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Sunday, 22 February 2015

Sick Leave...

Having thought I'd managed to get through winter without any major health problems, the last bugs of winter have struck.

The nasty cold bugs that have been going round my family- and quite a few friends too- has finally overcome my defences, and I'm coughing and spluttering a lot- day and night; consequently my breathing is not as good as is desirable. So it's going to be a trip to the GP surgery to sort out my asthma...

Oh, and rearrange my dental appointments too. :(

So I'm sure you'll understand my brain is a bit hazy at the moment. But I do want to leave you with something to read about.

Last week a YouGov survey announced that 60% thought being an author was the most desirable job to have in Britain...

This announcement resulted in newspaper articles, that in turn got bloggers blogging.

Chas Newkey-Burden in the Telegraph books section gave '14 reasons why you shouldn't dream of being a full-time author', and while his reasons were all valid, most writers cannot afford to become full-time authors as they need their daytime job to pay the bills and eat- and if you're female there's often your family to factor into it all.

Tim Lott in the Guardian books section added his opinion too, including an obvious plug for his current writing related work with the newspaper.

These inspired Sally Quilford to write her response, '14 reasons I wouldn't want to be anything but an author'.

And another brilliant piece from Jane Lovering's 'From Behind the Keyboard'.

It's quite possible that within that 60% there were people who want to be authors, but haven't yet taken that first step on the very long and bumpy road; but sadly, I suspect many think that it is easy to write a book and be a JK Rowling, a Dan Brown or EL James, sell millions of books, make millions and get films made of your work, because the media makes so much of the breakthroughs.

If you want to write, you will do it, however long it may take you, and however much you need to learn.

We'll continue to write because we have to. Because we love doing what we do.

And honestly, you would not want to eavesdrop on my subconscious at any time- it would give you a severe headache. :)





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12 comments:

  1. Patsy23 February 2015 at 09:50

    I'm sure there are people who think it must be easy to write a book and get rich, but they propbably think it'd be easy to do most of the other jobs on the list too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carolb27 February 2015 at 12:06

      You could be right, Patsy.

      I'm sure lots of people think other professions are much more exciting, but then discover reality is very different.

      Delete
  2. Wendy's Writing23 February 2015 at 15:30

    I think all jobs seem difficult... at least this one's fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carolb27 February 2015 at 12:08

      Sometimes, it's the fact that it is a fun job that makes the tough times bearable, Wendy.:)

      Delete
  3. Rosemary Gemmell24 February 2015 at 11:17

    Hopefully, it will be a reality check for some who read all the different opinions on this! Hope you get better soon, Carol - it took me 2 weeks to fully shift the nasty virus going around, which is unusual for me. Remember to rest.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carolb27 February 2015 at 12:13

      Thanks, Rosemary. I do feel like a partially dry dish rag at the moment, but much better than I felt a couple of days ago. :-)

      Delete
  4. Teresa Ashby26 February 2015 at 11:43

    I hope you are feeling well again soon, Carol. So many nasty bugs going round this winter xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carolb27 February 2015 at 12:15

      Thanks, Teresa. Improving since the Dr gave me antibiotics.

      Winter bugs seem to be much more aggressive nowadays. I'm just looking forward to the imminent spring to get rid of them all. :-)

      Delete
  5. liz young26 February 2015 at 18:01

    And this blog itself deserves a wider audience!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Carolb27 February 2015 at 12:15

    Thank you, Lizy.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Maxi15 March 2015 at 11:58

    Hope you're feeling better now! I've been down with something since October and left hand doesn't seem to know what right is doing when it comes to trying to get it sorted so totally feel for you!
    Re the article - I wonder how many people of those 60% have ever written a word, let alone a novel, as you say. I suspect many times it's the case of 'I'd love to but I just don't have the time' - and I agree, my brain is always super whizzy, even if the rest of me isn't!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Carolb15 March 2015 at 19:34

    Just about recovered now, thanks, Maxi. :)

    The bugs have been the sort that wash you out and hang around, so I can sympathize with how you've been.

    I could do with being super whizzy some days, Maxi. :D

    ReplyDelete

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