July 12, 2010

Most of us start out writing because we feel a yearning, a call, a really strong desire to be a writer.

We have stories inside us burning to be told. We see the world in a slightly different way, and we want to share how we see people and events, all wrapped up in a spell-binding story.

Then What Happens?

Somewhere along the way, I’ve noticed, the calling often becomes a career mindset. It might happen with the first sale, or it might not happen until years into publication. With me, it happened after I’d had two or three novels published by Atheneum.  Status became more important than telling a good story.

Warning: this can happen to you too! Be aware of the signs and what can trigger it.

A Common Story

With me, it was financial need. It was the 80s during the farm crisis, and we were in danger of losing our Iowa farm. Suddenly sales were crucial. Advances had to be bigger and bigger. I began to worry more about whether I needed an agent than if my current book was better than the last one. Achieving excellence took a back seat to making money.

I wish I had seen it coming. Getting back to your calling-your love of storytelling-is a lot harder than maintaining it in the first place.

An Agent’s Perspective

Literary agent and author Donald Maass (in The Fire in Fiction) suggests that writers are either those who desire to be published, or those who desire to tell stories. They may start out the same, committed to making it as writer, to being the best storyteller he/she can be. He says that over time a writer’s real motivation will emerge.

Admittedly, I took the ICL course with a hopeful eye of staying home with my children and having a career too. But did that necessarily mean that I had to change from being a storyteller to a status seeker? No, I don’t think so. I think your calling and career can co-exist within you-but only if you guard your writer’s heart carefully.

What needs to stay in the forefront? A pursuit of excellence, for one thing. Keeping the writing fun for another.

Warning Signs

What are some signs that you’re moving from a storyteller to a status seeker? Maass gives some insightful signs:

• The majority of status seeker writers seek agents and publication years too soon.
• When rejected by an agent, the status seeker writer immediately offers the agent something else from his desk drawer. (Not something better-just something else.)
• Status seekers grow frustrated with rejections, thinking landing an agent is a matter of luck. Storytellers know that something is missing from their writing and they work on it.
• Status seekers ask how they can just make their stories good enough to sell. A storyteller is more concerned with making his story the very best it can be.
• With a first contract status seekers are very concerned with what they are getting for blurbs, advertising and promotion. Storytellers have a more realistic grasp of retail realities; they promote some, but then get to work on the next book.
• Status seekers go full time too soon, relying on advances for their living. Storytellers keep their day jobs for as long as it takes.

More details are given in his book to distinguish status seekers intent on building a career and storytellers who are called. You can also download (free) the author’s earlier book The Career Novelist by going to Maass’ website.

Do you think you can have a career–yet keep your “calling” as a storyteller the most important? How can a writer keep his priorities straight? What do you think it would take?

6 Comments »

1. 

   Really liked the warning list, Kristi. It’s always good to keep an eye on what can pull you away from the joy of storytelling. There’s a little thrill that comes with telling a story well so that it is enjoyed by others that cannot be derived from mere publication and payment.

   Comment by Beth Mac — July 12, 2010 @ 8:51 am

2. 

   Beth, the change can happen so very subtly at first. I DO think you can have both, but it has to be a conscious decision to hang on to your calling as a storyteller while at the same time building a career. It seems to be a matter of finding the right balance.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — July 12, 2010 @ 12:11 pm

3. 

   See, I don’t like this kind of pigeon-holing … I am called to write, and I also want to make a career from it, and I’ve done loads of writing that isn’t my *calling* but I enjoyed it and it paid many bills. And you know what? It made me a better writer even though it took time away from my own pet projects. So I have no regrets doing it.

   There’s not a single job I’ve ever had where it was all 100% joy. And it’s the same with writing. Sometimes, it can soar, and sometimes, it’s like walking through mud. Keeping my eye on the long-term goal helps when it’s mucky.

   I agree that balance it all is the hardest thing.

   Comment by Vijaya — July 12, 2010 @ 8:11 pm

4. 

   Yes, it’s balance that’s key! If you write ONLY the things that will make money, despite not enjoying them, it can become a drudge job like any other. And you’ll get a different answer from fiction writers sometimes than nonfiction writers. When I write nonfiction, I’m pretty pragmatic about it.

   I mostly wanted to point out the dangers of what “striving for money and publication only” can do to our “striving for excellence and growth.” I don’t think it has to be a choice–BUT you have to consciously strive to keep both perspectives and goals in sight.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — July 13, 2010 @ 10:32 am

5. 

   I’ve flipped-flopped between the two, but I would say I am more of a storyteller more of the time. I am aware of and appreciate the career aspect of writing though. I think it’s like anything – sometimes one is taking more physical, mental and emotional energy than the other, and often for good reasons. I find that when I’m flowing creatively, I’m not thinking much about the career aspect. When I’ve burned out the muse, it’s good to be able to focus on the business aspect and continue to be productive. Like you said, it’s all a balance.

   Comment by Julie Hedlund — July 16, 2010 @ 10:57 am

6. 

   Julie, that’s really true about working the business side being a bit of a relief after “giving your all” being creative. I think it’s when we become stuck in the money/business side that we run into problems. Then it’s harder to tap into our creativity. Balance: tricky sometimes!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — July 16, 2010 @ 11:31 am

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL

Leave a comment

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website