Is It Wrong... #IWSG

Happy August, everyone! Lately I've been learning a lot about marketing from successful indie authors. It's truly amazing and wonderful how much sharing goes on in the indie author community, and I've definitely picked up a lot of solid, actionable advice.

But taking all this in has brought on a brand new insecurity for me. This solid, actionable advice is usually couched amid language like, "How to make a living at writing." And I realized ... I ... I don't aspire to make a living from my writing.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all in for doing what I can to help readers find my books, and if a living's-worth of royalties ever drops on top of me, I'll gladly accept every dime. But I don't want to devote myself full time to writing and marketing. I just don't. I like having a job that's separate from my fiction writing, and I like the freedom to blow off writing and marketing for big chunks of time.

Is that okay? Am I still a writer even if I don't aspire to ever be full-time at it? Or am I just a slacker?

And now for the two-part IWSG question of the month!

What was your very first piece of writing as an aspiring writer?

Professor Burbage and the Potions Master, a novel-length Harry Potter fanficiton. The embarrassing thing is, I wrote it before I learned that fanfiction was even a thing.

Where is it now? Collecting dust or has it been published?

Lucky for me, fanficiton is a thing! Burbage lives over at fanfiction.com,  The beginning of the sequel is there, too - which I fully intend to finish one day.



This post is part of the monthly blog hop/therapy session known as Insecure Writer's Support Group, founded by the one and clonely Alex J. Cavanaugh.



Comments

L. Diane Wolfe said…
It's amazing how many fan fiction sites are out there now. I remember reading so much of it on Deviant Art when I was a member.
Tamara Narayan said…
I think it's fine to spend your time how you see fit. Marketing is such a time suck. Putting out new books is considered "good" marketing, so you should never feel guilty about spending time writing. From looking at your sidebar, you've done a lot!
Jennifer Lane said…
I feel the same way. I need my psychologist job--it feeds my soul. Writing has been such a fun side gig but to the side is where it will stay.

So glad fan fiction brought us together! (I'm probably one of the few people who have never read Harry Potter).
Crystal Collier said…
I hear you about the marketing stuff. I know I should invest more time and effort into making a living with it, but truthfully, that might take the joy out of it for me. That's why I went with a smaller publisher to begin with.
cleemckenzie said…
You're the second person to post about fan fiction that you've written. I find fan fiction very interesting. And how great that you have it out for others to read.
I don't want it as a full time job either. Way too much pressure.
F. Stone said…
Full time? Not for me. But, if I thought I could master the marketing beast, I might be tempted to go for it. I have the time, but I've never been one who could sell myself or my stuff. It's just not in there. And I think if I try to fake it, it'll show. I'm so thrilled just to write and see how much readers like my writing. That's enough for me. You're the best, Nicki. Blessings
Cherie Colyer said…
I think it's okay to like your day job and also be the talented author that you are. :)

I'm a huge fan of HP. I may just have to find your fanfic. If the title is any indication, it sounds like a fun read.
emaginette said…
I was thinking work smarter-- Try doing a internet search for book bloggers that like your genre. Then approach a few every week or so. They do reviews, post them, and have an existing following to spread the word. It's the type of thing that is slow and steady.

Anna from elements of emaginette
Juneta key said…
Yes, you are a writer. For goodness sakes, you've written more than one novel. Yup, you're a writer.

That is cool about the fan fiction. I write Star Wars but don't post it anywhere. Use to share with a group of friends but we have all gone our separate ways.

Juneta @ Writer's Gambit

You're still a writer! Most writers have day jobs. I heard that the novelist Steve Berry was a practicing lawyer for years; he wrote novels while also writing briefs. :)
I know very, very few author's that make a living with their writing. You're not a slacker by any means. You can write and have other jobs as well. Which means you're well rounded.
You are totally still a writer! You do what works for you. :)
Michael Di Gesu said…
NO... you are not a slacker....

You just want to enjoy writing... not stress yourself out trying to get your books out there and worrying about selling, selling, selling. I can get OLD for sure. Not that I would know. LOL.

I FINALLY have a short story coming out on Friday. YAY.... In the THAT THING THAT TURNE ME anthology. Super fabulous authors are involved, so sales MAY BE GOOD. I'm not so worried about that, I am hoping readers will enjoy my story. Received a few incredible reviews already. SO I am pleased.

SPEAKING of FAN FICTION... Did you get your copy of HP and the Cursed Child. I just finished reading this morning. Good story but not such gripping writing. JK should have written it. ANYWAY... I am not going to ask you when you will be in town .... let me know if you ever plan to come in. LOL.

Take care. I miss you.
Laurel Garver said…
Plenty of us chose to self-pub in part so the pressure is off to produce at a soul-crushing, joy-stealing pace. Well-rounded is the perfect way to put it.

And I love that you started out with fan fiction. Having a full-fledged world like Rowling's to dabble around in sounds awesome. Years ago, a bunch of us bloggers--including Michael above, had a fan-fiction "Hogwarts underground newspaper" called the Thestral Gazette. Think yellow journalism with magical teenagers. Our old posts are still online. http://thestralgazette.blogspot.com/ Enjoy!
Julie Flanders said…
I agree with everything others have said. It's not wrong at all as far as I'm concerned. I think there are tons who feel the same way.

How cool that you wrote Harry Potter fic! I will have to check that story out.
Like you, I love writing but don't aspire to make a living from it.
I sometimes feel guilty (as silly as it seems) because there are so many writers who aspire to do so.
Arlee Bird said…
I'd like to make a living from writing, but that means working at it. Guess I really need to start working. And I've been having so much of a good time not working.

Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out

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