Remember the Day Job

Remember the Day Job

It’s not anything that writers don’t already know. The writing life isn’t as glamorus as most people (who don’t do it for a living) think it is. An interesting column from British publication, The Guardian: “By all means, write, if you enjoy it,” writes columnist John Crace. “But, if you value your sanity – and that of any readers – keep it to yourself. Keep the dream; just don’t give up the day job.”

A new poll just released says that more Britons dream of becoming writers. However, most come to the profession without considering the realities, says Crace. “It’s not even as if writing is that glamorous. You sit alone for hours on end honing your deathless prose, go days without really talking to anyone and, if you’re very lucky, within a year or so you will have a manuscript that almost no one will want to read. Your friends and family will come to dread requests for constructive feedback – which they know really means just saying, “This is far better than Amis or McEwan” – and if, by some small chance, you do land a book deal you will spend the week of publication wondering why your book isn’t piled up at the front of Waterstones and why you haven’t even picked up a single, measly review in the local paper.”