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What would really happen if you hit it big as a writer?
I've often been accused of a lack of imagination, since when asked this sort of question I tend to answer with "Buy a car. Fix the holes in my walls. Get a new computer. Fix my fence. Sit on the rest, and keep writing."Glad to know I'm not the only person who thinks that having a bankroll doesn't mean you should immediately head out and turn into a money-spewing playboy. XD
My dream is to own a community style apartment building that I could mostly finance myself and then let people stay there for next to nothing while they work to get themselves on their feet. Whether it be schooling, saving up a down payment for a house, or getting out of debt, sometimes people can really use a little help even if they don't qualify for gov. assistance. I know some of those people! And yes, I would still keep writing. i would need long term income, and you don't get that from old books. You have to have new stuff coming out all the time.
Since my stories are based off myths and legends, I would buy a really great laptop and travel to some of the places I write about every day. First stop...Northern Ireland. I need to walk the trails of Glenariff Forest. It's a given that I will keep on writing because that is something that is in my blood.
I'd keep writing and writing but I'd definitely buy a new computer and a laptop so writing can be so much simpler for me.
I think my first reaction might be to hide, I don't think I could cope with fame. But for me writing is more of a hobby than a job so it doesn't matter so much if I make lots of money, it just seemed so silly to have whole books sitting around on my computer not doing anything though, so I thought I would give it a try. And if I hit it big, hope that I can hide behind my books and not end up a celeb (I'm not very good at dieting, I wouldn't fit in very well. With the money, pay for uni, buy a house, save it. I might not be so lucky with future books.
Emma, good point about not coping with fame. I still feel weird when people come up to me and tell me how much they love my books. I'm an introvert for sure.
I'd contact my Accountant and set up some sound financial planning. It's too easy to blow, for example, a 2 million dollar contract. I too, Neil, flush when a reader compliments my writing and enjoys my books, etc. So, I wouldn't mind the J. D. Salinger self imposed exile approach combined with the freedom to travel. A nice balance, I'd say.
What I would do, what indeed I do now when I've sold around 600 copies of my novel is to give the majority (in the case of my novel The After/Life - the entire) of the proceeds from the sales to a good cause. At the end of the day, what I personally do is write from my heart and it is only normal that what comes from your heart should go to where your heart feels is the right place.That said, I do believe that writing in itself can and should be a source of revenue for the writers who should be able to focus on doing what they do and getting better at what they love doing and not starving in the process.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to wish all my fellow writers all the best of luck in their undertakings and hope that all of you will be wildly successful with your novels!
R. wrote: "Since my stories are based off myths and legends, I would buy a really great laptop and travel to some of the places I write about every day. First stop...Northern Ireland. I need to walk the trail..."This too^^
Finally quitting the day job would be 1st on my list, so I could focus only on writing. I've been cutting back and work less than part time now, until I feel secure with what my book income is bringing in. It's tough to make that commitment without the assurance of a huge advance. It would be nice to have spare time and $$ to travel to places I write about. Fortunately, most of them right now are within driving distance, but there a few overseas that I would love to see IRL.
Hire an assistant! With my book only out since May 8, my entire life seems taken up with book promotion. My publicist is busy, my web designer is busy, my social media consultant is busy. And I never have time to write anything but articles and blog posts and talks
I'd love to have time to actually write another book!
Even if I hit it big as a writer, I'd still be myself and make time to be with my family, friends, and soon-to-be wife. All I want in life is to make a difference with my talents and skills as a writer and artist. Money and fame is great, but it's not my goal.
I started writing a response to this question and it sort of spawned into a blog. You can view the whole thing here:http://jessicakeefe.wordpress.com/2013/05/30/followingdreams/
Short version: I would continue writing. Always. Because writing is the definition of who I am. Without writing I would be lost.
When I dream about it, I don't even dream that big. I just want to make a living, which from reading the statistics, only about 1% of us ever get so lucky. I've been doing this full time for about a year and I have one year left to see if I can make enough to get by. I almost put myself in a bad position because if I don't make it (or make enough to get by) I'm going back to the 9-5 and the idea of not getting to be whatever I want to be is kind of depressing. My marketer says I have to sell 30 copies a day. *sigh* I only sell about five to ten a day and even there, I know I'm lucky.
Hookers and blow baby, hookers and blow. lol, seriously I would use the money to reunite with the love of my life.
