The Reality of Being an Author

The Reality of Being an Author

For some reason when people find out you are an author they have belief that you can waft around thinking of literary prose. The have images of cafes, days just dreaming and literary events with horsey-style laughter. In truth, I don't know many authors who have this luxury. In fact, most of the authors I know, who make money and are having films produced, still work. The image painted in films is remote beaches, romantic views and international jet-setting. Nope, and I don't want to disappoint, but the reality is usually a full time job, often in an unrelated subject, so that there is mental space for writing.

 

Let me give you some examples, my friend who is having a film produced of her book, by day works in a care home. The shifts enable her to attend literary meetings. She has an internationally renowned agent but can still be found bathing old people in their beds and you know what? She loves being able to care for others. Another friend of mine, who also writes and earns money from her book sales, works full time as an English teacher. So much of her inspiration comes from her students and what they say.

One author, who was catapulted into stardom overnight, maintained her job working in a bookshop because she loved working with books. She also said that she was going to remain humble and monitor her sales. The first book sold more than fifty thousand copies but her royalty was around fifty pence per book. That is only a basic wage for one year. It was a 'nice to have' in addition to her income and she was glad that she kept her job. Finally, another author I know works as a lawyer, her relaxation time is writing because she gets to dream.

It seems everyone has this idea that you write a book and are catapulted to wealth and stardom. For a few that happens; however, I was discussing an author, who was at the top of his field with my brother. It turned out that the author accidentally let it slip that he worked as a decorator to supplement his income. It seems that people prefer the ideal rather than the image of their favourite author painting a wall.

The years that I spent teaching creative writing evening classes revealed the aspirations and illusions so many people have. Numerous fresh students professed that they desired to be the next J.K. Rowling and that was their reason for learning to write. You never want to smash peoples dreams; however,  if that is the one and only motivation to write then there is a very long and arduous journey ahead.

I am not saying that it isn't possible to become a full time author; and I do know one author who earns their living purely through being an author. He gave up his job when he reached one million sales. He is signed with a publisher and releases a book a year. He has over ten books on the market. He said that once he had made a million sales and had a three year reserve in the bank he would then write full time. So it is possible, yet what you might not realise is your work place is the perfect place to observe characters, understand human dynamics and listen to people's stories. My advice is if you want to be an author live, work and gain inspiration. In the meantime, set yourself a goal: say three years income in your bank before jumping into the financially unknown.

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Can Happiness Be That Simple?

I will be happy when.... That is quite often the circulating thought that churns in the minds of many. Have you had that thought yourself? Now, for some reason, we all believe that we deserve to be happy. Second of all we are conditioned to believe that happiness is a state external to ourselves. Strange isn't it? We want to feel happy inside by looking outside. That is like expecting a room with no windows to be illuminated by the light beyond the walls.

Over the last weeks I have been contemplating happiness and the contrast dissatisfaction. While doing this I asked many of my colleagues what would make them happy. As a joke I suggested a 'golden cape of excellence' might help. Strangely the thought of trotting around a vast corporation in a gold cape did make us very happy. It was the sense of rebellion that came with it. Yet wearing a gold cape and adopting super-hero poses can only make a person happy for a short amount of time. So the state of constant happiness - where does that come from? This then resulted in the question - can a person be in a state of constant happiness? If they were would they know it?

Yes, here I am again, with questions on the interior world. It seems that we will never experience another person's interior world so one person's feeling of happiness will be very different to anothers'. Of course we will never find out because we can't step into another person's true experience of life.
So happiness, in my opinion feels like a state of relaxation with a sense of warmth in the heart. A feeling of openness like your whole being is smiling. With that definition, I thought what was it that prompted this inner state. Try it - list all the things that make your being smile.
Mine are as follows:
Being naughty / mischievious.
Being playful
Laughing heartily with my friends and colleagues
The feeling after yoga or chi kung.
Feeling united in a team sport
Stand up paddle-boarding.
Doing quiet meditation.
Being on or in the sea.
Running and being in a rhythm.
Having a lovely dinner.
Having a nice, clean home.
Playing with children.
Writing my books and laughing at my own jokes.
Barbecues on the beach with friends in the summer.

So all of the above bring me personal happiness. I looked at the list and realised that none of the above are bought, owned or rely on money. At any moment I can choose to do one of the above and that will make me happy.

What causes me dissatisfaction?
Bills.
Not having enough time.
Rude people.
Things that make me feel stuck.
Getting close to overdraft.
Bitchiness.
Lies and liars.
Bad things happening to good people.
Other people's stupidity.
People who moan.
When I look at the dissatisfaction list, they are based on money and negative character traits. The reality is that I will always have to pay bills and money ebbs and flows. So there is acceptance in that.

So can happiness be simple? Try writing your list... What makes you happy and you will see it is the simple things. A nice car and home are great yet you may well discover that what actually makes you happy are the simplest things. You can choose to fill your life with those and reduce those that make you unhappy. In doing so you increase your happy state.

:)

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Keeping it real with a fake moustache!

I am very much a believer in life revealing your necessary learning if only you pay attention. Over the last few weeks real people, egos and keeping things real caught my attention.

A number of years ago I worked in a book store. The plan was to work there, have my books in stock and then dominate the world... As you do. Obviously that was rather ego driven. I recognise that now.

During my time in that book store we had numerous book signings from famous authors, aspiring authors and non-descript authors. I found it interesting to observe how each acted with the public and their fans. Some were lovely and humble while others basically disappeared up their own posteriors. The worst were those with huge egos who treated booksellers with complete disrespect. I learned so much during this time and became rather amused by how unaware of themselves many were. After intensive author observation, I decided that I did not really feel the need to know the author. I would rather read the story and enjoy the fact the author was a creative channel. With all this in mind, I came to the conclusion that I did not wish to be seen. I respect my readers, yet had no desire to flit around like a diva or disappear publically up my own posterior... Boring!

This week showed me a new perspective because I met an Olympic athlete through rowing. I noticed how she interacted with the public. She was feminine, humble and kind. In fact, she demonstrated how a public figure could respond to people with humility. My whole attitude before was to adopt a disguise using a giant fake moustache. In essence I had no desire to be seen with or without a fake moustache. Of course such a vision could evoke moustachio mania but that is not the point. The point is my perspective changed and that is thanks to someone who had the courage to be authentic and real in a public space. She was a positive role model and brave enough to be herself. So thank you Helen! You provided me with a wonderful insight into how someone could conduct themselves in public. Also thank you for discussing the issue of rower's bottom and the virtues of posterial massage.

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