"Writing? What can you do with that? How can you make a living off of writing?" Questions like these plague many writers, or aspiring ones. When I was looking for colleges, a lot of people asked me how I expected to make a living off of creative writing, something I definitely have a huge interest in.
Person: Writing? You can't make a living off of that.
Me: Well, I'm planning on going to grad school after that, most likely to get a Master's in Library Science.
Person: You have to go to grad school to be a librarian? What do you do, take classes on the Dewey Decimal System?
Me: -__-
Of course, after rediscovering my interest in archaeology and anthropology, I still dealt with these questions. "What do you do with a double major in English and Anthropology?!" There are jobs that I can get with both majors, or at least, that's the impression I'm under (although, I do admit that the song "What Do You Do With a B.A. in English?" from Avenue Q does worry me a little bit). People seem to think that I think that right off the bat after graduating from college, I'm going to suddenly become the next J.K. Rowling. Or that I think writing always pays that well.
I know that chances are, I will not make as much money as J.K. Rowling, and that not everyone can make a living only off of writing Young Adult fiction. But it is not the money I am after when I say that I want to be an author. It is the impact I might have on someone else's life through my writing.
All through my life, books have helped me get through hardships. By being able to escape into the world of Tamora Pierce's books, I was able to find somewhere to cope with my friends' struggles against self mutilation and/or suicidal tendencies. My best friend in third grade while I tried adjusting to a new elementary school and being labeled as "weird" and "uncool" by my peers was my boxed set of the Chronicles of Narnia. Books like Fight Club have given me somewhere where I can relate to characters frustrated with something in their lives, and others have left me feeling inspired and feeling much less helpless about issues in the world. Others made me aware of things. For instance, Patricia McCormick's SOLD has made me want to get active in raising awareness to the fact that modern day slavery still exists and many girls are being forced into prostitution in brothels around the world.
Words are powerful. With a single poem, I can make people gain insight into the way my mind works.With a few words I could make you laugh until you snort, or be so upset you can not cry, if I'm writing effectively. I can make you stand on your seats screaming for a cause.
By writing a book (that is currently a work in progress for me) about self mutilation from a cutter's younger sister's point of view, I'm hoping to give people who have problems with self mutilation an idea of how their behavior DOES hurt others besides themselves, and I'm hoping it will provide friends and family of self mutilators someone they can relate to. I want to raise awareness to the problems that cutting has.
People use words all the time, and someone must have written those words. Words have been used since the invention of language to express one's ideas, and to protest things. The rallying cries of "We Shall Overcome" fueled the Civil Rights Movement, "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" inspired colonists to fight for freedom from England, "Love Is Love" has become a refrain heard throughout the GLBT movement, and "Support Our Troops" is seen everywhere to show how we really do support our troops as they fight for us overseas.
Words have changed my life. I want to be able to say my words have changed someone else's life, maybe even the world. But I'll start at baby steps. One person at a time, I hope my words can have an effect on things the way others' words have had an effect on me and entire generations, nations and populations.
Well, even Meg Cabot, a very accomplished author who has written lots more books than JKR says that you should have a second job. You'll face a lot of rejections, and not a lot of compensation for your time and effort if you want to exclusively be a writer. F Paul Wilson, a fairly well known sci-fi/horror writer actually went to medical school and started his residency before he became a full-time writer. And some of his books show it pretty well.
My sister wants to be like you, I think. She loves to read, and she loves to write. I think she's only going for an associate's degree, though, so she can work in the library. Not exactly sure what the requirements out where she lives are, but she loves it and will be happy to spend all her time writing if she could.
~C
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From the sounds of your intentions you have what it takes to be a successful writer. Stephen King -- I'm sure plenty of other writers have said the same thing -- said a writer shouldn't be writing for the money. A writer should write because they enjoy writing. It is true that you probably won't make enough money to cover the basic necessities of life unless you are fortunate enough like Stephen King or J.K. Rowling and you will need a second job -- or more of a primary job and writing being your second job. Your intentions are sincere and I say go for it, forget the negative comments from what others have said about writing and go with it. If it's your passion and if it makes you happy, power to ya!
“Words are sacred. They deserve respect. If you get the right ones, in the right order, you can nudge the world a little.” – Tom Stoppard
Particularly when one is working for social change or advocacy, writing is SUCH a powerful mode of communication. It's kind of a lost art, don't you think? Except on us. :)
"Goodness is the only investment that never fails."
H.D.Thoreau http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/sahara
Look up this book: Writing to Change the World. I don't know who it's by because I don't have the book handy, but it's a female author. It's a nice inspirational book about writing that I look at sometimes. It gives me that warm fuzzy feeling so I feel like I actually could write to change the world.
~ *~
This is a signature, an automated thingy that pops up when I comment, not a demand to see my blog!
Mind Control is Easier Than You Think
Wow, we have the same dream! The author part, not the librarian part, never thought of that! I think my AADD might get in the way of working in a library, not the author part.......heehee... I have myself, though, always wanted to be a writer, even wrote 2 children's books.....FYI: figure out some way to illustrate your book yourself if need be. When I was 23 yrs. old, I wrote my first children's book and the illustrations were to be a big part of the contents. I felt my drawing skills weren't sufficient enough to fulfill what I had visioned in my head, so instead of trying, I sent the original to my sister in FL so she could illustrate per my instructions........and she lost it! Before I could get anything else done, after I found out, I had lost my only copy. Then I lost interest (raising kids can sometimes send you down another path, out of necessity) and now, some 30 years later I'm trying to pick up the pieces and go back to school so my interest is peeked again. No matter what.....don't let even the children, keep you from writing and writing what you feel. Someone told me one time, write what you feel, everyday, even if it doesn't sound right to you, don't tear it out and don't erase it, save it for another day! Lick that bone!
You said "Lick that bone" and I totally forgot what I was going to say in exchange for the giggles...Thanks
Love is like a box of chocolates; if you chose wisely you won’t be disappointed and have to spit it out. ~T
Beautifully written. Words mean everything. I gave up writing along time ago because of someone's negative words. I gave up on alot of things. Since then I recalled two important people in my life who told me never to give up and never to listen to anyone's negativity. I am now writing again and reaching for my other goals I once gave up on. ~angi~
:) I love to write as well, and the hope of effecting change is one of my main motivations for writing. I think the best way to do that is to share stories that expose your mind, spirit and soul in a way that is accessible to people--so don't give up! As long as you have those three things (which you do) you can accomplish the most important goals of writing.
I respectfully suggest, however, that you shouldn't major in English if you want to be a writer. I know it seems like the logical choice for writers since English is superficially about, well, writing. But I really think the focus is more on literary analysis, and I think that's totally different and not actually as helpful for writers. Personally, I think the best way to hone your writing is to go out there and learn about and experience other things, people, places, and ideas (all the nouns, basically? haha). Majoring in anthropology is one way to do that--the things you experience (and i don't mean just academically--emotionally, spiritually, etc) will give you more fuel for writing than just staying in the English department among the literary-critic types.
I'm really not trying to be disparaging, and the English department is a great place to go for opportunities to use your writing skills and interact with fellow writers, hopefully. But I think also majoring in something else at least is also a good idea.
:) Keep writing! That this blog was interesting and well-written enough to make me comment is indication that you're not doing too badly in that department. :)
Follow your heart and don't let anyone stop you! :)
Happiness is Key.
Your words are already powerful.
Love your blog.