I suspect that most Substack fiction writers are here because we don't have the money or connections to make it in traditional publishing. That's not to say that traditional authors don't deserve their success because some do, but not as many as get published that way.
I loved reading your story, Shaina. I can identify strongly with many aspects. I had kids very early, long before I was ready and had to grow up fast. I think art has always been a mysterious, slippery trade open to everyone, but mostly dominated by the wealthy class OR the rare exceptional individuals who are relentless/crazy/talented enough to punch through the noise and captivate the attention of the masses. I feel as you do. We can only be better by lifting others. Thanks for this post.
Such a gorgeously heartfelt story (and plug!). I don’t know SE Reid personally but have witnessed this generosity you share.
I had my son late-ish (age 38) and oddly he gave me the space (although exhausted, occasionally mentally unstable space) to go back to fiction and then the desire to try to reimagine how I spend time. It’s such a difficult road trying to fit in the love for him and writing with making enough money and generally being an adult. Your story brought tears to my eyes.
You are spot on with this. One awkward thing I always hate when people find out I have books published is they ask how much I make. They are always shocked when I say not much. They're always thinking about JK Rowling or Stephen King when asking, but those are exceptions to the rule and people don't get that. It doesn't help that writing a book is often listed as an easy way to make money on lists about how to make easy money. People really do believe the myth that if you write it, the money will happen.
'Shoppe Keeps have children who become teachers/lawyers who have children who become doctors who have children who become engineers/architects who have children who become artists who have children who become 'shoppe keeps'/ bankers...
Another advantage for those who come from money is also constant encouragement. Or at least not facing constant naysaying from one's own family and/or society at large that tells them that their POV isn't interesting. Nobody is good at something when they first start, and many parents put the kibosh on their kids' impractical dreams (and usually, for good and valid reasons). But moneyed families—or more importantly, moneyed and also "cultured" families—present no such barrier to their kids. If anything, they swing to the other extreme and overestimate their children's abilities. And at the same time, the culture in general is telling them that their experiences and viewpoints are more special than everyone else's and are automatically fascinating to all.
But at least writing is something you can do on your own with minimal expenses. It's much more difficult to do the Substack equivalent in other arts, like filmmaking, for example. I've always loved writing, but undoubtedly, I've stuck with it because it has the lowest barrier to entry. I can't be a Substack theatre director, for instance.
Shaina, I think it's wonderful what you have written and what you have done to help promote S.E.s contributions to this community that I enjoy so much as a reader! So now we know how to 'buy coffee' for S.E., where is your Tip Jar?
family money excluding working folks from creative fields is really, REALLY depressing.
as someone born to the peasantry, i’ve frequently found myself fantasizing about the alternative life i could’ve enjoyed had i been born to rich parents. where my creativity was fostered, not stifled. where i got world-class tutors to show me the ropes instead of rotting away filling in multiple choice tests in public school. where i could afford to throw a thousand hours at something without needing it to “make a return on investment.”
we’re basically dandelions trying to grow in the cracks of cement on the sidewalk. it isn’t right, and it isn’t fair, but it’s at least a little beautiful we have the chance to grow at all.
This is a great read! I've been there. My husband and I trying to find work shortly after resigning from the Air Force in 2009. Moved to Michigan and baby girl #1 came in the picture in 2011. I didn't get a job until 2012 but my husband was able to find something sooner than me. I tried to hold onto my business as a freelance makeup artist for a few years. It was hard and I had to put my creative dreams on hold to take care of home. I barely did any painting or writing for years until 2020. Lots of growing and lessons learned. Being an artist doesn't make me a lot of money but that's ok. I'm very early in my fiction writing and have no idea how far that'll go. All I know is that I have to show up and do it because I love it. Thank you so much for sharing your story.💙
Thanks for this! This subject gets so much encouragement-hype - "all you need to succeed is to be authentic and keep at it" etc. I like encouragement as much as the next person, but I also like it to be realistic, and you've struck that balance really well here.
You also described the dilemma really succinctly, in a way I never thought of before! "Creativity is part of being human. Which means it’s hard to get paid to do it. The market is saturated." It's so true. One of the most baffling things to me about human nature is how many people think that you should offer hand-made work for free - because they "could just make it themselves if they wanted to" - and will actually be rude to your face about it! Not everyone, of course, but enough to keep me on my toes - it is a tough crowd at times 🤣
Thanks for recommending S.E. Reid's stack, as well, so good :)
I have worked in nonfiction/journalism for a lot of my career but it's similar. Especially now that all the jobs are in just two very pricey cities. I had sort of a privileged background, both my parents have college degrees. But I am a total plebe compared to a lot of the coastal folks that are really embedded in that world. Writing is such a bad way to make money. I keep getting sucked back into it, partly because all the writing I've done makes me unemployable. Sob.
I feel this so deeply. And how can working class people be depicted fully unless working class people figure out a way to write about them? I'm lucky because I'm a teacher and get summers "off" (although plenty of the work of teaching gets done then, too), but every morning I have to drag myself away from my writing to go to work. And I love my teaching job, too, but writer Jennie is jealous of the time and creative energy that teacher Jennie gets.
The "1000 true fans" is all it takes some say. There are 1000 true fans out there for everyone's writing, one would think. Only have to find them. Help each other to do so, this is what you are doing here. Support your fellow writers and keep writing!
I suspect that most Substack fiction writers are here because we don't have the money or connections to make it in traditional publishing. That's not to say that traditional authors don't deserve their success because some do, but not as many as get published that way.
