The Writing Life, Part. . .Whatever

[rolanni]

So, Steve is on his way to ReCONstruction, the Tenth Occasional North American Science Fiction Convention, in Raleigh, North Carolina.  I had planned to go, but decided to stay home and work on Ghost Ship, which was due on Sunday, and still 50 grand short of a book.

My couple days of being able to stay inside the book paid off in that I now know not only how the dern thing ends, but how it gets there — which is gratifying.  I’ve been alternating making notes with writing straight ahead, sentence structure be damned, with the goal of having a completed draft by the time I finish my vacation and go back to the day-job.  The logic here is that I can edit while the day-job is dinning in both ears, but lately I’ve been having a bad time writing, ditto.  I think I may be starting to crack under the sheer weight of numbers.

A while ago, one of my co-workers at the day-job asked me why I didn’t give up already with the “hobby” (that would be this), when it so plainly added a lot of stress to my life.  I explained that, in 2007 and 2008, I earned significantly more at my “hobby” than I earned at the day-job; and would have done in 2009, as well, had any one of two payments scheduled for late fall arrived then, instead of in the first quarter of 2010.  In 2010, I can’t tell yet which is winning, honest labor or hobby, because some scheduled payments are late.

You’re seeing the pattern here, right?  What the day-job has in its “pro” column are:  (1) on-time delivery of scheduled payments, and (2) affordable access to decent health care.

If I could get (2) any other way, the day-job and I would part company.  Mind you, I don’t like uncertain payments, but I have coping strategies, built over a decade of freelancing without a net, and years of occasional short rations previous to that.

Which brings us, roundabout, to the question of why people make art:  musician, writer, painter, sculptor — there are very few working artists who make very much money at their art, though some of us can pretty consistently manage a modest living (yes, I did say I earned more as a writer than as a secretary).  There is, of course, the Adulation of Millions, but most artists of my acquaintance are pretty realistic about that aspect of the work.

Many working artists who do have day-jobs consciously choose to stay at a “lower” level, in order to have time and space to practice their art.  I’ve made that decision myself, several times.  We’re not idiots, most of us; we know what a promotion and the attendant mission-creep will do to the time we have for our work.

So!  What have you  — yes, you — given up for your art?  Have you ever been tempted to give up your art?  Have you given up your art?  Do you regret it?  Tell all; inquiring minds want to know.

And!  The galley proofs for Carousel Tides have just landed in my in-box.

Originally published at Sharon Lee, Writer. You can comment here or there.

Comments

Health Care is the big thing

[(Anonymous)]

I feel your pain.

I gave up running my own business in favor of getting a job, specifically because of the cost of health care.

Re: Health Care is the big thing

[intuition-ist.livejournal.com]

i went the other way, for better or for worse. i actually have a degree in creative writing, but i also grew up poor and decided that twenty years of poverty was quite enough. i do kinda wonder what sort of writer i would have become...

[sleary.livejournal.com]

Oh goodness yes, to all of that. I've resisted promotions and other higher-paying opportunities, and have in fact changed jobs altogether once or twice to avoid more responsibility. Even so, I've had to let the art slide for weeks, and sometimes months, at a time. Doing so always makes me cranky and fretful, and it's SO hard to get back into the habit of writing regularly once I'm out of it.

Most recently, I more or less gave up fiction for six months so I could write a technical book. (The deadline didn't allow room for both, even if I could have fit it all in my head.) I thought the book needed to be written, and clearly no one else was going to fill that niche. I also figured the publishing experience would be valuable. It was: I learned I don't want to write another tech book. I also learned that giving up fiction for six months makes me unbearably cranky. Not doing that again.

Does "universal healthcare" help?

[amandamiller.livejournal.com]

I have ambiguous feelings about the government's intervention in health care, but one good would be if it actually helps people like you. Does it?

Re: Does "universal healthcare" help?

[enleve.livejournal.com]

Speaking as a Canadian, it does in Canada. People here are not forced to keep a job they don't want for fear of losing health care. Companies offer extra health care insurance for things not covered by the government system, for example paying for eyeglasses, so health benefits are still part of evaluating a job offer, but to a much much lesser extent.

