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A Job Change, So To Speak · 9:37pm Sep 14th, 2016
I'm sure my absence has not been a topic of great discussion, but I should probably explain where I've been for so damned long. I've said it's my 'day job', and that is technically true.
See, um -- I'm an author now! ^_^ As in, I am doing the self-indie-publishing thing, using Amazon's tools. I'm writing original characters, most of them are having quite a bit of sex, and people seem to like it pretty well (I'm in a niche genre, but doing okay for someone in that niche, so, eh, it all kinda balances out.)
I will clarify a few things:
* I'm not rich. I don't have the marketing savvy or the general appeal to end up with an actual book contract from a 'real' publisher, and I'm okay with that. I'm a working writer, and that's really always what I wanted out of things, ever since I started this when I was a kid.
* I'm not ashamed. I tell people all the time that I came from fanfic, and I tell them straight up that fanfic's awesome stuff. My writing career didn't start in fanfic (oh, god, I'm SO OLD, my writing started before 'fanfic' was a word, christ) but fanfic was a big, big part of it, and I will always miss working in fanfic.
* I'm still writing fanfic. I am! It's not my primary focus at the moment, not even close -- but I am writing it, and I still have plenty of ideas for it.
And now I have to say something that -- if you've read this far -- might disappoint you.
I'm not linking any of my fanfic stuff to any of my original-character stuff, ever.
I love this setting, I love these characters, and I love working with them -- but I also know how people are. I know people talk. I know people judge.
So I have a barrier -- I consider my original works to exist in a professional capacity. It's my livelihood. I'm not going to do anything, anything, that could jeopardize it.
I am not ashamed of any of my work (even though I am deeply ashamed of myself in some ways), but neither am I going to give ammunition to moralist assholes floating around on the internet. I barely got myself to publish here, and I barely get myself to publish as an original author -- I don't need more complications floating around in my head.
I'll be quiet, but I was always quiet. I'll be spotty, but I was always spotty.
But I'm still here, and I still read sometimes, and I am -- at my glacial pace -- still writing.
I wouldn't miss this party for anything, folks. :)
Congrats on self publishing, that's awesome. Wish I could say the same thing about my own lofty goals of being an author (of more than just fanfic) but the writing bug seems to have been stepped on for me at this time. Had to scrape it off my shoe and all, it was icky.
And I completely understand the distancing yourself professionally from your fanfic work, because you are right, there ARE a lot of moralist assholes out there who will make crack judgements about you, your writing and your character if they even so much as think you might have been a fan of certain things (pony, in this particular case)
Either way, awesome news, and good luck with the publishing!
Congratulations! I totally understand wanting to keep your professional and fanfic writings separate.
Sweet, though part of me wishes I could totally read all that stuff you wrote for monies, too :D
I was wondering where you went. Congrats on authordom, eh? Dunno if you'd be willing to share links to buy your works, but the subject matter is of interest to me.
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Someday I might get the courage to post four or five Amazon author page links in a blog post and include my other self in there, but I'm not sure I could ever just say, "That's me, that one."
Unless I blow up like Stephen King or something, then all bets are off. <3 But I'll keep it in mind. :)
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I spent several years before fanfic completely dry of writing. Mostly out of psychiatric issues related to my writing, but the effect was devastating.
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I appreciate the understanding. :) Some folks have been, ah, less so. But I have to find a way to make a living.
Maybe someday I'll be enough of a big shot that I'll just be able to do whatever.
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You have to do what's right for you. A working writer is definitely something to be proud of. I know that I plan on becoming a published author of original works someday soon. Writing is hard and dare I say sharing your own original work is even harder. I hope that you find whatever your definition of success is!
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Yeah, I think my running dry has a lot to do with having been unemployed for so long. Being without work for so long does strange things to my brain, and all I can think of is anxiety thoughts.
Got a job offer coming up hopefully next week, so who knows, maybe the writing bug will bite me again… though not sure if it will be pony, given my current Undertale fan media binging.