If you want a life. No, seriously, your time will no longer be your own. There are so many things I need to do (like finish my friend Tara‘s commission!) and even more things I’d like to do, but ever and always there will be a growing number of manuscripts lurking in Tomas the Ereader, plaguing my guilty conscience.
That's my pouty face because I can't do the things I want.
Remember those days when you were a bright-eyed, immediately-declared English major, fresh to New York University and living in a world filled with possibility, when your ability to explicate great works of literature had such meaning and significance? When you were going to take over the universe with the brilliance of your prose, the clarity with which you illuminated the inarticulate vagaries of emotion? When you were going to convince the average Joe that yes, books were important because within them contained entire lives?
Yeah.
Imagine all the worst parts of English classes you hated growing up. Reading books you didn’t like and then having to talk about them as though they were, you know, interesting. Now instead of being told that they were “good for your mind”, imagine implicitly understanding that this is “good for your wallet”. I have homework all over again, you guys! Except instead of being graded on it, I get paid twice a month. And unlike when I worked in a law firm, I can’t charge every six minutes for the work I do outside the office.
Of course, I don’t have to take anything away from work. I read a lot during my days in the office (when I’m not dealing with administrative things) and unless an agent prods us to tell us there’s an auction or a time limit in the works, there’s no real rush. And I read fast. But still, it’s hard to not feel guilty about devouring an ARC of Maggie Stiefvater‘s LINGER or Maureen Johnson‘s SCARLETT FEVER or planning out what I’m going to do to try and snag an ARC of Sarah Rees Brennan‘s THE DEMON’S COVENANT when there are several potentially great undiscovered books on my ereader.
But when you do find a really wonderful novel full of potential, it’s amazing to walk into work and talk about it with your coworkers and to have them engage in an intelligent-yet-emotional discussion about it with you. (Or the alternate, finding a novel that’s such a trainwreck it’s fun to MST3K it mercilessly.) If you’re a book person, this is the best and greatest job you could possibly hope for. I could talk about books nonstop (and I frequently do), but there is an aspect of “never leaving the office”.
And I normally don’t mind. But I miss my hobbies. I promise I will get back you all some day!
Yeah, I feel like there are certain jobs/industries you’re more likely to take home with you, and pretty much anything related to publishing falls into that category. I feel like I almost never shut my writing down. And I happen to like that, but I can see how some people would not.
haha, when I finish my next school program I’ll be looking for an assistant position in publishing, hopefully the good will outweigh the bad!
I’ve been meaning to ask, how is Elijah’s Chariot doing? Is it still in the works?
Still working on it, although I haven’t had the time to devote as much work as I want to in it. :) Sending it out to agents soon. Maybe. Someday.
Good luck! I loved it and know it will one day soon find a home and be loved by many. Never forget you’re a great writer! :)
Oh, I can so identify with this post. As a teacher and a writer, there’s almost always something I *should* be doing, and I, too, miss having interests that are not a part of my jobs, even though I very much enjoy my work. Reading a book that isn’t for novel research or a unit I’m planning is one of my biggest sources of guilt! You may not be able to do all of your hobbies, but it sure does help with overall happiness to be able to sneak one or two in now and then. At least you’ve got your running, right? :)