(no subject)

[cathschaffstump]

The more I write seriously (now, for example) I realize that it will, in fact, be very demanding to work, for all intentional purposes, two full time jobs. Sadly, we have to work one full-time job and not be paid for it for a long, long time.

You guys all know this. Writing takes a lot of hard work. It takes a very thick skin. It takes revising in ways you don't like. Sure, the rough draft is like crack, and there are magical and fun moments. Every job has these, it does.

I am learning more that there's a lot of sacrifice, a lot of self-analysis, a lot of hard knocks, and even a whole lot more rejection. There's a lot in there not to like, if you have a romanticized view of writers and what they do. This is probably the year where I'm peeling off my last romanticized layers, like a sunburn that's peeling after Labor Day.

I'm good. Deep inside every writer is someone who wants to get patted on the head, and it isn't all criticism and rejection. I'm just taking a page out of my friend komainu's book. Expect the worst. That way, when more than the worst happens, well, it'll delight you more. Unusual optimism in it's own way, I think.

Really, what I signed on to say was that I'm still editing. I thought that a treatise on hard work might be more interesting than just saying I'm working hard. :)

Catherine

Comments

[hermia7.livejournal.com]

One of my favorite quote about writing (which I think may be Hemingway, but I've read a million versions and who knows) is something like "Writing is easy. You just sit down at the typewriter and bleed."

I once had an editor at Fortune who, when I was sitting on his couch apologizing profusely for going through so many bad drafts on a tough story, said "I'd be worried about you if you weren't struggling. This is hard."

Don't beat yourself up, babe.

[dracschick.livejournal.com]

I agree. It feels as if I'm working two full-time jobs too.