Friday, February 21, 2014

Many writing illusions shattered

When we write or type that first word, lots of writing illusions are hanging around our eyes. There are visions of writers signing glossy copies of books, agents at their beck and call, editors gushing over our stories, fat cheques in the bank, reviewers praising us and readers buying the books the moment they reach the bookshelves and ofcourse movie rights.

Its when we start going deeper into the story we realize that neither writing a book nor getting it published are easy. Every rosy illusion is shattered big time. That too into tiny pieces. Here are few:

1.     Writing is Easy. It’s anything but easy. Anybody who believes that, has definitely not struggled with  troublesome characters, tricky knots in plots, nailing the voice and  truant muses. They have not stared at blank pages and screens for long periods of time, nor have they struggled with several edits and cringed over criticism from crit partners.
2.     Getting a book Published is not Difficult.  People who think like that live on another planet. Getting a book published is more difficult than actually writing it. Manuscripts sit in the slush pile, agents are more elusive than a rainbow and editors are highly choosy about the manuscripts they accept. Even after a manuscript is accepted there are the harsh edits to wade through.
3.     Writing can be a career option by itself. This is the worst illusion because people have not seen a writer’s royalty or advance cheques. Bills cannot be paid through the income one makes from one’s book/s unless the  book wins a big prize or sells a million copies or our book is made into a movie. Most writers have a day job and writing is restricted to the free hours or late night.
4.     Once a book is out, the next one is accepted faster. This is another illusion that needs to be broken. Unless the second book is a part of a series, its not easy to get it published if the first one was a standalone book. With every book writers must prove themselves and the story must catch the editor’s and agent’s eye.
5.     Writers live a glamorous life. We wish. Most people think we writers live a glamorous life, where agents and editors are standing outside our doors waiting for our completed manuscripts, where people are hanging onto our words. If only. Writing is absolutely unglamorous. If people could see us typing furiously or scribbling hard, the mess constantly surrounding us, the irritated expression on our faces at the thousand and one distractions we have to battle, and the hundred  things vying for  our attention, they would  surely  think differently. Most people have not witnessed the tormented expressions on our faces when we deal with tantrum throwing characters and unruly muses.

Writers have a lot of imaginary friends: these people live in our minds. We have more books than people have shoes and purses.  All our free time goes into jotting down words. I know I have been guilty of shattering illusions that many newbie writers have of a writer's life, perhaps I have even marred them for life. I am just bringing them face to face with reality. Have any of your writing illusions been shattered? Did you have any illusion when you started this journey? Please share them with us.



18 comments:

  1. Harsh realities, well narrated, Rachna:) Am yet to cross the bridge so no fears as of now:)

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  2. I think these are the harsh realities we should be aware of. I'm glad I haven't quit my day job and wouldn't if I got a book contract because I probably wouldn't make much and if the book doesn't do spectacularly it could be hard to get published again. Writing is a labor of love for most of us.

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  3. Not only writing, but every profession on this earth has it's ups and downs. People try to search (in vain) for that IDEAL career, all throughout their lives!

    While I agree that making a life writing novels (alone) is extremely difficult, there are always other types of writing a novelist can indulge on the side for a living (freelance copywriting, for example). Who knows, the skills picked up learning copywriting might become very useful in a novel too!

    But, there are many people who are full-time novelists and earn a lot of money. It definitely takes a long time or exceptional skills, but it's like that in every profession.

    Destination Infinity

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  4. Fortunately I wasn't too delusional when I began this journey.
    That's right folks - it's a glamorous life hunched over that keyboard!

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  5. Like Alex, I wasn't too full of illusions about a writing career -- which is why I didn't choose it for a career when I was younger. I wrote through all the years of teaching (and loved teaching--I still teach art one day a week); but I didn't start writing full time until I retired. The key is to keep writing whatever your day job is. Besides, writers need material for their stories. It's good to have a life outside the computer. :-)

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  6. I think we all start out with dreams about what could be, but it doesn't take long for reality to set in. The first critique I got from an online site was very eye-opening.

    Mood
    Moody Writing

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  7. I suffered from delusions for so many centuries, I would win the prize. And just to think on some of those delusions turns my scales even redder. It's easy to think all published writers have large bank accounts and houses near the beach...until you learn the truth.

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  8. Yeah, I thought writing would be way easier than this. lol.

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  9. Writing is NOT for the faint-hearted...

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  10. Hi friends, most of my writing illusions were shattered when I started searching for publishers. And the rest of the illusions were shattered by royalty cheques and my muse :(

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  11. I agree about the second book. I think a series is a great way for a writer to kick start their career. Then go for the stand alone novels after that.

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  12. Writing is not for the weak of heart, that's for sure. Great post.

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  13. Ah, the writer's life is not all sunshine and roses as some think. I find most who think this way have never written and cannot grasp the amount of work it takes.

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  14. Hollywood certainly doesn't help with the false writer image! It's not as easy as Carrie Bradshaw staring into space, taking a drag of her cigarette, and typing the perfect, no-need-for-revision sentence, and then as a reward heading to Manolo Blahnik to buy two pairs of shoes. If only!

    Happy reading and writing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines

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  15. Like anything, happiness comes only if you let it in. You could be a rich lawyer, famous doctor, or talented rockstar, but that won't keep you from being depressed. It always helps me to remember that I'm a human-being first, and a writer second. I'd rather be a good person than an awesome writer:)

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  16. I remember when I first had a few things published I thought I'd made it and things would be easier after that.

    It's OK to laugh. I've long since accepted how wrong I was.

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  17. Years ago, I was a delusional eighteen-year-old submitting her work. You summed everything up correctly.

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