Companies like it too. It levels the playing field, and costs less.

From my perspective it seems senseless and cruel that most Americans are one health-care crisis away from bankruptcy, and that many are locked into a kind of indentured servitude to keep access to health care, and that many aren't covered at all. The Canadian system is not perfect by any means, but when most of us look at the US system we're appalled.

[jelazakazone.livejournal.com]

My art is quilting. I gave it up for a while after my second child was born (read: 2 years).

For the past two years I've been struggling with how to work while my kids are around.

Part of the problem is that if I'm working on a quilt, I'm not much interested in anything else, including doing real cooking which makes everyone else cranky. Given that I'm not independently wealthy and other people rely on me to do things (ie, cook), I don't feel I can completely abdicate this responsibility.

[queenmaggie.livejournal.com]

I gave up my "art" for my integrity.
I played Queen Elizabeth for a ren Faire... and it could have escalated into a multi year gig, but the owner/producer asked me to take the place of the Artistic Director who she'd fired, in writing new scripts and organizing the entire court scenario. Plus, she lied about being a 501c3, and then claimed that I had maligned the company, when I'd only asked for the numbers so I could pay my taxes.
It broke my heart, particularly since the AD came back, and started working for her again. But I can hold my head high.

[kay-gmd.livejournal.com]

In case it helps you have my adulations.

I went the career route partially because I'm not driven to write, so I don't do it often. Lately it's been the occasional unfinished filk.

i just got hold of a science fiction story my Grandpa worked on, and I'm trying to gear up to see if I can use it as a jumping off point, but I'm also the main income for the family, so work's going to have to take front seat.

[saruby.livejournal.com]

Well, I can't say that I am an artist or any sort, but I gave up my career for my sanity, which has to count for something. I do miss the income, but I don't miss the stress and general wear and tear on my life.

I also want to say that I think anyone who calls art a "hobby" is just wrong, and frankly insulting. And stress for something you love is different from stress for something you put up with or loathe. Because the stress of something you love is mitigated by those moments of satisfaction when you know you've created something. Just sayin'.

[angela-n-hunt.livejournal.com]

I've given up adequate sleep. I miss that most of all.

I tried to quit. Once. Not anything I ever want to repeat. Nearly drove me insane, and I am not resorting hyperbole. Creating (writing, painting, photography, whatever) keeps me sane. The alternative is unacceptable. I visited that place. Never want to go back.

I only regret that I have to do a dayjob at all.

[keristor.livejournal.com]

Well, one of my arts is my career, I'm a programmer. But I too have given up promotions (in one case actually leaving the company becayse they wanted to promote me), because I'm a lot better programmer than I am a manager. That's why I'm now freelance (contract), because at my age almost all employers look at my seniority and want to put me in as project leader or whatever.

I also insist on a work/life balance so I have time for the other arts I do as a hobby. Although I wouldn't object to being paid for my other hobbies I wouldn't want to be tied to them as a contract, I like enjoying making music and so on when I want to rather than feeling that I have to do it.

[muehe.livejournal.com]

I am a programmer as well; I too think there is "art" in it.
But, at the same time I would never put myself in the same category as a writer, painter, or musician. So I was not going to say anything till I read your post.
I turned down promotions as well. Lately I have been doing less and less coding -- it sucks. But it has not reached a point where I have thought about changing jobs.

[claire774.livejournal.com]

Not an artist me unless working in animal welfare most of my adult life counts as art. But am wondering if there's any way that you can get ahold of those "scheduled payments" on schedule?

It seems a pity to me that a really great writer like yourself has to keep up a day job which it seems you don't really care for that much and which takes away from the writing.

Health care is, however, important as one grows older.

Wishing that the luck always swirls around you and your art.

[claire774.livejournal.com]

Ok. did it again. Misunderstood. The scheduled payments are from the day job. From the art: uncertain ones. Wishing you again all the Luck.

[otaku-tetsuko.livejournal.com]

I remember when I was in Basic and would scribble story (carefully) on folded toilet paper while pulling guard...for years I HAD to write, wasn't an option, sanity demanded it. Ditto creating costumes, fancy work, something with The Hands...

