Comments on: Where You Are, Where You’re Going http://odeskinsider.com/blog/where-you-are/ Freelancing is more fun with oDesk Tue, 06 Jul 2010 19:07:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: The Luck of the Prepared Mind - oDesk Insider http://odeskinsider.com/blog/where-you-are/comment-page-1/#comment-341 The Luck of the Prepared Mind - oDesk Insider Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:56:43 +0000 http://www.odeskinsider.com/?p=164#comment-341 [...] I was recently reading a post of Nelson’s where he was talking about developing yourself and not losing sight of your goals just because you’re focusing on your day-to-day existence.  He made some very good points, which you can read about here. [...] [...] I was recently reading a post of Nelson’s where he was talking about developing yourself and not losing sight of your goals just because you’re focusing on your day-to-day existence.  He made some very good points, which you can read about here. [...]

]]> By: Dave Robinson http://odeskinsider.com/blog/where-you-are/comment-page-1/#comment-340 Dave Robinson Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:22:16 +0000 http://www.odeskinsider.com/?p=164#comment-340 Ahhhhh, Nelson. I have to admit that while I do enjoy scaring young punks off the porch with my spear (yes I'm that old-fashioned that I like sharp pointy things) I can't admit to wearing onions on my belt. They're one of my favorite foods so they never last long enough to make it that far. But getting past the base canards, you do make some good points. Now I can't speak for Bill, but I know I am working on my own writing career. I've got short stories on submission as well as a novel, and I'm working on plotting out another novel in my spare time (my fourth.) I do have to ask if you've ever really looked into the economics of fiction. The average first novel advance these days is about $5,000 and that's most of what the author will make. If you compare that to 40 hours a week at $50/hr you'll see that you can make that in two and a half weeks, and it takes most of us much longer than that to write a good novel. I agree very strongly on building your career, but you do need to be aware of the financial realities of the situation. Most people write fiction because they want to, not because they are going to get rich. You can get rich writing fiction, but it's neither likely nor common. The biggest thing and this is where Nelson really hit the nail on the head, is that you cannot succeed unless you try. So put your butt in the chair, your fingers on the keyboard and work for it. Ahhhhh, Nelson.

I have to admit that while I do enjoy scaring young punks off the porch with my spear (yes I’m that old-fashioned that I like sharp pointy things) I can’t admit to wearing onions on my belt. They’re one of my favorite foods so they never last long enough to make it that far.

But getting past the base canards, you do make some good points. Now I can’t speak for Bill, but I know I am working on my own writing career. I’ve got short stories on submission as well as a novel, and I’m working on plotting out another novel in my spare time (my fourth.)

I do have to ask if you’ve ever really looked into the economics of fiction. The average first novel advance these days is about $5,000 and that’s most of what the author will make. If you compare that to 40 hours a week at $50/hr you’ll see that you can make that in two and a half weeks, and it takes most of us much longer than that to write a good novel.

I agree very strongly on building your career, but you do need to be aware of the financial realities of the situation. Most people write fiction because they want to, not because they are going to get rich. You can get rich writing fiction, but it’s neither likely nor common.

The biggest thing and this is where Nelson really hit the nail on the head, is that you cannot succeed unless you try.

So put your butt in the chair, your fingers on the keyboard and work for it.

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