debates are often assembled on what being a professional writer. And if there is the professionalization of writing or is it a craft, an art, a hobby, an impossibility.
I have never been clear-what the profession-and, like saying "I am a writer" I think sometimes a little too big or too vague, I usually answer "I am a journalist" when someone asks me what I do. I am a journalist who is dedicated to writing. That. But if I want to pinch me or send me the part I can say yes, my job is writing because I get paid to write. Until then, I had it clear. But no. Was not. O yes. Sorry for the ramble.
Many years ago I paid for writing, but my books appeared each in a blue moon or every day of the archer, what they like, and it was I who, with patience, effort, cunning, and many other qualities and neurosis, went to get my editor. So they paid me for work I had done because he wanted to, no one had been charged and no one expected, and luckily managed to sell. It went well, I can not deny it.
But now things have changed and begin to understand what it is to have the profession of writing. Now I write because I am asked to write.
order last year came the miracle which had been praying since the day I started writing. Three editors from three different publishers contacted me and asked me my books (I make this clarification in case anyone thinks that I asked for a donation of books or return any lent me.) Here came the first problem. I have no books, "my" lying in the drawers. I do not produce themselves produce stories written laundry. Sheets I inkless brain time or ideas to write without pause. But this time there was an order. I repeat. Someone wanted to publish. Someone wanted to publish me! Who can say no to so great situation? "In recognition that request mean? So I negotiated a time and across days and gave me free rein. And I sat down to write. Simple as that.
There is great difference between inventing an obligation (write when no one knows what will happen to that text) and have really. In the first case I would share the script with many other occupations and the days of absolute laziness (as I am a mother, it's absolute laziness is only a literary turn.) In the second case ... must sit down and write. Every day. Although it hurts your back, you're ill, your child feel the hype in the school play, rain, cold weather, hot weather. To write. Even if you have ideas or want. Write.
And I did. Because never in my life I spent a delivery date. Because whenever I turned. Because I am immensely grateful for each order. I sat and wrote.
While my average time to get ready is a book a year, now I to discover that I can write a novel (a novel! I, I thought I could never write a novel!) in three months. It was not easy, of course. At first I tried to correct an old story that, at the time, had not found its way. But I soon discovered that if once does not work, then it is harder to rewrite everything to start again. So I started again with another story. I took a couple of days to think about what I wanted to write, what stories of all that I keep in my notebook of ideas gave me more pleasure. Which began to boil my head. So an idea, and sometimes an idea is a tiny thing, almost nothing is ... "A dinosaur appears on that side," "there are two guys who discover something"; "besos salesman" must build a universe. And that's what I love about my job. View a history of growth and shape with no words.
Now, then, am a professional? Not yet decided, that for others to put the label, but the truth is that for months or even half of this year, at least, I have obligations, "literary" program. I have to produce stories. And there's nothing more wonderful than this, that force me to work as a writer. The best job in the world.
All ... I wish I were better pay ...
