Author Loathing: An IWSG Post
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| Image by Elisa from Pixabay |
I do not want to be an author. In my mind, an author is someone who manages business while maintaining the creative. Me? I only like the writing part. The rest of the stuff does nothing but cause me anxiety. That business business feeds that little nag in my soul that I've forgotten something...
Something big. Something important.
One time, the nag was right. My state required I get a business license to sell my books locally and I didn't realize when I set up my tax account that I had to turn off payments to social security and was fined for it. Fortunately, I found the error before the fines really started to accumulate. But I didn't know I had to do that. So, now, when I think about the business side, I constantly have that feeling of wearing my pajamas to class on the day of a huge test I forgot to add to my calendar and didn't study for. Oh, and it will be half of my grade.
Oh, reality. Why must you be so tedious?
*Fortunately, I met Donna Schramm, my small business coach from the West Virginia SBDC. She walked me through some of the red tape. So, I think I'm good, but now there is always that tine bit of insecurity and loathing that nips at the euphoria of pure creation.
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This month's optional question:
Many writers have written about the experience of rereading their work years later. Have you reread any of your early works? What was that experience like for you?
All that business stuff really can dampen the creative spirit, can't it? Sigh.
ReplyDeleteIt really does. We should just get to write and cash checks, lol.
DeleteCrap, if I'd been fined I would be gun-shy as well.
ReplyDeleteThe worst part is a person doesn't know what they don't know to know about.
DeleteWhy do taxes have to be so complicated?
ReplyDeleteProbably because it's a roomful of politicians making the rules, lol.
DeleteI'm glad you have a friend who walked you through the business aspects of your writing.
ReplyDeleteI am too!
DeleteYikes, that would make have anxiety over everything! A business coach is a great.
ReplyDeleteAnd the service is free. I don't know if all states have them, but it's definitely worth checking out!
DeleteMy worst set of feelings toward the business side of things is when they came up with a law that said I had to tell them every year who all was invested in my LLC. It's only me. Just let me do my business and leave me alone. I'm not laundering any money. I'm not making any money!
ReplyDeleteI feel your pain!!! Uncle Sam wants every nickel, I guess.
DeleteSmall business directors are great resources.
ReplyDeleteMy work business mistake was forgetting to upload an eBook for presale. Fortunately, it was my own!
I get so nervous at launch time because I know there is something I will forget.
DeleteYou're speaking for so many writers, Elizabeth. I wish writers could focus on what they love to do...writing. If we wanted to be in marketing, we would have gotten our degrees in business!
ReplyDeleteAmen!!!
DeleteThe business end is crazy. Hard to know where to find out what needs to be done.
ReplyDeleteHappy IWSG day! I'm co-hosting this month.
"A good book gets better at the second reading. A great book at the third." — Tyler DeVries
J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) @JLenniDorner ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZChallenge international blog hop
Thank you so much for co-hosting and stopping by!
DeleteThe business side of being an author really throws me in for a loop as well.
ReplyDeleteIt's the worst.
DeleteYikes, thanks for sharing your experience with licensing and selling your books. I would not have thought of that.
ReplyDeleteThe city I live made it a requirement about four years ago, so it may not be required in every town.
DeleteI'm a writer because I write. I no longer send out stuff to publishers. If I ever retire from my job--and that's a big if--maybe I'll submit again. I've reread earlier stuff I wrote and I'm proud of it with the exception of one piece in which I used the same sentence structure over and over and over. Bleagh. It was about being a writing tutor and I think it was published in Purdue's Writing Center newsletter. Don't remember for sure. When I think about it, it reminds me to be careful about that sentence structure! I'm glad you found someone to help you with the business side of writing.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Seriously! If I'd realized being an author would turn me into a salesman, I probably wouldn't have penned my first book.
ReplyDeleteI hate business stuff. I'm tempted not to do any selling just so I don't have to deal with it.
ReplyDeleteSelf publishing and running marketing events really scare me. I just like to write, not sell.
ReplyDelete