My discgolf game would get much better. Lots of beer. I don't know about a bigger house, but definitely a bigger yard and a few more shelter dogs. I'd love to be able to set my mother up, but not the rest of the vultures in my family. @Jessica, I liked your post. That Desmond is a cute kid :)
I'd be able to pay to complete my college education. I'm set until my last year. I really don't know how I'll afford it.
Kelly wrote: "When I dream about it, I don't even dream that big. I just want to make a living, which from reading the statistics, only about 1% of us ever get so lucky. I've been doing this full time for about ..."Kelly, why does it have to be all or nothing? Do you know how many writers, artists, and actors have mundane jobs. When I was writing my screenplay I was a single mom. I worked a 7-4 county job, wrote every break, lunch and free moment, and drove 8 hrs round trip to Los Angeles every weekend to attend marketing meetings, etc. If a writer is what you truly want to be then you can do it, even if it means working a mundane job to pay the bills.
FYI, during one of those meetings in LA I was served by a hot waiter, who is now a hot famous actor. Dreams can come true.
I guess we all dream of hitting it big. I have an acquaintance who sold two of her books to LifetimeTV. The movies were not so good and didn't do much to help her sell more books in the series. Have another friend who said it took 12 years to write her first novel. One of the first publishers she sent it to bought it and offered her a contract but she had to write two more books in two years. She said then it was like work!
I used to stare at the back covers of Danielle Steel books when I was a teenager and think, "That woman wears a lot of major rocks on her fingers!" I used to think I'd like to have some of her jewels.Now, I'd fill my house with cats...pretty, little cats.
No, I think I'd quit the dayjob and travel everywhere!!
R. wrote: "Kelly wrote: "When I dream about it, I don't even dream that big. I just want to make a living, which from reading the statistics, only about 1% of us ever get so lucky. I've been doing this full t..."Okay...who's the hot famous actor? :)
I hate to admit it, but I'm all or nothing kind of gal. I'd like to think that I could do both, but I sort of have ADD about things. I kind of fit into the category of you can't do it ALL well. Not how my brain works.
Robert wrote: "Hookers and blow baby, hookers and blow. lol, seriously I would use the money to reunite with the love of my life."
Absolutely awesome.
@Ian Why thank you. :) I'm quite partial to his puffy cheeks. I don't think he'll find it as cute if I pinch them when he's sixteen though.
A nice chunk of land, a decent house, and my own pack of shelter animals (dogs and cats). First comes the corgi though, who shall be named Joker.
First, I would want to be making enough that I could live comfortably without having to work a regular job on top of my writing. I suppose that's everyone's wish. I would also purchase a new house. Nothing major. Just a nice home that doesn't need a ton of repairs, has plenty of space for my kitties to run around without completely destroying everything, and isn't a double like I live in now. It also has to have a nice fenced in yard where my dog can run around freely. I would pay off all of my bills. I would continue writing. My celebratory luxury would be to purchase a really, really good bottle of Scotch.
Ah...I'd pay my credit card debt, that would be the first thing. Then maybe I'd sleep better at night. Second, set up a trust for my daughter's college. Finally, I'd love to quit my day job and provide my wife with a semblance of the life I promised her.
I just want the money - not the fame. I have no interest living in a fishbowl. Once I put my kids through college, and bought myself a mini cooper, I'd look into supporting some of the philanthropic organizations near and dear to my heart.
A bigger house is a definite must. The two-up-two-down cornflake box I live in now is far too small. It would be nice to have flat surfaces that weren't covered in piles of stuff!
Kaine, I find it amusing that you're a writer and you are accused of a lack of imagination.
I'd really just like a little cushion . . . get the kids through college and have a decent retirement!
Amy wrote: "Robert wrote: "Hookers and blow baby, hookers and blow. lol, seriously I would use the money to reunite with the love of my life."
Absolutely awesome."
:)
I aim to write something that lasts, that connects a reader to their intuition and higher abilities. If that helps me 'make it big' great, if not, great. My work will sustain the test of time. That is real success for me, that is 'hitting it big'. :)(Oh, yes, and wine, fast cars and touring.)
