Hello everyone,
I'm back at an ongoing crossroads in my life where I am breaking out as a freelance writer after years as an academic. I now make my money another way - through doing up houses, something I've been working towards for years and am now making a decent living from. So I know I can manage and develop another career alongside my writing (one that is a damn sight more creative than contemporary university life, sorry.... to anyone in it....). I am however finishing a long academic book which I have been writing for 6 years. I want to leave a book behind which shows what I learned and how I developed as a writer and reader when I was in it; hopefully some students will like it in the future. I've written and published a book of poems this last year, and next I would like to try a novel (my third; two are unpublished but at least I tried!).
Anyway, who knows how this will all pan out? I obviously don't get up every day thinking I'm good enough, nor that it will be plain sailing! Also I've been at this point for so long it's getting boring, and driving my friends mad too I expect.
But I've been planning my next move, and sorting out the finances, and all that, so that's taken time.
I just asked the Yi a (deceptively) simple question: What is my future as a writer?
Answer 22.6-36.
I thought this was an interesting answer. It's about form, grace, and I guess artwork. It's also about obscurity (my current situation - noone reads my stuff and I'd like to change that!) I felt like it was saying: focus unpretentiously on the craft, and slowly you will find your way from obscurity towards the light of day.
But I always think again when I read responses on here. I don't have the distance and can be far too literal. Any thoughts are very much appreciated. Thank you.
Happy January,
Gael
I'm back at an ongoing crossroads in my life where I am breaking out as a freelance writer after years as an academic. I now make my money another way - through doing up houses, something I've been working towards for years and am now making a decent living from. So I know I can manage and develop another career alongside my writing (one that is a damn sight more creative than contemporary university life, sorry.... to anyone in it....). I am however finishing a long academic book which I have been writing for 6 years. I want to leave a book behind which shows what I learned and how I developed as a writer and reader when I was in it; hopefully some students will like it in the future. I've written and published a book of poems this last year, and next I would like to try a novel (my third; two are unpublished but at least I tried!).
Anyway, who knows how this will all pan out? I obviously don't get up every day thinking I'm good enough, nor that it will be plain sailing! Also I've been at this point for so long it's getting boring, and driving my friends mad too I expect.
But I've been planning my next move, and sorting out the finances, and all that, so that's taken time.
I just asked the Yi a (deceptively) simple question: What is my future as a writer?
Answer 22.6-36.
I thought this was an interesting answer. It's about form, grace, and I guess artwork. It's also about obscurity (my current situation - noone reads my stuff and I'd like to change that!) I felt like it was saying: focus unpretentiously on the craft, and slowly you will find your way from obscurity towards the light of day.
But I always think again when I read responses on here. I don't have the distance and can be far too literal. Any thoughts are very much appreciated. Thank you.
Happy January,
Gael