So my wondering into the writing market isn’t going well! You’d of thought that when all you need is your laptop and your imagination you are on a roll, but no.
I joined a critique site after advice from someone and after the initial excitement and then again when people look at it again my 2nd draft has now faded as I attempt to post my third piece to be told, that unless I join and pay to be a member that’s it unless I delate something. Paying to join this site won’t get my work read any quicker and that seems to take at least 4 days to make it to the top of the queue. So thats $65 a year (£50 ish)
Then there are the writing courses, the current one I am attending is going to cost £70 per six week block. The Derby book festival I went to cost me £21.00 to see the three people I was most interested in seeing and the East Midlands writing thing cost me £50. While I write this I am a bit like I hope my hubby doesn’t read this 😛
Then it’s like being at uni there are a whole host of books people recommend you buy… But which one is the best so we will add about £10.00 onto here at least.
so thats £191 at least so far… Nevermind my the software I brought (Scrivner) the dictation package I’ve not really got on with cause my brain doesn’t work fast enough..
Sometimes I sit here and look at these £200 plus retreats and thing would this be a quicker and cheaper way to get success. Or do I just need to keep in my case paying out in hope I might get somewhere….
Then as we are always told at work time cost money! It also costs my heath and my children’s attention when I want to write, or upload something to a website in order to get feedback. But first I need to critique other people’s work… Then there is the networking, for me at the moment mine is all social media related. But then what happens when I need to go wider?
So thats travel and cars don’t run on fresh air.
Then I dread to think about the added cost that comes with trying to get published! I listen to other authors talk and I don’t have the confidence anymore to just go up to people and start talking to them. I need people to be aware of my existence first.
As you can tell I am a bit rumpy this morning well frustrated, having just had two weeks (three weeks) off sic which I could of spent writing the sun is out again and likely to zap. my energy as soon as I walk out the house. Plus the cat was moaning early this morning prior to six, but by the time I got up to sort her it was after and I concluded having to get up at 7, I am going to fell worse if I try and go back to sleep than I am if I get up! PLUS, I wouldn’t have slept properly anyway with knowing I had to get up in 45 minutes!
Anyway enough from me, time to get the little people up and go to work!!!! Hope everyone has a fun day!
But why is writing so expensive!?
I dont think you should have to pay to get your work published. I dont know about the UK but in the US we have KDP which is an amazon service. It is free and will get your book published in e book format. They are even starting up a paperback rendition. For editing. I found it has been helpful to pull my book apart into chapters and edit the chapters after letting the draft sit for a while. I need to get someone else to look at them for grammar but content is solid. Unfortunately, putting a decent editor on retainer for a novel is expenive for me. Hang in there. There are some free options for you to get your work out there
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for your thoughts on this matter! I am aware of the amazon thing, but I am a long way off having a finished product! I am just being grumpy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s okay. I completely understand 😉
LikeLike
Just wait until you decide you have to pay for a critique service!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve just paid for a years subscription to the critique website I’m using at the moment, so who knows
LikeLike
I paid several hundred pounds to Cornerstones agency. It was worth every penny
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m a member of a local critique group. We each read 5 pages out load and give each other feedback. Most of the people in my group are published authors and have been writing a long time, so I value their opinions. Where I spend the most money is attending writer conferences. The good news is I usually learn a lot from those experiences and enjoy networking with other writers.
LikeLike
🙂 I am struggling to find a local group that is at a time and place that I can make it to 😦 to many other priorities 🙂
LikeLike
I love your site, it has interesting content, Thanks.
LikeLiked by 1 person