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"You can't make a living writing." Really?

Many parents should mortgage, re-mortgage and sell of properties just to get their kids through college. My parents did the same thing and in exchange for a law degree. With that, it’s natural for them to expect me to make something out of it. Hence, when I pounced on them with the news that “I am going to write for a living…on the Internet…not with a magazine, not with a newspaper, not with a renowned financial or law journal…but on the Internet”, my parents cried themselves to sleep every night for months on end.
It’s natural for people to think that creative people are bound for the less-trodden hard-traveled road of poverty. Writing is a passion, as with acting, singing and painting. You’ll never and should never (according to some obscure, source-unknown folklore out there…it’s the X-files we’re talking about there) expect immediate return. If your writing brings you financial security, you better start thanking your lucky stars!
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Anonymous said…
Same as me. My parents so worried I'll end up as a drug addict or alcoholic when they saw that I was very passionate about being a Musician and Singer.

"You cant earn a living doing that. You crazy ah??" Those were their words.

Today...they not only had to eat their words...that are actually so proud of me.

killer
May 31, 2008 at 12:50 AM
Marsha Maung said…
killer, the point is not to prove them wrong but the point is to prove that we are right. That it can be done! It's possible and we've got the patience to do it.

And you and I know how much time it takes to completely one practise and perfect one song, rite? and the people sit there and listen to it five minutes and then they either clap or boo,right? behind all of that is alot of hard work.

and that's what makes the creative world tick.
May 31, 2008 at 1:42 AM
Anonymous said…
I'm glad to hear you post this because I'm *trying* to make it work myself. There have been offers...and haggles as well!

Thanks for inspiring the newbies...
June 6, 2008 at 3:59 AM
Anonymous said…
Sorry for the Anon above - it's really different surfing from the "great wall" of China. I couldn't sign in with my Blogger account.

KittyCat - http://apregnantpause.net
June 6, 2008 at 4:01 AM
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