Being A Full-Time Writer

Hi, everyone;

This isn't an easy thing to post. In fact, it's kind of awkward, really...

I've tried hard to be a full-time writer, and have tried carefully managing my funds and my workload to maintain that goal. For a while, I succeeded...but due to an expensive series of health setbacks, I've pretty much run out of money; in a career where you have to plan and scrimp and save to stockpile enough money to make it through six months at a stretch without any income coming in...it's come down to the choice of either appeal to others, or stop writing full-time to focus on finding a non-writing way to rebuild my finances.

I love writing. I love being able to tell engaging, entertaining stories that delight readers around the world. I'm also very much one of you, a fellow reader; I'm writing these stories specifically because I want to read them, too. (Alas, since nobody else is writing them, I have to do it myself.)

But authors do not make what everyone assumes we make, and I haven't figured out the magic whatsit that'll make my books go viral and garner a lot more readers, increasing my income to an actually livable level. (If you know who to contact or how to make my books go viral, please do so! I've been told repeatedly that my books are well-written, and I know my romances are filled with healthy relationship interactions. I think that deserves going viral a lot more than some books, don't you? I just don't know how to do it myself, and I've tried.)

Anyway, if anyone is interested in the details, I've set up a GoFundMe account at /JeanJAuthor

I want to keep doing this. There are just certain health situations that are beyond anyone's control, and when it impacts a person's ability to work and create...this is what happens. I want to keep being a full-time writer. I have so many stories to share, I honestly, truly don't think that I'll ever run out of plot ideas. (They breed like rabbits, which is why they're called plot bunnies.)

But it's no good having the story ideas if you no longer have the time free to write them all out. If I have to look for another means of employment, I'm not going to be able to keep producing them at a steady rate, even though my health has now greatly improved.

So, that's the state of things. Any help you can give would be deeply appreciated. Anything you can do to spread the word, either about the GoFundMe or about my books in general, or one particular book that you really liked in specific, that would be just as appreciated.

If nothing else...it's been my honor to entertain so many of you. Thank you for reading.

Jean
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Published on March 04, 2015 07:09 Tags: author, needing-help, royalties, writer, writing
Comments Showing 1-13 of 13 (13 new)    post a comment »
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message 1: by Rogue-van (new)

Rogue-van (the Bookman) Ms. Johnson,

You are indeed a very talented writer. I discovered you through Goodreads. The first two books in the Theirs Not to Reason Why series were impressive! Your bold protagonist with latent powers is very attractive to me. She is awesome!

My public library happened to have another of your books, Shifting Plains, which I borrowed and just finished. Again, really strong protagonist and story. If you had edited out the gratuitous sex scenes, I would have liked it even more.

I encourage you to write as much as you can, even if you have to take on other work in order to pay the bills. Talent like yours IS greatly appreciated by fantasy-scifi action-heroine fans like me, even if there are not enough of us to make you a best-selling author.


message 2: by Nick (new)

Nick Grayson You have no audio books, that I can find anyway and that's a huge market(I think). I'm unsure if this advice is any good or not I hope it helps and doesn't hurt you any more on the money front. I'm a fan of the Theirs Not to Reason Why series which I think would be perfect for one of those graphic audio audiobooks.


message 3: by Chill (new)

Chill You are a great writer and I am honestly surprised that you are not getting more attention. The only one of your books that I gave less than 4 stars to is The Sword and that is mostly because Kelly is an inconsistent and overall annoying character (props for making her realistic). I was able to ignore her in the rest of the series.


message 4: by Krystal (new)

Krystal Please keep writing, I regularly use your books to interest women in Sci-Fi. They are great.....well written, easy to read with characters that are approachable and you don't get bogged down in the minutia of the space craft/armaments.


message 5: by Kimberly (new)

Kimberly Condron I really enjoy your books. Their interesting and keep my attention. I like to start at the beginning of a worlds story and read from there. That you have differmt seroes in the same world kewps things interesting to me. But i would like to know if you are releasing more Guardians books.


message 6: by Roni (new)

Roni Shamay i would sujest crownfunding your books...
that way you get payed in advance for a book or in incraments...

another option is to relese a chapter via your schedule and if people want for faster they donate... and when the novel is ready and post edit you have a loyal fan base who want to read the final version since they supported it from the start...

people are paying amatuer translators to translate chapters from chinese web novels 60-80$ per chapter for the popular ones and they have a hard time keeping up with demand...

you know how to write but you need to find some help with the finance&advertising don't go the old way and wait to be noticed by a publisher and hope he will take care of advertising...

look at what sharon lee and her husband did with ship & dragon...
they had a series that was out of print that came back to life in a major way....

poeple who might know professionals who can help you and also some very secsessful authors are the people at fantasy-faction...

just get in contact and ask for some help/advise....

best of luck

Roni


message 7: by Anna (new)

Anna You are a good writer, yet I feel you could use a better editor. A judicious cutting of scenes and rounding out of characters would be helpful. Info dumps and awkward sentences make your books hard to read, for me. I've read 2 but quit because they just didn't grip me. Maybe there's a writing circle you could join, many authors I've enjoyed speak of their circles fondly and seem to thrive on active constructive criticism. Oh, and please don't use teehee in a book again, that was offputting


message 8: by Saints (last edited Dec 07, 2016 11:57AM) (new)

Saints Dear Jean,

I know that you can't eat praise or buy stuff with admiration... but for what's worth you have my mine.
I've read the first Salik's War and it was awesome! It actually ads something to the readers life!
You can count with my suport to buy your books (i've to buy them in kindle store since i'm portuguese! see you have a portuguese fan!)
So keep up with the good work! :)


message 9: by Mir (new)

Mir I haven't read your books but was just looking you up after seeing a recommendation on a recent B&N blog post. Hope that's some encouragement.


message 10: by Jean (last edited Mar 01, 2017 06:01PM) (new)

Jean Johnson It is an encouragement. I have a variety of different stories in different genres, so hopefully something might catch your eye. Most of my readers who've tried have found something they liked.


message 11: by Gail (new)

Gail Arsenault Try setting up on patreon where i currently support an author on a per chapter basis.


message 12: by Brandy (new)

Brandy I love your books and can't wait until the next one comes out!


message 13: by Scott (new)

Scott Shjefte Liked your book ' A Soldier's Duty' that I read with Alexa audio kindle book reading assistance after borrowing it from my library. Was going to send you $10 to your fundme page but it errored and said to try later...


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