THE WRITING LIFE:
FANTASY VS. REALITY

When friends and strangers find out that you are a writer, the picture that plays in their heads usually isn't grounded in the reality of the day-to-day grunt work required of those in the freelancing field.
Following is a list of some common misconceptions (F for fantasy), and the true-life episodes (R for reality), that we often encounter in our writing journeys.

F: "Wow, it must be exciting to meet and mingle with famous writers, huh?"
R: "With the exception of the rare interview of a major author or rubbing elbows at a writing seminar where said authors may be speaking, few of us get to experience this opportunity. More likely, we are scurrying around City Council meetings, chasing down facts and quotes, and/or banging our heads on our keyboards to ward off the dreaded writer's block."

F: "You are so lucky to be able to work from home and set your own hours!"
R: "If carving out a block of time to sit at your desk in peace, praying for those departed brain cells to return, between juggling the demands of spouse and children and other part time jobs, then, yes, it is nice."

F: "Isn't it wonderful to make lots of money just basically sitting at your computer all day?"
R: "Um, yes, that would be grand, but that assumption is akin to thinking that the town mayor only goes from event to event handing out keys to the city, with nothing else to fill his schedule. As for the amount of money we make in freelancing, let's just say the 'dues paying' phase is long and hard, and runs off many a talented writer."

F: "Do you get to work with fabulous editors of New York magazines and journals a lot?"
R: "There are established writers who develop relationships with said editors/publishers, but they are in the vast minority. Most of us sit sweating and waiting for our query letters to be answered, and hoping not to receive form rejection letters. On the up side, there are some very nice editors who take kindly to us little fish."

F: "What have you written; where can I find your books?"
R: "You can find clips of my work in XYZ magazine's February, 2000 issue, and the local paper's Letter to the Editor section, and I did get a few poems published on some nice web sites, but, no major famous books, YET."

F: "Is writing the coolest job you've ever had?"
R: "Yes it is. And it IS a job like many others where you have to work long hours, sometimes with little financial reward until you've worked your way up the ladder. But, I wouldn't change it for the world!"

Angie Ledbetter
© 2/10/01


NOTE: TO BE PUT ON WRITERS@WRITER-EXCHANGE WEB SITE (MAR. OR APRIL, 2001) AND INCLUDED AT END OF YEAR ANTHOLOGY!) SANDY CUMMINGS.