You know you’ve made an impact when people start coming up to you asking where you’ve found your full time writing gigs.
It’s been an interesting roller coaster ride for me since 2004. From hearing an editor refer to me as a veteran writer in 2009 (when I felt like I’d barely published anything yet) to having a friend ask me for advice on creating games to having people ask me actual writing advice, the past five years have been the weirdest series of firsts for me. I don’t consider myself one of the Big Wig Writers. Yes, I’m a member of three professional writing organizations. Yes, I blog about writing. Yes, I try and pimp my brand when I can. But I haven’t yet noticed that I have a substantial fanbase.
So when did people start thinking I knew what I was talking about?
Not that I mind being considered the wise hermit on the hill. It would just be nice to know when the transition from “wanna be writer” to “oh, hey, people actually want my opinion” happened.
To be clear for those who don’t know much about me yet, I am not a full time writer. Never have been and might never be. Why? Well, because I value my financial security too much to take that leap. I like paid vacation days, health insurance subsidized by my employer, and a paycheck that means I can indulge in random road trips and my comic & novel habit (which is now an honest to goodness research investment as well as an addiction!). My day job (SQL Server database administrator) lets me play with computers all day, solve problems, and program. I work for a wonderful company at an excellent division with fantastic people (including my immediate management team). It’s a stable paycheck.
Writing is not a stable paycheck. I put more effort in my writing than I earn from it. My current work in progress (wip as it’s called) is an original fiction novelette. Today is Day 8 of writing and I’ve rewritten the opening scene just as many times. I haven’t gotten past 1000 words, though I’ve put a lot of work into my worldbuilding and the background of “current events.” If I’m lucky, the publisher this is targeted to will accept it and I’ll get paid pro rates for the story. But to be clear, pro rates will NOT cover even a fraction of the time I’ve already put into the story. If I’m lucky, the paycheck will give me just enough money to buy lunch off the dollar menu for a week.
So if I’m not a bestselling author, why do I field questions from people who are asking for advice?
Most of my experience not only comes from doing but from asking. I have had a fantastic series of mentors both on the SQL Server side and on the writing side who had no problem sitting down with me and sharing their wisdom. So I teach and blog and answer questions whenever I can because I strongly believe in the concept of paying it forward. I do what I can to pass on the things I have learned to those who are truly interested.
A person doesn’t have to be a big wig to have valuable knowledge. DBA work and writing work is NOT a competition. I will not treat them like one. If people want to learn and contribute to the industries, more power to them. Do you have a question? Then ask. There is no such thing as a stupid question except the question that wasn’t asked.
All I ask in return is that when people are turning to you for answers that you pay it forward too.
#sfwapro
