Unasked-For Advice to New Writers About Money Goto page 1, 2Next
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18Rabbit
Joined: 21 May 2008
Posts: 1734
Location: WTF is wrong with you?
Unasked-For Advice to New Writers About Money
Cory Doctorow on BoingBoing.net linked to this article back in February where John Scalzi offers 10 financial tips for new writers. Even though I'm not a writer, I've been an independent contractor (1099 vs W-2) in the past and most of the advice is similar to what I tell people who are thinking about trying that route too. Even if you don't agree with the things he says, it's still an interesting read. What do you think about it?
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 5218
Location: New York
That article was a steaming cup of wake-up-and-smell-reality. However, I found his suggestion of marrying/shacking up with someone who can help financially support you as a writer a bit obnoxious--it's lovely that he's been so blessed with a wife who can provide a steady income and health benefits, but to lay it out there as he did made me want to find out where he lives so I can go TP his house. Also, why's he trippin' on bass players? _________________ <=== Dressing in dismal chic and maintaining her detached aura of aristocratic chill since 1985.
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"You can't wipe your ass with empty promises." - thread title, by walk
Tue Aug 19, 2008 7:57 pm
chris Site Admin
Joined: 02 Mar 2004
Posts: 3833
Location: People Republic of Northern California
The article sounded right to me. On all points. And if it's only about money.
But I wouldnt' write just anything for the right price. And remember, I have very low standards when it comes to what I'll put on the page. What I don't agree with, is that one should be willing to do any kind of writing. I'd rather work a real job for money and write something I can put my back and heart into. Writing advertising and whatnot saps you of what it takes to write fiction. At least it did me. So, if you just want to write for a living, by all means, take any work you can get paid for. But what worked for me was to get a day job that didn't take require me to think much, yet wasn't so mind-numbingly boring that I wasn't so exhausted from trying to stay interested. That doesn't invalidate any of this guy's other points. I'm sort of speaking to the creative part of writing, and he's not.
Wed Aug 20, 2008 2:39 am
zendao42
Joined: 05 Sep 2006
Posts: 13570
Location: Somewhere in a galaxy near you
There's ways to get by with low fundage
but no amount of money is worth having your soul sucked out, just saying...
Sephonae wrote:
Also, why's he trippin' on bass players?
Without having read the article, let me just say that bass players are fucking nuts-
& I mean that in the nicest possible way...
Wed Aug 20, 2008 2:50 am
Lauren
Joined: 07 Mar 2004
Posts: 1582
Location: Massachusetts
Scalzi caught some flack on the Whatever for the marrying/shacking up statement and responded to it/clarified it here: http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=371
And I don't think he meant one should whore oneself out and just write anything that comes to mind for cash. He's saying to think outside your genre but within your personal area of expertise - do you know a lot about something that isn't part of your novel? Can you write coherently about it and enjoy doing so? Then why not supplement your income with it? He's written a few technical manuals, because that's what his former day job was. So he can freelance here and there and get paid for his knowledge. He also writes a weekly column about SF movies over at AMC. That sort of thing.
(Why, yes, I do lurk over there, why do you ask? XD ) _________________ Well, I guess you left me with some feathers in my hand.
Wed Aug 20, 2008 7:24 am
18Rabbit
Joined: 21 May 2008
Posts: 1734
Location: WTF is wrong with you?
The most important point I thought was the part about 'You have half as much money as you think you have'. Having no taxes withheld is terrible for me and unfortunately I didn't marry an accountant/financial wiz.
Wed Aug 20, 2008 8:13 am
Sephonae
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 5218
Location: New York
Lauren wrote:
Scalzi caught some flack on the Whatever for the marrying/shacking up statement and responded to it/clarified it here: http://scalzi.com/whatever/?p=371
Yep, I'd read that as well. I can't quite put my finger on it, but the whole tone of his response put me in mind of someone who can't stop digging the hole for himself. He just came off as insufferably smug to me.
And Zen; hey, lay off the bassists! *Grrrr* _________________ <=== Dressing in dismal chic and maintaining her detached aura of aristocratic chill since 1985.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"You can't wipe your ass with empty promises." - thread title, by walk
Wed Aug 20, 2008 9:45 am
urhangovergirl
Joined: 05 Feb 2008
Posts: 705
Location: center of the purple haze
zendao42 wrote:
Sephonae wrote:
Also, why's he trippin' on bass players?
Without having read the article, let me just say that bass players are fucking nuts-
& I mean that in the nicest possible way...
sooo true. But it's still better than dating the drummer _________________ I will gladly ravage you Tuesday for a ravaging today...
Wed Aug 20, 2008 10:47 am
zendao42
Joined: 05 Sep 2006
Posts: 13570
Location: Somewhere in a galaxy near you
urhangovergirl wrote:
zendao42 wrote:
Sephonae wrote:
Also, why's he trippin' on bass players?
Without having read the article, let me just say that bass players are fucking nuts-
& I mean that in the nicest possible way...
sooo true. But it's still better than dating the drummer
<======= repeat offender on rhythm sections
But hey, somebody's gotta give the drummer some!
Sephonae wrote:
And Zen; hey, lay off the bassists! *Grrrr*
Riiight, like you wouldn't lay a hot, psycho transvestite bass player...
Thu Aug 21, 2008 4:47 am
Sephonae
Joined: 10 Jun 2007
Posts: 5218
Location: New York
zendao42 wrote:
Sephonae wrote:
And Zen; hey, lay off the bassists! *Grrrr*
Riiight, like you wouldn't lay a hot, psycho transvestite bass player...
Uh...que? _________________ <=== Dressing in dismal chic and maintaining her detached aura of aristocratic chill since 1985.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"You can't wipe your ass with empty promises." - thread title, by walk
Thu Aug 21, 2008 11:58 am
Taco Bob
Joined: 12 Apr 2004
Posts: 1201
Location: Palm Falls, Florida
Sephonae wrote:
He just came off as insufferably smug to me.
Smug is a good word. I couldn't get through the whole article since I feel like I managed to figure all that out for myself long ago. (shrug) _________________ Key Weird
Fri Aug 22, 2008 7:43 am
sugarraydodge
Joined: 27 Nov 2007
Posts: 647
Location: Utah
I read this article, and I think a lot of this advice can apply to just about anybody, at least as far as the "don't blow money you don't have", the "stop wasting all your time playing XBOX and actually write" parts and the "get out of NY/LA/SF" parts. ...not that there's anything wrong with those places, don't get me wrong.
I especially liked his advice about dating and marrying someone who is a lot smarter and more responsible than you. I have a friend who just graduated law school and we have been seriously flirting with for the last three years. Maybe now is the time to make my move... maybe. _________________ Scruffy|SRD Books
Fri Aug 22, 2008 11:25 am
zendao42
Joined: 05 Sep 2006
Posts: 13570
Location: Somewhere in a galaxy near you
Dude, you looking for a sugar mama?
Fri Aug 22, 2008 11:45 pm
Wonko
Joined: 12 Oct 2006
Posts: 4787
Location: ...but it's a hot heat
zendao42 wrote:
Dude, you looking for a sugar mama?
I could use one of those... But I'm too old to get one. _________________ Avoid being normal -- John Lennon
I agree, a lot of this is pretty general financial advice. And judging by his list, I'm surprisingly money-savvy. O.o (Yeah, what the fuck?) Anyway, what I found particularly interesting was in someone's comment at the end of the article: the naming of a literary executor in the will. I didn't even know that was a role that needed to be specified. Something to remember, for sure. _________________
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