Hey, I quit my job to write full time and I'm on government sponsored healthcare. So you can have your ice cream and eat it too! That's how the saying goes right?
"There is no linear path to success. Anyone can get there a million different ways. You don’t learn the one path to get there. You learn how to untangle the necklace, your necklace. And then you do it again." My goodness, THANK YOU FOR THIS POST. I get handed everyone's necklaces to fix, in this house, many of them have I conquered. My own metaphorical ones, though? I have no one to hand them to, though I wish I could.
This was an imperative post for me to read this morning, and now I'm going to quit stalling and go do some untangling. Of my own hopefully and not the kids'. Thank you!
I love this message!! It's like you were talking to me, right here in my office..
I'm in the editorial stage of my first novel. My fantastic editor returned my story, all nice and edited, back to me a few weeks ago. And then it was Thanksgiving, Black Friday and now I'm shopping for Christmas, and the snow is about to fall outside as winter seductively rolls over the PNW.
But back to my book and untangling the daunting necklace, completing the edits and fleshing out the parts that need tightening. All so I can one day showcase my story to the world. It's all so terrifying but also very exciting! Thanks for giving me a nudge! :) xx
Well, there's a lovely post to read on a day when one is considering chucking the whole thing in. Your "tell it like it is" (or as it is with your experiences) could just be the straw that broke the camel's back. Or perhaps, this particular camel, who probably didn't have a strong enough back in the first place.
I’m a full time writer. Or at least: sort of. I’m a Dutch writer of children’s books for 21 years now, and after ten years of writing in the afternoons and weekends, I quit my fulltime job and became a fulltime writer. But fulltime means three days of writing a week, and two days of visiting schools and telling them about my books (which we writers actually get paid for!) I don’t earn enough to support a family though, just myself, so it’s not all good. But it’s a living! And I love doing what I do.
I’ve had trouble getting freelance editors in the past, so any advice there would be appreciated. I have no idea how to get a publishing house editor so if you’ve answered this question or have articles please let me know. Thank you!
Hiring a freelance editor can be tricky. I know people who've had luck on Reedsy before, as well as through genre-based organizations like Science Fiction Writers of American (or whatever genre might apply to you). To get an editor at a traditional publishing house, you need an agent first! Lots of links to that on the Agents & Books homepage.
Fantastic perspective - as always! My untangling is pitching my fashion essay collection. I have been tugging at the same spot (pitching traditional agents) and think 2024 I will begun unraveling in a different way to get to the same end goal...my book on shelf.
Hi Kate. Your post could not have landed in my inbox at a better time. I am currently wading through the developmental edits my publisher sent me and yes I signed a contract to say I would turn them around in 30 days - yikes!! But I know she won’t hold me to that. Your analogy of unraveling a necklace and then re-threading the beads was great. I have a couple of sub plots that I’m not sure are working and think I will cut them out to make the novel tighter but it’s not that easy and everything has a knock on effect as I’m sure you know only too well. I am working 12 hour days - 8 regularly paid and 4 writing. I feel good about it and am sure it will all work out. But if it doesn’t (but it will!) at least I will have given it my absolute all. Thanks for being here - it’s good to have an ally!
I love the metaphor! I get SO frustrated when untangling necklaces and have to remind myself just to keep going because no one untangles a necklace by throwing it against a wall and storming off 😉
Fantastic post as always, Kate. I am lucky enough to make a living as a full-time writer, largely because I am a writer-for-hire who does a LOT of ghostwriting, and because I'm okay with driving used cars and making other sacrifices--all to support my passion for writing novels that don't always get sold. So I know all about untangling necklaces (great metaphor). The thing to remember is that you have to write enough first to CREATE tangled necklaces before you can have that sublime pleasure of following the chains, threads, or whatever to turn them into something you and other people can wear with pride.
Whew. That was probably a metaphor that went on a LOT longer than it should have! Sorry!
Right on time, Kate. Thank you.
Hey, I quit my job to write full time and I'm on government sponsored healthcare. So you can have your ice cream and eat it too! That's how the saying goes right?
If you don't live in the US you can!
