#IWSG–Am I getting too old?
This post is for Alex Cavanaugh’s Insecure Writers Support Group (click the link for details on what that means and how to join. You will also find a list of bloggers signed up to the challenge that are worth checking out like Rebecca who inspired me to begin). The first Wednesday of every month, we all post our thoughts, fears or words of encouragement for fellow writers.
This month’s insecurity – Am I getting too old?
I remember three years ago–when I finally (huzzah!) found an agent
who loved my books as much as I did
–thinking I didn’t have a lot of time left before I wouldn’t want to write anymore. I’m assuming at a certain point in aging, that fire in my gut turns to coal and is no longer a passion to write, rather a job. I’m assuming age will precipitate that if not something else.
Three years ago, I found an agent and did the math:
it takes two-three years to bring a book to the shelves after it’s selected
it takes at least a year–probably two–to write a book. In my case, that’s more like five years, but I figured I’d write faster now that I had an advocate
that means three-four years for each book
I had maybe ten more years of writing in my fingers
When events caused my agent and I to part ways
(amicably–I still adore him), it was with mixed feelings. Sure, I’d lost a megaphone for announcing me to the literary world, but I’d gained an accelerated production timeline. Self-pubbing is a lot faster than traditional. I won’t get into goods and bads of that, just the cold hard facts that a self-pubbed book can hit the market much faster than any traditional house.
And still, I’ve made no progress. I’ve published quite a few non-fic, but not my WIP.
When am I too old?
Is it really about satisfying my need to tell a story and not about making a living? Will it satisfy me if my book succeeds and provides security to my children?
I have no idea. Anyone been there?
More IWSG articles:
Am I good enough? Does it matter?
When does technical become boring
Jacqui Murray is the author of dozens of books (on technology in education) as well as the popular Building a Midshipman , the story of her daughter’s journey from high school to United States Naval Academy. She is webmaster for six blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice book reviewer, a columnist for Examiner.com and TeachHUB, Editorial Review Board member for Journal for Computing Teachers, monthly contributor to Today’s Author and a freelance journalist on tech ed topics. In her free time, she is editor of technology training books for how to integrate technology in education. Currently, she’s editing a techno-thriller that should be out to publishers next summer.
Filed under: writers, writing Tagged: insecure writers group, iwsg, writers