Or maybe I'm just jealous.
I loved reading your story, Shaina. I can identify strongly with many aspects. I had kids very early, long before I was ready and had to grow up fast. I think art has always been a mysterious, slippery trade open to everyone, but mostly dominated by the wealthy class OR the rare exceptional individuals who are relentless/crazy/talented enough to punch through the noise and captivate the attention of the masses. I feel as you do. We can only be better by lifting others. Thanks for this post.
Such a gorgeously heartfelt story (and plug!). I don’t know SE Reid personally but have witnessed this generosity you share.
I had my son late-ish (age 38) and oddly he gave me the space (although exhausted, occasionally mentally unstable space) to go back to fiction and then the desire to try to reimagine how I spend time. It’s such a difficult road trying to fit in the love for him and writing with making enough money and generally being an adult. Your story brought tears to my eyes.
You are spot on with this. One awkward thing I always hate when people find out I have books published is they ask how much I make. They are always shocked when I say not much. They're always thinking about JK Rowling or Stephen King when asking, but those are exceptions to the rule and people don't get that. It doesn't help that writing a book is often listed as an easy way to make money on lists about how to make easy money. People really do believe the myth that if you write it, the money will happen.
Old saying:
'Shoppe Keeps have children who become teachers/lawyers who have children who become doctors who have children who become engineers/architects who have children who become artists who have children who become 'shoppe keeps'/ bankers...
(Paraphrased)
Another advantage for those who come from money is also constant encouragement. Or at least not facing constant naysaying from one's own family and/or society at large that tells them that their POV isn't interesting. Nobody is good at something when they first start, and many parents put the kibosh on their kids' impractical dreams (and usually, for good and valid reasons). But moneyed families—or more importantly, moneyed and also "cultured" families—present no such barrier to their kids. If anything, they swing to the other extreme and overestimate their children's abilities. And at the same time, the culture in general is telling them that their experiences and viewpoints are more special than everyone else's and are automatically fascinating to all.
But at least writing is something you can do on your own with minimal expenses. It's much more difficult to do the Substack equivalent in other arts, like filmmaking, for example. I've always loved writing, but undoubtedly, I've stuck with it because it has the lowest barrier to entry. I can't be a Substack theatre director, for instance.
Shaina, I think it's wonderful what you have written and what you have done to help promote S.E.s contributions to this community that I enjoy so much as a reader! So now we know how to 'buy coffee' for S.E., where is your Tip Jar?
family money excluding working folks from creative fields is really, REALLY depressing.
as someone born to the peasantry, i’ve frequently found myself fantasizing about the alternative life i could’ve enjoyed had i been born to rich parents. where my creativity was fostered, not stifled. where i got world-class tutors to show me the ropes instead of rotting away filling in multiple choice tests in public school. where i could afford to throw a thousand hours at something without needing it to “make a return on investment.”
we’re basically dandelions trying to grow in the cracks of cement on the sidewalk. it isn’t right, and it isn’t fair, but it’s at least a little beautiful we have the chance to grow at all.
This is a great read! I've been there. My husband and I trying to find work shortly after resigning from the Air Force in 2009. Moved to Michigan and baby girl #1 came in the picture in 2011. I didn't get a job until 2012 but my husband was able to find something sooner than me. I tried to hold onto my business as a freelance makeup artist for a few years. It was hard and I had to put my creative dreams on hold to take care of home. I barely did any painting or writing for years until 2020. Lots of growing and lessons learned. Being an artist doesn't make me a lot of money but that's ok. I'm very early in my fiction writing and have no idea how far that'll go. All I know is that I have to show up and do it because I love it. Thank you so much for sharing your story.💙
Thanks for this! This subject gets so much encouragement-hype - "all you need to succeed is to be authentic and keep at it" etc. I like encouragement as much as the next person, but I also like it to be realistic, and you've struck that balance really well here.
You also described the dilemma really succinctly, in a way I never thought of before! "Creativity is part of being human. Which means it’s hard to get paid to do it. The market is saturated." It's so true. One of the most baffling things to me about human nature is how many people think that you should offer hand-made work for free - because they "could just make it themselves if they wanted to" - and will actually be rude to your face about it! Not everyone, of course, but enough to keep me on my toes - it is a tough crowd at times 🤣
Thanks for recommending S.E. Reid's stack, as well, so good :)
I have worked in nonfiction/journalism for a lot of my career but it's similar. Especially now that all the jobs are in just two very pricey cities. I had sort of a privileged background, both my parents have college degrees. But I am a total plebe compared to a lot of the coastal folks that are really embedded in that world. Writing is such a bad way to make money. I keep getting sucked back into it, partly because all the writing I've done makes me unemployable. Sob.
I feel this so deeply. And how can working class people be depicted fully unless working class people figure out a way to write about them? I'm lucky because I'm a teacher and get summers "off" (although plenty of the work of teaching gets done then, too), but every morning I have to drag myself away from my writing to go to work. And I love my teaching job, too, but writer Jennie is jealous of the time and creative energy that teacher Jennie gets.
God, this is a gorgeous piece Shaina. Beautifully, beautifully done.
A life lesson learned. Thank you.
The "1000 true fans" is all it takes some say. There are 1000 true fans out there for everyone's writing, one would think. Only have to find them. Help each other to do so, this is what you are doing here. Support your fellow writers and keep writing!
Incredibly moving! Thanks for the post.