Does your family blow off your writing?

[ALynnPowers]

I don't think my family takes me seriously when I say I write for a living. Of course I pay my bills and have money to do things so I must be getting it from someplace right? But to hear them talk, writing is just a hobby that takes up my free time.

Yeah, that's pretty sad to hear. Especially if it is really your career.

My family assumes that because I have written something, that I should be rolling in cash now, since all the authors they know (i.e., JK Rowling, Stephen King) are super rich, and they can't understand why I am not sharing.

[Gravy]

I don't think my family takes me seriously when I say I write for a living. Of course I pay my bills and have money to do things so I must be getting it from someplace right? But to hear them talk, writing is just a hobby that takes up my free time.

Yeah, that's pretty sad to hear. Especially if it is really your career.

My family assumes that because I have written something, that I should be rolling in cash now, since all the authors they know (i.e., JK Rowling, Stephen King) are super rich, and they can't understand why I am not sharing.

I don't understand where people think writing is so lucrative.
Best selling authors will still have day jobs!
Stephen King, J. K. Rowling, Stephenie Meyer...
Their money doesn't even come from their books!
It comes from their books being optioned and, if they have a good entertainment lawyer, from the back end of the movies made (merch, movie tie ins, royalties, ect...).
I have an author whose books are always best sellers, has several releases a year, and only just quite her day job, because...and I quote, "cutting back is worth it for the extra sleep"!
People have no idea...

[ALynnPowers]

I don't understand where people think writing is so lucrative.
Best selling authors will still have day jobs!
Stephen King, J. K. Rowling, Stephenie Meyer...
Their money doesn't even come from their books!
It comes from their books being optioned and, if they have a good entertainment lawyer, from the back end of the movies made (merch, movie tie ins, royalties, ect...).
I have an author whose books are always best sellers, has several releases a year, and only just quite her day job, because...and I quote, "cutting back is worth it for the extra sleep"!
People have no idea...

Whoa! Even best-sellers!?!? I had no idea!
I guess I can see how making movies would bring in more money than the books, but still... ARG! How annoying!
Writing is such an under appreciated art these days.

[Gravy]

It's very sad that people who bring so much joy and inspire so many can be so underappreciated.

I've read so many author's blogs that it's been like a crash course.
This is an excellent blog to follow for a look at life as an author http://word-whores.blogspot.com/?m=1
It's a different author for each day of the week and it is rather fascinating.
I would recommend it for anyone interested in writing.

And truth be told, many 'best-sellers' support themselves just fine.
But many still need that weekly paycheck to get by.
Especially when you take into account the fact that publishers no longer pay for promotional travel.
For the most part it's all on the authors shoulders.

[Hadiqa]

Well they dont really say anything. . . . I do writing on my own as well as write stories and sometimes publish them earning money. My mom has done literature and sometimes I make her read my really good poems and she appreciates it and motivates me. They aren't crtics, like in a serious sense, though my siblings tease me after reading my work

-- 17 Nov 2014, 20:13 --

It's very sad that people who bring so much joy and inspire so many can be so underappreciated.

I've read so many author's blogs that it's been like a crash course.
This is an excellent blog to follow for a look at life as an author http://word-whores.blogspot.com/?m=1
It's a different author for each day of the week and it is rather fascinating.
I would recommend it for anyone interested in writing.

And truth be told, many 'best-sellers' support themselves just fine.
But many still need that weekly paycheck to get by.
Especially when you take into account the fact that publishers no longer pay for promotional travel.
For the most part it's all on the authors shoulders.

I actually agree with you. They need support tooo to continue on and if looking really deep, they are awesome people who have overcome so many criticism to come to this stage.

[pretzelsnow]

My mom is very supportive of my writing.She almost WROTE my plotline.Literally she gives me tons of ideas and listens to my ideas.She is awesome. My relationship between me and my mom is very close.My dad is another story.He doesn't exactly like that I am writing some story and whatever I write I am very afraid of his criticism. My dad has a very pessimistic outlooks on life and sees the world from a different point of view.So my mom supports and is literally my co-author(I'm dedicating my book to her) and my dad not so much(even though he said he wold read it)

[ALynnPowers]

My mom is very supportive of my writing.She almost WROTE my plotline.Literally she gives me tons of ideas and listens to my ideas.She is awesome. My relationship between me and my mom is very close.My dad is another story.He doesn't exactly like that I am writing some story and whatever I write I am very afraid of his criticism. My dad has a very pessimistic outlooks on life and sees the world from a different point of view.So my mom supports and is literally my co-author(I'm dedicating my book to her) and my dad not so much(even though he said he wold read it)

That's great for you that your mom is so supportive!
Your dad sounds like how my dad would be, if he were still alive.

[Skillian]

My family is incredibly supportive.... which is ideal.. but it is also kind of intimidating, haha. It makes me worry that if I don't do well with it... that I am letting them down. It also makes me think their opinions are incredibly biased... haha.

[Hadiqa]

My family is incredibly supportive.... which is ideal.. but it is also kind of intimidating, haha. It makes me worry that if I don't do well with it... that I am letting them down. It also makes me think their opinions are incredibly biased... haha.

I can relate to how you must feel, the same happens with me in my studies and all

[KS Crooks]

When I started my family was supportive of my writing. My extended family only found out when I published my first book. I tend to keep things to myself and surprise people with a finished novel. Now I tend to let things slip out, without saying too much. As long as you enjoy and believe in what you are doing, put little stock into what others say, good or bad.

[ALynnPowers]

When I started my family was supportive of my writing. My extended family only found out when I published my first book. I tend to keep things to myself and surprise people with a finished novel. Now I tend to let things slip out, without saying too much. As long as you enjoy and believe in what you are doing, put little stock into what others say, good or bad.

Thanks for the good advice! I have to remind myself of this!

[Amheiser]

My family has been very supportive. Sometimes they have been a bit too supportive. They keep asking me about how my writing is going, but they talk with me about what I am writing and give me suggestions and discuss any questions I have about how I could do something better. My son and daughter also write and we have brain storming sessions to help each other out if we get stuck.

[SammieWonder]

Wow! I'm sorry to hear so many people don't have a lot of support from their family!

I don't wish to persue writing as a career in the least, but I have written some very heart felt letters to family members over the years that have been cherished more than I ever imagined they would be.

Because of these letters and how I've helped my family's business by drafting legal documents without any legal experience whatsoever, my family has become incredibly supportive of my writing ability. It's the reason Grandma left me with her "life story" to turn into a novel and screenplay.

[TibbyK]

Honestly, they're too supportive. They keep bragging me up about how good of a writer I am, yet I can't even write a chapter of all the books swirling inside my head.

[SammieWonder]

Honestly, they're too supportive. They keep bragging me up about how good of a writer I am, yet I can't even write a chapter of all the books swirling inside my head.

Oh, honey. You'll get there. It just takes time and self-discpline.

Keep a journal of your ideas and dedicate time to elaborating on your concepts.

Allow them to speak into the greatness that you possess.

And believe it.

xoxoxo