Poor middle class writers
Whenever I read articles like this one, I decide that it’s time to open my wooden case and take out the world’s smallest violin: My book deal ruined my life.
The journalist decided that he was going to find every gag-inducing walking cliche of a writer and scribble down as they bitch and moan about how their lives have been ruined— devastated, I dare say! — ever since they decided to become writers.
The worst of the bunch:
Yet, still, the dreamers dream. Brendan Sullivan, 25, moved to New York after studying creative writing at Kenyon College in Ohio.
He hasn’t landed a book deal for his novel, but is determined to find a publisher. “Writing has ruined my life and cost me many, many girlfriends,†he wrote in an e-mail. “I have thrown away several careers and one college degree to spend my time working in bars, D.J.’ing in bars and drinking my rejection letters away. I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy, and I’ve made many of them since I started …. I also abandoned my agent with words harsher than those I’ve saved for lost loves.â€Â
Mr. Sullivan has held 27 jobs to support his writing career, from selling chapstick on the street to being a night guard in an art gallery (“That was my favorite job ever, because I just sat in a chair and read novels all day,†Mr. Sullivan added.)
via nick
And here I had never regarded writing as a very difficult career, but to hear some of this, it sounds like making it as a writer is about as difficult as making it as a rock star. Am I the only one who thinks you should pursue a more steady career and write on the side until you’re “discovered”?
Yeah definitely, hence my career as a journalist. Not that I ever want to become a full-time novelist, it seems like it would be boring. I’ve developed a liking for nonfiction writing, so fiction will likely mostly remain as a side-income type of thing.