I would not want to be famous, as I'm rather shy and would not enjoy that kind of attention. However, I would love to have the money to contribute regularly to those in need. I have known great poverty, but I know there are countless people out there who live in conditions I could not even begin to imagine. I'd feel so blessed if I could make a difference on that front.It would also be pretty nice to have a few of my novels added to the literary canon. I'd love to know my works would have a positive effect generations to come.
http://www.cerebralwriter.com
I thought of two more things to add to my little list. I would continue in my education. Currently, I have a B.A., but would like to get at least a Master's and possibly a Doctorate. I would also purchase the State Hospital in my area that was shut down a couple years ago and turn it into a combination of things. Part would serve as my home, I would house several local businesses that were looking for space, and I would have a no-kill animal shelter on the property. Any remaining space I might turn into part museum and part haunted attraction.
I probably wouldn't change much. Wouldn't quit the day job - at least not right away (although I probably would later in order to write full time). I'd continue saving for the kids to go to college and for retirement. Increase my support for charitable causes. In short, no major life changes - except maybe buying my wife her dream car.
I would, no doubt, be in shock. It is a dream that seems far off for me, so I don't think about fortune or fame much. I would just like to sell more than five books! IF it ever did happen, I think I would enjoy the fame for a while (and definitely the money), but ultimately I would be reclusive. The day job would be gone though!
I'd quit my job to write full time, and record an album, and basically just do things that I don't have time to do while 10 hours a day is being sucked away, and I'd have time to make the audio versions of my books.So I'd just be fully devoted to creative work and helping others who I wish I had more time to help now, but there just literally aren't enough hours in the day - not if I sleep too.
I already know exactly what I'd do, and it's part of the long-term plan of my life. I am an animal advocate and rescuer, and I'd open a sanctuary for senior pets, who are dumped by the thousands in shelters, by heartless and soulless owners. It's heart breaking, and although I can never save them all, I know I can change the world for a few. Having a huge following would give me a louder, and bigger voice. I'd like to eradicate animal overpopulation and change animal cruelty laws.
Cypher wrote: "I thought of two more things to add to my little list. I would continue in my education. Currently, I have a B.A., but would like to get at least a Master's and possibly a Doctorate. I would also p..."Love, love, love your no-kill shelter idea. I am so devoted to animal rescue and eradicating overpopulation. Hopefully there will be sanctuaries and rescues in both our futures, but some day I hope we won't have to rescue. Thanks for being one of the good guys!!!!
I would probably die of a heart attack, so I hope it never happens ;)
I'm with you. I don't know what I would do if I hit it big. I write to tell the stories in my head. I don't want to be rich and famous..I want to be comfortable and known by readers.
Yes, I write to write too but late at night, when I'm all alone, I would be lying if I said I didn't think about how it would feel to hit the "New York Times Best Sellers List!" I think all of us secretly wish to achieve that level of success. With that being said, I am thrilled each time 1 reader downloads my novel. Just to know that someone out there is reading something I wrote and enjoying it...my cup runneth over!@L.F~ I would totally die of a heat attack too! I would hate to know that "Call 911" would be my final words!Lol
I not only dream of making it big, I PLAN on it! My novel has only been out for 5 weeks and has already had 802 downloads. In two weeks I have a radio interview from NYC for 30 minutes and expect lots more. It will be a hit movie too! I was a professional writer in the corporate world for 22 years, and this is the best blankety-blank thing I have written in my LIFE. I'm passionate about the subject of human trafficking and want to get the word out about what victims really live through. I know it'll make me money -- piles of it -- but that's not why I'm writing.
Things have been kinda fantastic the last couple days with my books, so this question has crossed my mind again. I will look back on this week someday and say "...remember that time, way back, when my books were doing great..." hahaHope we can all get a little bit of our dreams someday. :)
pay off my student loan! Oh, I do dream big!
Hitting it big as a writer would be amazing. I would make sure that I do some more travelling around the world. There are many countries I would love to take the time to see at my own pace.
lol, seriously I would use the money to reunite with the love of my life."
Absolutely.
But, thanks to Kindle and all the other ereaders out there that dream seems more attainable than ever. So, what would really happen if I woke up one morning and my sales were through the roof? Would I immediately quit my job, sell my house, and move to the Florida Keys to write my days away? Would I go get insanely drunk? Would I buy a new car? Would I announce to the world that I’ve made it? Hard to say.
One thing I would never stop doing is writing books. I think that’s what separates real writers from wannabe’s. No matter how much fame and fortune may come my way, writing must always come with it. If I hit it big tomorrow (hopefully, prayerfully) not much is going to change inside me, but a Hell of a lot is going to change around me.
To read more about me and my books please check out my blog: ALWAYS WRITING http://www.neilostroff.blogspot.com