I've attended a number of Writers' festivals and workshops over the last couple of years. One consistent message thrown about is the fact that most people are unlikely to make any money from writing. At one festival, a poet I was keen on hearing, basically quipped 'You'll spend far more on poetry than you ever make from writing it.'
We were talking about this issue at the Writing for Pleasure course mostly about the glass is "half empty approach". I understand the need to provide information at festivals and workshops, but as an emerging writer the negative message about "no money to be made here folks" can make the pursuit of writing feel futile and depressing.
I have however, read of a number of successful approaches to incorporating writing into one's life. In particular, poets that pursued successful money making careers and left writing for an activity of pleasure on the side (and they ended up being quite successful at writing).
I've recently returned to the workforce, after a 2 year hiatus of being a primary career for young children. During the break I concentrated every single spare moment on writing, in a way that I had not previously been able to do. I was concerned that returning to work I would loose the focus for writing, given the loss of time. It has been the exact opposite. I've found a renewed enthusiasm for the time I do now have for writing and I'm finding a new productiveness during this writing time.
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