Remarkable insights into the various labyrinthine paths and personal contortions would-be writers go through when they aim high but encounter illusory monetary and personal payoffs. It’s gotta be a really tough life trying to make a living as a writer, or more than that, make big bucks. Very few can do that, I have come to believe. And the whole writing industry is undergoing seismic changes.
I wrote for a living for years as a reporter and editor at small town newspapers. Every newspaper reporting job involves the lowest of pay, but it succeeds in drawing in talented writers because journalism types as a general rule are inquisitive, well read, and, early in their careers, highly idealistic, as I most certainly was. The last thing I thought about was my salary as long as I could pay the rent. I always had the opportunity to write a weekly column, which was my outlet for a modicum of creative expression. Later with the coming of the Internet, and after I had left the newspaper profession, I turned to an online writing community that over years became a life-affirming and totally satisfying outlet for my personal essays. The 30-50 regular readers I had, who always left highly thoughtful notes, gave me the feeling I craved of fulfillment in writing, over reaching others on a deep level. That was never possible before the Internet.
So for years I had a career separate from my writing that paid the bills. Late at night the personal essays flowed out. They still do. It’s not anything to do with money. I have a small but dedicated readership. That’s all I want. Writing some kind of bestseller seems preposterous to me. The personal essay was and always will be the only type of writing I care to do.
I look forward to delving into a Part 2 of your series on the writing life.
Thanks for this look into your writing past. 🙂 Very interesting to hear a bit about your journey. I continue to struggle with wanting to make a decent wage from writing and writing for the enjoyment of it. Building community is another aspect that I'm just starting to appreciate...although I think it's a resurgence of appreciation rather than a new experience. I did a lot of online journaling when I was younger and read many personal and hobby blogs, and the sense of community there was strong. I feel like Substack is enabling some of that to return, and I'm starting to find others on the platform who, like you, share my love of writing and aren't in it for the big payout.
Very true. There is nothing to equal the heartfelt, deeply perceptive and relatable feedback from members of a writing community. I never got any of that in my newspaper writing days. The main compliment back then was when a story came out and no one called to complain about it, which fortunately never happened to me, so I must have been doing something right. :)
I'm blessed to have that as part of an online writing community where I'm a team member and contributor/editor. We have a very tight-knit team that feels like a group of friends, and the interactions between writers are genuine. I appreciate getting edits on the pieces I put through the workflow and know I've become a better writer as a result!
Glad you’re enjoying, Kyle! I think a lot of this is common among creators. There’s a persistent background sense that something isn’t right about the system, but many of us feel like we can’t escape it.
I hear you loud and clear...and in many, many ways...I have traveled the same frustrating roads as you. It is not simple to embrace the truth in the heart and have enough courage to be that person. I'm looking forward to reading your part II!
It’s an ongoing journey, Jack! So many voices and forces conspire against us doing what we ought. And it’s often disillusioning: we grow up being told we can do or be whatever we want, but the older we get, the stronger the pressure to confirm or be pigeonholed becomes. And if we enter into the creator economy, it’s drilled into us that we have to niche down or risk utter failure.
But it’s those I know who have embraced their inherent talents and passions that are seeing the best results, both personally and professionally.
FINALLY got to read this! I can resonate with a lot of your journey, and a great job capturing it! Off to read part two. <3
Love this! :)
Remarkable insights into the various labyrinthine paths and personal contortions would-be writers go through when they aim high but encounter illusory monetary and personal payoffs. It’s gotta be a really tough life trying to make a living as a writer, or more than that, make big bucks. Very few can do that, I have come to believe. And the whole writing industry is undergoing seismic changes.
I wrote for a living for years as a reporter and editor at small town newspapers. Every newspaper reporting job involves the lowest of pay, but it succeeds in drawing in talented writers because journalism types as a general rule are inquisitive, well read, and, early in their careers, highly idealistic, as I most certainly was. The last thing I thought about was my salary as long as I could pay the rent. I always had the opportunity to write a weekly column, which was my outlet for a modicum of creative expression. Later with the coming of the Internet, and after I had left the newspaper profession, I turned to an online writing community that over years became a life-affirming and totally satisfying outlet for my personal essays. The 30-50 regular readers I had, who always left highly thoughtful notes, gave me the feeling I craved of fulfillment in writing, over reaching others on a deep level. That was never possible before the Internet.
So for years I had a career separate from my writing that paid the bills. Late at night the personal essays flowed out. They still do. It’s not anything to do with money. I have a small but dedicated readership. That’s all I want. Writing some kind of bestseller seems preposterous to me. The personal essay was and always will be the only type of writing I care to do.
I look forward to delving into a Part 2 of your series on the writing life.
Thanks for this look into your writing past. 🙂 Very interesting to hear a bit about your journey. I continue to struggle with wanting to make a decent wage from writing and writing for the enjoyment of it. Building community is another aspect that I'm just starting to appreciate...although I think it's a resurgence of appreciation rather than a new experience. I did a lot of online journaling when I was younger and read many personal and hobby blogs, and the sense of community there was strong. I feel like Substack is enabling some of that to return, and I'm starting to find others on the platform who, like you, share my love of writing and aren't in it for the big payout.
Very true. There is nothing to equal the heartfelt, deeply perceptive and relatable feedback from members of a writing community. I never got any of that in my newspaper writing days. The main compliment back then was when a story came out and no one called to complain about it, which fortunately never happened to me, so I must have been doing something right. :)
I'm blessed to have that as part of an online writing community where I'm a team member and contributor/editor. We have a very tight-knit team that feels like a group of friends, and the interactions between writers are genuine. I appreciate getting edits on the pieces I put through the workflow and know I've become a better writer as a result!
Well-written, Sam! Looking forward to part 2. A lot of this resonates with me as well.
Glad you’re enjoying, Kyle! I think a lot of this is common among creators. There’s a persistent background sense that something isn’t right about the system, but many of us feel like we can’t escape it.
I hear you loud and clear...and in many, many ways...I have traveled the same frustrating roads as you. It is not simple to embrace the truth in the heart and have enough courage to be that person. I'm looking forward to reading your part II!
It’s an ongoing journey, Jack! So many voices and forces conspire against us doing what we ought. And it’s often disillusioning: we grow up being told we can do or be whatever we want, but the older we get, the stronger the pressure to confirm or be pigeonholed becomes. And if we enter into the creator economy, it’s drilled into us that we have to niche down or risk utter failure.
But it’s those I know who have embraced their inherent talents and passions that are seeing the best results, both personally and professionally.