Tough All Over
Hm. Check out what I read this morning on the Debutante Ball:
I used to not be able to imagine being a freelance person. Not going into an office. Not having someone explain to me what I was supposed to be doing and being around to make sure it got done. Not having someone to resent for not appreciating me enough. I had no idea that working in an office was actually the easy way out when being freelance meant working for a slave-driver who doesn’t believe in sick days, lunches, or missing deadlines. The real person who doesn’t appreciate me enough. In other words, me.
I read this as I gulped my coffee at 6 o'clock this morning. I read it quickly before I put my coat on and went outside to scrape my car for the second day in a row, attacking nearly a half inch of ice left by an ice storm that lasted two days, scraping in subzero temperatures for nearly twenty minutes until my arms hurt. Then I grabbed my leftover lunch from the fridge and drove in icy snow to the commuter-train station, where I stood on the subzero platform as the sun was coming up. Then I stood on the train for 40 minutes. Then I went to work, where I have had to make a firm resolution to take a lunch every day, and have had a very hard time following it. I haven't written in over a week and I won't be home until seven tonight, at which point I get to start dinner.
Funny, apparently I've chosen the "easy way out."
I'm not pissed, really, just sort of amused at the short, selective memories of full-time writers. If having an office job is so great, then why don't you go get one? There are lots for the taking. Come on in the pool, the water's warm! We're having a nonstop party of resenting each other and being told what to do! Bring your fatigue, low morale and daycare bills! What? You'd rather make up stories in your pyjamas? Funny, that.
I don't think I have it bad, either. Not compared to lots and lots of people. And while I'm scraping yet again tomorrow morning, I'll try to remember it.
posted by Abby @ 2:22 PM
3 Comments
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3 Comments:
That's such an obnoxious comment. I'd have steam coming out of my ears if I were working out of the home and read that. Heck, i do now, and I DO work out of the home.
Gez, think the grass is greener much?
OUCH! Hey, Abby. Great site, and great post. It sucks, I do know. And knowing the other Debs as well as I do, I know things weren't easy for them, either, at work or at home, while they pursued their dreams.
I definitely believe that every single one of us would rather do exactly what we're doing (and we're not all full-time at home, btw) than go back to wage-slave. But we're all working writers. Not a one of us got some crazy debut deal that allowed us to move to Hawaii (hey, one of us is lucky enough to LIVE there though!)and take it easy.
We try to cover every aspect of becoming newly contracted authors, and we often try to do it in an amusing, interesting way. It's a very different thing than you think it will be, especially if you don't get that crazy deal, but we try to be upbeat, honest, tongue-in-cheek, and helpful about it. And what we really try to do, too, is support other writers, writers busting their asses at day jobs.
I think if you, and Megan, hung around with us for a bit, you'd find we're extraordinarily generous with our time and our experiences.
We hope to see you around, and in the meantime, best of luck with your writing (which I haven't managed in a week either) and with that snow! Now there's one thing I DO know I've got all over you. Move down to Florida! 100 year olds and sunny days await!
Hi Kristy,
I wasn't trying to single anyone out personally - that's why I didn't name names. I really hate arguing on the net.
Just pointing out a comment that seemed thoughtless to me, especially considering the time I read it. I don't have any illusions that you guys are on Easy Street.
Best of luck to all you Debs,
Abby
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