Life ate Art, but since becoming single again it has occasionally tried to lift itself from the grave...suffered a second death with Our Vicky, that really killed the urge for a good long while.

Now? Trying to find that place again. The Podette wants to do Cosplay, and I look at the designs and think, I could make that if I... And I have worked on my needlework several times. Not one new word on a story in longer than can be counted, however.

Depressing, ain't it? The good(?) news is, if the diagnoses ends up surgery and temporary disability again, I just might find the time...

But yeah, paying the mortgage and having the insurance for said possible surgery really does help so much...

[6-penny.livejournal.com]

Your day job colleague should look at your long list of published work before she makes insulting comments about 'hobbies'.
Reminds me of one of my aunts saying that my mother was 'so accomplished'(meant in the 19 century sense) ... mother was a very fine artist!

[mardott.livejournal.com]

Well, pfft! on your colleague. "Hobby," indeed!

I've had my own business for a few years now. When I first started writing seriously, business was good and I had to write in the evenings and on weekends. Now business is crappy and I have lots of time to write. I could put a lot more effort into finding clients... probably should. But I'd rather write. Anyway, writing, revising, and looking for an agent is a full-time job.

[(Anonymous)]

Hobby? What would they do if you called the day job a hobby, I wonder? (Yes, I'm evil today.)

OK, I managed to achieve a job in Astronomy, which seemed pretty impossible when I started out. Then I got bored, then I got worn down by politics and management and in general Stupid Stuff. If I were more Zen, I could put up with it longer and wait for the inevitable lay off.

What did I do instead? Open a bookstore.
:)
Wouldn't go back unless forced to by the economy.
Which might yet happen, sigh.
Lauretta@ConstellationBooks

[cailleuch.livejournal.com]

Decided long ago (and far away) that I wanted to be an artist rather than a lawyer. It was a big decision at the time because I was throwing my lot into the "not so much money" category. I made a choice to teach at a community college rather than the big U places that I have taught, because there was less commitment. I now teach my classes, do the usual other stuff called "reasonable load" and actually have some free time to do art. I also like the fact that I am teaching animation which is fun. There is politics, what school doesn't have that but not the do or die tenure crap -- my job is to teach 4 classes a semester period.

[ironore.livejournal.com]

If it makes any difference, I'm sure all your fans greatly appreciate your "hobby." I know I do.

[laurajunderwood.livejournal.com]

I have never been tempted to give up my "art" (or my "avocation" as one of my former editors at the newspaper called it when he saw signs in my old car advertising some of my stories in SWORD AND SORCERESS anthologies ages ago and decided to do a little newspaper promotion of my name).

I have been frustrated at how much time the day job requires of me. But like you, I need to pay bills, and I need the health insurance, and unfortunately, I have never been able to make more as a writer than I have at my day job.

I am content to be one of the small fish at times (until I see a big fish who really doesn't deserve to be in the limelight, and then it gets frustrating again...).

And I am practical enough to remember the words of one of my old writing teachers--"It takes time to become an overnight success..."

So I have decided that I am like a slow burning star rather than a meteor or a comet. I will be there long after the bright one flashes across the sky, and eventually someone will remember my name. ;-)

Laura J. Underwood (whose novel WANDERING LARK, book 2 of The Demon-Bound Duology is FINALLY scheduled to be released from Yard Dog Press in September 2010)

[rolanni.livejournal.com]

Funny story -- I know you appreciate gallow's humor...

We had dinner in Toronto with Jim Minz and a bunch of other Baen authors. The gentleman across from me was asking after the Saga of Meisha Merlin and I gave him the first half-dozen stanzas, including that MM had gone out of business owing Steve and me (at least) forty grand in back royalties.

My dinner partner turns to Editor Minz, on my right and says, "Forty Thousand Dollars! The royalties on my book are nothing near that!"

Jim produces this wonderful, world-weary sigh, perfected I'm sure over many years of dealing with writers, and says, "They had ten books in back list. Do the math."

[laurajunderwood.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love it...