Madeline McEwan is back with another humorous post about what it means to be a writer (and her sketches)…
Terminology
Pro and Con – This idiom is taken from the Latin: pro for “for” and con for “against.”
Pro and Ant – [do not muddle with Pro and Con] Protagonist [hero] – the main character in a drama. The antagonist is the main character’s chief opponent. [Anti-hero, baddy, and sometimes victim]
Side Hustle – Making extra cash flexibility. Either your true passion or something you care about the most without quitting your day job
Cons
- Unless you are a super successful novelist on an international bestseller list, you are stuck with your day job[s] to pay the bills.
- Writing takes a great deal of time and effort. Re-writing takes a great deal of time and effort. Editing takes a great deal of time and effort.
- If you are new to the writing life, accept the fact that in the future you will spend more time marketing than writing. [And/or re-writing and/or editing]
- To write successfully you must acquire a huge ego to keep submitting your stories, and a thick skin to cope with rejection.
- Writing takes discipline.
- Writing takes oodles of imagination.
- Together, 4 & 5 mean you are a strict liar peddling stories to extort money for deception—avoid adding this detail to your resume.
Pros
- Finally, you are your own boss even if it’s only for a few minutes or hours a day, and you have found a legitimate “side hustle.”
- A writer gains complete control over other people’s lives—and doesn’t let the fact that they are fictional characters dent their confidence.
- You can “play” with your imaginary friends in your head while the rest of your body conforms to the social norms and expectations of daily life.
- Writing is far cheaper than therapy.
- A novelist can legitimately claim the excuse of “research” for any perceived transgression.
- Admit you are a writer to anyone making your life more difficult than it needs to be, and advise them that they will be the [named] baddy in your next blockbuster.
- There is no commute. There is no expense. There is no age barrier. And … there is no dress code. [At least, initially]
About Madeline
Madeline McEwen is an ex-pat from the UK, bi-focaled and technically challenged. She and her Significant Other manage their four offspring, one major and three minors, two autistic, two neurotypical, plus a time-share with Alzheimer’s.
She is a member of the California Writers Club and Sisters in Crime, Norcal. She maintains a blog with a loyal following. Her platform is associated with the Autism Hub [UK], as well as the usual Facebook and Twitter accounts, predominantly in the realm of disabilities.
