So it turns out writing a novel takes a lot of freaking time. Like, a lot. And last time I checked there are still only 24 hours in a day and 7 days in a week. Furthermore, it is scientifically impossible to find success as a novelist without writing a novel. (Seriously, it’s science, people.)
This leads to a horrible conundrum with which I’m sure a lot of you can relate. Namely, this time has to come from somewhere, which means, that it’s going to cut into time with your friends and family. Which means you’re going to have a couple options: (1) You can make up a serious, yet sporadic disease that will allow you to quarantine yourself in your room while you secretly write a book; (2) you may spontaneously adopt a new religion that requires you to become a hermit; (3) you can admit that what you’re actually doing is writing and risk suffering a million “Next Great American Novel” jokes potentially for all time.
But seriously, it can be hard for your friends and family to know how to take the fact that you suddenly want to spend beaucoup time writing. Sure, you know that you’re doing all the research, checking all the message boards, stalking every agent/editor on Twitter, but for all they know you’re writing haiku on a napkin and thinking it’s art, yanno? So, it can be awkward and embarrassing to try to legitimize this time you’re spending. I can’t tell you how many times I hear from my writer friends that their spouse/kids/friends/parents are somewhat incredulous about the necessity of taking time off to write.
For me, ghostwriting has helped me legitimize that. First and foremost, it’s allowed me to point to contracts and deadlines and say, “No, I HAVE to get this done. It’s no longer an, “I want to get this done” or “This is important to me.” It’s an “I will break this contract if I don’t get my work finished.” Plus, I make money doing it. Money people understand, even when they don’t necessarily understand the desire to get something published. Maybe it’s silly and, I’m certainly not saying that my friends and family weren’t supportive before, but it has personally helped me be more okay with taking time to improve my and work on my craft.
Also, I think it’s good because it’s been a way to show my non-writer peeps that this is something I’m actually serious about. I’m not writing haikus on napkins. I have some talent for it–or at least enough of a stubborn streak to figure it out–and I’ve experience a degree of success at it.
They know I can complete a novel. And my parents or whoever can point to a series on the shelf and say, Hey, THAT is what Chandler writes for. I think, all around, it makes people a bit more comfortable with the number of hours I spend on this whole thing. And it makes getting my own work published seem not so far off.
So, if you’re looking into ghostwriting and you’re thinking about how your name won’t appear on the spine, I’ve got to say, this benefit has been significant–at least for me! But hey, if you’re looking for other ways to legitimize your time, here are some ideas:
1. Share an industry blog with your people–I suggest Miss Snark because it’s fun and interesting and gives a great behind-the-scenes look of how books are made and how difficult it is to get an agent/book deal
2. Explain what you’re doing with your time, how you’re connecting with other writers, and the process of critiquing
3. Give some stats — How many writers query, get full requests, get agents, whatever…know your stuff
4. Submit short stories & enter contests
5. Join SCBWI or other writer organizations and offer to write articles for them
6. Have a blog/website
Alright, y’all, I’m enjoying the comments and the new subscribers! Next week I’ll take a couple of your questions and answer them and I’ll continue on my list of what ghostwriting has done for me! And what about you guys? How do you justify the time you take to improve your writing? Have you ever felt embarrassed? Am I being too self-conscious?? What do you think?
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Yeah, that was always a bit of a trick with me as well. It’s hard to explain to people why you need to write during vacation, during holidays. Some people handle this by playing their writing down. Don’t ask me why, but I decided to go for it and be open about it. Even if people don’t accept it as a serious career move, they pretty much accept writing as one of my personality traits.
I guess that’s a bit different from legitimacy. It helps a ton to have something published–anything, an essay, a poem–you’re totally right that people get “published” and “money.” The other thing that I’ve noticed helps a lot is to actually explain the industry to people. When someone asks if I’m published, and I explain that I’m in the middle of edits and I’m getting ready to query agents, that agents are the ones who find you editors, I can see little lightbulbs popping over people’s heads. Knowing the industry and being able to explain where you fall in that process shows people how you can be serious about this, without necessarily having a novel out.
Okay. I totally rambled. Trying to catch up, love hearing all your news!
-Mandy
Mandy,
I think you’re totally right. Explaining is hugely helpful. But then it also comes down to WHO do you want to explain all that to. I would get soooooooooo embarrassed when my ex would talk to his parents or his grandparents or his friends about my writing. That was in the very early days and I was really just trying to get anything under my belt in the first place. I had a ton to learn about the industry myself and it was hard not to be completely mortified when it came up.
I realize this is really an internal thing. But it’s hard to get people to understand that it’s normal to get rejections and lots of them. It’s still hard for me to explain to people that it’s okay that my first book didn’t sell. it doesn’t mean that I’m all the sudden an absolutely terrible writer. But sometimes you just have to sit tight and be comfortable in your own goals, I guess.
xoxo, Chandler
I am uncommonly blessed and have been given (to my face, at least) only support for my writing. I see what you mean, though. I’d love to hold a check in my hand, regardless of size, and be able to say someone wanted my work enough to pay for it.
That really is such a blessing. I’d be selling my friends and fam short if I said they didn’t support me, because they really are awesome and ask questions and listen and are understanding. In the end, it’s really just my prideful nature, which although not the best reason to feel embarrassed sometimes, I have to recognize that that is there and it’s in me and it even affects my writing sometimes if I’m writing out of fear of failure.
I don’t think you’re being too self-conscious. I never told my parents or friends about my blog, let alone my writing. I would be a little apprehensive about their reaction if I told them, but I’d lie if I said that it was the only reason keeping me from announcing my writing to my family. I dont know how to explain it, but writing is kind of my little private island and I prefer to keep it to myself only (for now at least)
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Sarah, I think the longer you can keep it your own private thing, the better. It’s very freeing and you won’t write out of fear as much (IMO). The problem is, as I’m sure you know, that the more time it starts to take up, the harder it is to account for your whereabouts!! (haha) But, I think you’re a lot like me. Probably a bit protective and, yanno, a little self-conscious about the whole thing because it is pretty personal and it’s easy to hang your…self worth (for lack of a better word)…on your success and failure in writing once other people know about it.