but in my head. 

I gather information when I'm out and about,  and ponder how to turn it into an article. While working in the garden, doing chores or walking the dog, I write in my mind.  When I read something online, I want to write my own version, summarize it, or go off in a new direction from the idea sparked. 

Author Judith Couchman has a quote in her book Designing a Woman's Life, "Many competent women have a difficult time distinguishing between passion and workaholism."  She points out that a passion feeds you while addictiveness devours you. A passion brings out a fuller, happier person while addiction leads to discontentment and isolation.  She also hints that our passion can interfere with our spirituality when we put it ahead of God and nurture of our spiritual being.

Balance is Needed 

When you become a writer, it's hard to shut the thoughts off when they seem to be flowing from fingertip to screen so well.  Dinners have burned because I've spent time writing in between cooking.

I've spent way too many nights writing into the wee hours of the morning.  It's hard to say goodbye to imaginary characters or audiences for the night.  It's hard to resist sitting at the computer upon rising to do more writing.  

The Need to Get Work Done

When you become a freelance writer working from home, you need to get the work out or you'll have no income.  The more you write, the more you will sell and the more income you'll make.  It's easy, then, to become tied to your computer.

When you write at home, it's easy to become isolated.  And, as with any passion, it's easy to one day hate your passion for its inability to give back and meet your other needs.  In other words, when your written passion becomes an addiction, it can rob and cheat you.

What's the Remedy

So what's the remedy?  Writers must force themselves to build balance into their lives.  They must say no to the keyboard.  They must go and visit with family members.  They must get fresh air and exercise.  They must be involved in more than their writing if they want a balanced life.

How is your balance?

  

Gift Shops, Magazines, and Ezines

GIFT SHOP BROWSING

I just returned from a short trip that included a stop at a gift shop. There's something that may never change, and that is my love for visiting gift shops.  I'm a self-confessed gift-shop junkie.  

One area of the gift shop I'm always drawn to is the magazine racks.  There is a magazine for almost every subject!  Yes, of course, we can read all types of information on the Internet, but one thing magazines do is provide gorgeous glossy pictures.  I'm a visual learner and artist, and pictures draw me in. They show me on-trend decor.  They are where I find most of my ideas for decorating.  They teach how to complete a craft.  Pictures show great depictions of cities and tourist destinations, allowing us to imagine them better than printed descriptions ever could.

WRITING TO SELL

It is still tedious querying to write for a magazine, but I'm happy when articles I've written have been purchased and used in online magazines.  

Articles can be purchased through Constant Content by anyone in need of an article. That might include:  website managers, magazine publishers, newspaper editors, and bloggers. 

My articles can be purchased under my 

pen name Joy R. Calderwood 

at http://www.constant-content.com/

You Provide the Photos 

I provide the article, and you provide the gorgeous glossy photo!  This is a writer's marriage made in heaven.

Of course with all the web content available, in real life hard-copy magazine purchases have taken a dip.  You might have noticed the resulting compensating price increase.  (I paid almost $20 for a magazine recently). Freelancers, photographers and printing companies still need to earn money to stay viable. If you purchase from one, plan to pay fair market value.

In my opinion, no matter what's on the Internet, there will always be a place for magazines in gift shops. 

Just Write, Maybe Take a Course

When I hear of someone who likes to write or ponders becoming a writer, my advice is "just write."  Write regularly.  Write in a journal, write a blog, write into a computer document.

What do you write?  Most times, writing daily is a good way of purging the brain.  It's like venting on paper.  You write your feelings, inspiring thoughts, reinforcing affirmations, about your day, or about a topic of interest.

You don't have to have a result in mind when you write; not like at school where you write because you have to to get a mark.  It really doesn't matter what you write each day.  No one will be marking it!

An amazing thing occurs when you go back and read your notes.  Your notes may inspire you. They might become the basis for a blog or article.  They ground you.  They tell you how far you've come.

Compiled, your writing may become a good eBook one day.  All writing is valuable--either as a personal release or when used to help another person.

Another amazing thing is you get better at your craft if you develop it over time. I've been going back and editing old articles and sometimes I just shake my head. Some of them are lousy-looking now.

HOW TO IMPROVE

If you get to the point where you want to submit work, you will read submission guidelines. You might also read samples of work.  If the submission guidelines are thorough, you'll pick up tips of what not to do.  If you submit to an organization that screens the work, feedback from an editor may be helpful.

Courses have value that isn't necessarily obvious.  I took a copyediting course thinking I might grow the simple editing/proofreading business I had.  I learned that the editors in that organization edit to the "letter of the law."  They reference all types of "official" rule books that ongoingly change their rules.  To be an editor of that caliber takes far more commitment than I'm interested in.

But what was interesting was how the course helped me improve my writing. Through the lessons I learned things I'd never known.  I also used a critique coach.  I picked up a few things from her, although some other things she commented on were maddening.  In all these situations, I've learned to take away the good and dispose of the bad.  No writer needs to feel discouraged.  A lot of writing is subjective anyhow.  There are new ways of writing that old school writers may not embrace and pick you apart on in a critique.  Be wary, and test your gut reaction.  If God has called you to write something, do it.

Sometimes harsh critiques can force you to make harsh changes to your manuscript that are needed in a good way. Sometimes they push you to write as an effort to prove yourself.  Sometimes the critiques give you the impetus to move forward in spite of what you've been told.

Personally, I think there are too many wet blankets out there.  We are in an era of innovation.  Writers usually have a strong need to express themselves, like I am doing in this post.  If I worried about all my punctuation and proper phrasing all the time, I'd get no where.

So find expression.  Forget about perfectionism.  If your piece is to be bought, it will be bought.  If someone thinks it stinks, fine.  Let them have their opinion. Just do your best work, have fun, and go for it!