If you’re a serious writer, you no doubt not only love
to write but you also love to read. I know I do. Has anyone criticized you for
either? And if you’re a professional writer and have a home office, has anyone
assumed that you “aren’t working”?
Regarding the former, when I was growing up, we had many
books in our house. My mother bought them for us for various occasions and also
just because.
As an adult, I started my home library with books from childhood, college, and grad school, and have kept accumulating them ever since. Enough shelf space was a must in the three houses I have owned.
It took me a month to pack my approximately three thousand tomes when I moved from my previous residence to my current one. Many of these and the hundreds I’ve acquired since are signed by the authors.
My library is my pride and joy. Fiction, science
fiction, nonfiction, science, social science, and childhood treasures fill the
main one, located across the hall from my living room. Writing, publishing, and
marketing categories are in my office. Texts and other academic materials are
in a spare bedroom upstairs. Those written by friends and colleagues occupy hallowed
shelves in my master bedroom. One cabinet in the upstairs hall houses my beloved
Nancy Drew collection.
So imagine my surprise when a psychologist friend
visited me and said upon seeing the books in my main library, “Why don’t you
get rid of them?”
What?? I thought.
Who would suggest such a thing?
And what would she say if she saw all the others?
By her own admission, she doesn’t read. Yes, a non-reader suggested I get rid of my most
precious gems!
Then I remembered that this is the same person who said,
“You don’t have a job.” This despite my having published over 200 articles in
national publications and twenty-nine (soon to be thirty) books, eleven
traditionally and the rest through my own small press.
Never mind that I market my work and do speaking
engagements, both of which provide good income. And never mind also that I publish
other people’s work and coach subject-matter experts in writing books based on
their expertise. She certainly has heard my 30-second pitch often enough on the
latter at our networking group.
“Writing, publishing, and coaching ARE my jobs,” I told
her. And no, I have no intention of getting rid of any of my prized possessions—except
marketing and grammar ones that are out-of-date¾and these I replace with new editions.
Regarding working from home, we’ve all heard of actors and
musicians being accused by family members and others of not having “real jobs,”
but I never expected this comment from someone in my networking group—all of
whom are self-employed, including the person in question. The difference is
that she goes to an office every day. But because I have a home office and
don’t go to another building to work, I “don’t have a job.”
We have to accept that some people just don’t understand
us. So what to do about them?
I come from a long line of entrepreneurs. Most are
business owners, but many are artists, musicians, and writers. Some are doctors
and lawyers in private practice. Mine is definitely an artsy family rather than
a science-oriented one. Never have any of my relatives accused me or anyone
else who is self-employed of “not having a job.” So I let comments like those
of my acquaintance roll off my back.
We’re writers because it’s in our blood. It’s the
essence of who we are. It’s our passion. We can’t not write.
If only people like my colleague knew how much time and
energy producing an article or chapter takes, not to mention the time and
energy involved in marketing for sales and/or new clients. And good writers
must be readers.
We work for ourselves because it provides us the
freedom to run our own lives and the ability to have unlimited income potential.
If you find people criticizing you, ignore them. Don’t let the naysayers get you
down.
Heed not only my words but also those of Kimanzi
Constable:
“You have to be your biggest cheerleader…. [Don’t]
depend on someone else for…for validation from people who don’t understand. …Real
strength …starts with you. Don't
depend on anyone else for emotional, mental, or entrepreneurial strength” (https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/305563).
So ignore those who don’t understand
you. Keep on reading. Build your own library. Continue your writing career.
And believe in yourself. No matter
what.
