Being ‘a writer’ can be a weird thing to be. Sometimes when you are a writer, then yes, what you are doing is certainly writing. Sometimes that writing is actually the writing of a book, which would certainly be the first thought that would come to most people’s mind.
But if that were the only form of writing you think a writer does, then you are very much mistaken. For a start, many writers must actually earn a living, because their writing work may bring in little or no actual money. The average writer in Australia apparently earns a small amount of money, with only a few making big dollars …
Other writers have to have actual jobs, sometimes working full time, and having to do their writing in the gaps and cracks of time in their lives, on the weekend, late at night, early in the morning, or on holiday perhaps. Or they may (many do) earn other income from doing readings of their words, or writing related workshops, gigs at writing festivals and so on.
These kinds of extra work can be fun for a writer, or they may be tedious distractions from doing the only thing they really want to do. Writers can be mixed in their attitudes to such things, and no particular attitude is inherently ‘right’ or ‘wrong’. Writers do what they have to do, to keep having a roof over their head, and to eat, the same as everyone.
Other writing related roles may be journalism, or blogging. Blogs can be used to get your word out, and the writer can possible sell copies of their book or books on such online sites. Visiting institutions, such as schools, prisons, and a large variety of other places, doing public speaking gigs can be another sometimes well-paying options.
So when writers aren’t actually writing books, they may be writing articles, or workshop plans, or writing submissions to those institutions offering themselves to do their ‘word work’ for the benefit/entertainment/learning of others possibly for payment, but usually at least for the selling of copies of their books.
And of course writers have to have things to write about, so they have to get out there and actually live a life! Meeting up with people, going out to cafes, playing sport, exploring, imbibing, seeing, climbing, walking, many many things are out there waiting for a writer to be involved in, think about, and then write about.
Writers many of them, would say that even when they’re not writing, they’re still thinking about writing! Do you agree? I certainly do! Feel free to leave a comment, letting us know your own thoughts about writing and writers!
Carolyn Cordon - Creative 