Back off! Get your own Mt. Everest!

 Warning: This is a rant of sizematic proportions. Shield your eyes while you still can and click on the next blog you follow, because someone may lose an eye.

So, the other day, I’m just minding my own business when someone asks me the age-old question.

“How’s your book going, Stella?”

I have no problem getting asked this question. It makes me feel like someone out there cares that, in my spare time, I slave away at my laptop until my eyes feel like they’re going to catch on fire. I know for those who are not writers, or gainfully employed for that matter, it may seem ridiculous that the same novel has kept me occupied for the last five years of my life. I was in school for almost three of those years, okay?

Regardless, I gave this person the news on my WIP. I’m really close to being done final revisions now that the rewrite was completed in the spring, and that I’ve got a fancy new query letter. I hope to be done revisions and entering query land mid-August. I’m so excited at being so close, fingers crossed, to the end of this project I may just phone up my insurance company and tell them I forgive their blood-sucking ways.

The response?

“I hope you make some money off that thing or else you’ve just been wasting your time. “ Shakes head. “That book has been such a waste of time.”
….
….
Blink
….
….
Blink
….
….


Out comes the voice of the possessed Emily Rose. “Wasting my time? WASTING MY TIME????? WASTING! MY! TIME!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!”

*Stella attempts to breathe before she blacks out*

To all the confused, hateful trolls out there:

·         even if I never publish another word for the rest of my life,

·         even if my eyes spontaneously combust from staring at my computer screen,

·         even if the stack of post-it-notes and note books where I scribble dialog, thoughts, and plot arcs tips over  and falls on me like some Janga tower of Horatio Caine horrendousness and kills me,

·         even if the stories I write are stupid and terrible and as witty as a Beavis and Butthead skit,

I would still write!!!

So go find something you like doing and leave the rest of us alone!

I don’t write because I think I can make money off of it. I don’t write because I think I’m good at it. I do it because I love it.
I’ll say it again wearing 3D glasses so the people needing a bigger internet experience can feel it.



I DO IT BECAUSE I LovE IT!!!



I don’t understand why people feel the need to say this kinda shit. I have never thought of belittling another person’s hobby or pastime. What’s wrong with people?? ERRRRRRRRRRRRRRGG!

Ahem….sorry about the rant, but I do feel a little better now. J



Stella, out!!

Comments

I don't know why people do things like that -- and why it all has to be about the money. Somehow, I can't help but think there's a bit of spite in there, a (possibly subconscious) effort to make you feel foolish.

I am thinking of someone at work who always asks me the same thing whenever he remembers I'm an author. "Making any money?" My response is always, "I'm still working here, aren't I?"

He doesn't get it, and he drives me up the wall. But that's okay. I named a character after him in my latest WIP. (and not a good character)
Quillhill said…
Yeah, Beavis and Butthead are cool!

Writers also spend such time on novels to learn their craft. And, as you said, I don't make any money either, but I still write, because while writing I discover new things, make sense of life, and learn about myself.
Botanist said…
Next time, ask them how much money they made sat on their ass watching "Canadian Idol" (or whatever show seems relevant at the time) - the question has just as much meaning.
Stella Telleria said…
Thank you, all. I was really worked up about this comment becasue it came from a person I didn't expect it to. I'm alright now.

Follow me on Instagram

Popular Posts