"There is no linear path to success. Anyone can get there a million different ways. You don’t learn the one path to get there. You learn how to untangle the necklace, your necklace. And then you do it again." My goodness, THANK YOU FOR THIS POST. I get handed everyone's necklaces to fix, in this house, many of them have I conquered. My own metaphorical ones, though? I have no one to hand them to, though I wish I could.
This was an imperative post for me to read this morning, and now I'm going to quit stalling and go do some untangling. Of my own hopefully and not the kids'. Thank you!
I love this message!! It's like you were talking to me, right here in my office..
I'm in the editorial stage of my first novel. My fantastic editor returned my story, all nice and edited, back to me a few weeks ago. And then it was Thanksgiving, Black Friday and now I'm shopping for Christmas, and the snow is about to fall outside as winter seductively rolls over the PNW.
But back to my book and untangling the daunting necklace, completing the edits and fleshing out the parts that need tightening. All so I can one day showcase my story to the world. It's all so terrifying but also very exciting! Thanks for giving me a nudge! :) xx
Well, there's a lovely post to read on a day when one is considering chucking the whole thing in. Your "tell it like it is" (or as it is with your experiences) could just be the straw that broke the camel's back. Or perhaps, this particular camel, who probably didn't have a strong enough back in the first place.
I’m a full time writer. Or at least: sort of. I’m a Dutch writer of children’s books for 21 years now, and after ten years of writing in the afternoons and weekends, I quit my fulltime job and became a fulltime writer. But fulltime means three days of writing a week, and two days of visiting schools and telling them about my books (which we writers actually get paid for!) I don’t earn enough to support a family though, just myself, so it’s not all good. But it’s a living! And I love doing what I do.
Standing ovation, for this one (and good luck with the edits).
I love this! Thank you. I am curious what the best route is for asking you a question for your Thurs. Q&A?
Reply to any Thursday email or write me at katemckean@substack.com!
I needed to hear this today - thank you, Kate!
How do you get an editor?
A freelance editor you can hire or an editor at a publishing house?
I’ve had trouble getting freelance editors in the past, so any advice there would be appreciated. I have no idea how to get a publishing house editor so if you’ve answered this question or have articles please let me know. Thank you!
Hiring a freelance editor can be tricky. I know people who've had luck on Reedsy before, as well as through genre-based organizations like Science Fiction Writers of American (or whatever genre might apply to you). To get an editor at a traditional publishing house, you need an agent first! Lots of links to that on the Agents & Books homepage.
Thank you so much
Fantastic perspective - as always! My untangling is pitching my fashion essay collection. I have been tugging at the same spot (pitching traditional agents) and think 2024 I will begun unraveling in a different way to get to the same end goal...my book on shelf.
Hi Kate. Your post could not have landed in my inbox at a better time. I am currently wading through the developmental edits my publisher sent me and yes I signed a contract to say I would turn them around in 30 days - yikes!! But I know she won’t hold me to that. Your analogy of unraveling a necklace and then re-threading the beads was great. I have a couple of sub plots that I’m not sure are working and think I will cut them out to make the novel tighter but it’s not that easy and everything has a knock on effect as I’m sure you know only too well. I am working 12 hour days - 8 regularly paid and 4 writing. I feel good about it and am sure it will all work out. But if it doesn’t (but it will!) at least I will have given it my absolute all. Thanks for being here - it’s good to have an ally!
Just...thank you!
Great writing and great insights --as always. Thank you!
I love the metaphor! I get SO frustrated when untangling necklaces and have to remind myself just to keep going because no one untangles a necklace by throwing it against a wall and storming off 😉
Good point!
Fantastic post as always, Kate. I am lucky enough to make a living as a full-time writer, largely because I am a writer-for-hire who does a LOT of ghostwriting, and because I'm okay with driving used cars and making other sacrifices--all to support my passion for writing novels that don't always get sold. So I know all about untangling necklaces (great metaphor). The thing to remember is that you have to write enough first to CREATE tangled necklaces before you can have that sublime pleasure of following the chains, threads, or whatever to turn them into something you and other people can wear with pride.
Whew. That was probably a metaphor that went on a LOT longer than it should have! Sorry!