Times are hard for everyone, particularly for the struggling writer. The creative community may be feeling the pinch more than others, but we are all hurting.
It is very frightening. I spent two years researching The Great Depression for a novel I wrote. After two more years and six rewrites, the economic meltdown began. Are you really prepared for it? Unlike the children of the 30's who did without, they know about sacrifice. We come from a generation of the Quick Fix, Instant Gratification, and we may not be able to give up "so much". Should this turn into another Depression, life as we once knew it, will only be a memory printed in the history books. We certainly haven't learned from history, so it has repeated itself, as it has since time began.
I am already feeling the pinch and tightening my belt hurts. My rent has doubled, prices on just about everything continue to soar, and my dreams of retiring early and living modestly off my books was just that....a dream, thanks to this crisis. But I will never give up on my dream. It would be wonderful to go to the job you love the most and make a living from it...."Writing". I'll keep the dream alive, without it, hope ceases to exist. And we are lost.
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How right you are! We are not in as bad a shape as our predecessors and I don't know if we could take that. Wonderful write and mirror of the present day.
Mary
In regards to Stan, you don't know this writer, but I do! He is a very kind, sympathetic, hard working person who is trying to realize a dream, while trying to work and pay his bills like the rest of us. He's not going to write about sex, smut, etc. just to sell a book. He has more character than that! You have no idea how tough his life is, but I do and I resent that you would judge someone that you don't know? If his letters are to large for you, so what! It's called, trying to sell your product and using whatever is available to you to do so. It's very expensive these days to hire someone to get your product on the market and if you know anything about writing, you would know that?
My dad and mom lived through the depression, had 6 kids, no extra money and we made it. I am more fortunate than others, but too have lost half our retirement income, but at least I have a home and food on the table and hope that things will change and that we don't end up like the story in his book. I've never forgotten where I came from and can show empathy for those who are struggling. It's not called "feeling sorry" for yourself. It's just facing the facts of living from paycheck to paycheck.
I know exactly what he is trying to say in his book and I can see where this country is going to and it's scary. I'm not a writer, but I personally know how much of himself he has put into this new book, along with much research. It has been a labor of love, so don't shoot him down for wanting it to succeed?
I admire him for sticking to his principals and not writing about "smut" just to sell a book. He's sticking to his principals and shouldn't be chastised for it by someone who doesn't even know him. I know this is a forum where you can post comments, you have posted yours and I'm doing the same.
A Kind Friend, Linda
Unfortunately that single mother with the 14 kids that you are talking about DOESN'T FIT INTO OUR CATEGORY of being IN THE DEPRESSION.
As you all know she went on Dr. Phil's show and Dr. Phil (the one who supposedly know it all) had helped her to get round the clock nurses, nanny, a new house, a new car...whatever you can name it. I DO NOT SYMPATHIZE with a user of tax payer money. I'm sorry! She could have thought about the situation before she went on to have another 8 kids. She's a shithead of a person, and shit mother for her children who deprived her children of a wonderful dad.
Her selfish behavior is written all over her face. Now she can dance, because she's got all the help she can get and a new house and new car for herself!!! ...and you sympathize a person like that?????
Sandie Angel
Writing is a privilege and pleasure, like any art form. If you want to make money then write junk. Lots of murder, explicit sex, a good dose of sadism. Don’t forget swearwords and smut. Make it nice and vulgar and your money will roll in. Otherwise, if you think you’ve got it tough then, well, try being a single mother with a couple of kids (no, not 8 or 14, just a couple). Then you will see what tough is really like.
Cheer up; stop feeling sorry for yourself. You are among the few who, hopefully, are endowed with a gift. That’s reward enough. And don’t forget, Mozart died a pauper.
Stan
PS. If you want me (or possibly anyone) to read your AD page, then reduce the letters by 300%. I just had two cataract operations and you don’t need to boost your ego by using extra-large lettering. Good luck.
Everything that you have said is so true. Who would have thought a year ago that we would be going through this in our "great country?" No one knows where it's going and it's scary as we don't know what the future holds for any of us. What you have written has effected all of us, some more than others and for a writer, such as yourself, it's got to be extra hard! Hold on to your dream though and don't give up!
Your friend,
Linda