Snufft

So you want to be a writer?

That annoying catch phrase employed by so many writing websites designed to lure us unsuspecting, or less technologically sound, budding authors into advert loaded paid websites, competitions involving 'just one small credit card payment', and confusing submission lists completely adverse to your writing career.

Phew. Jaded or what?

So here I am, tired of bandying about my loose definition of a writer, so useful for parties or something to compliment the fact I'm 25 and still working in hospitality. I'm ready to submit my work. I'm prepared to lay my bleeding heart on the table for editors to skim and stab with their letter openers.

This Blog, will act as a documentation of this process.

Cross your fingers and your toes for me folks.

So what are we taught in high school on career day when Lucy's dad the doctor, Jake's mum the lawyer, and Rick's dad the successful Property Manager come to talk to us about deciding what to do for the rest of our lives?

There is no money in writing.
Prepare yourself for constant rejection.
Isn't that really better as just a bit of a hobby Soph?

And so we looked forward to the day when our favourite author would come to school to speak about their latest novel. We'd pile up every book of theirs they'd ever written and hope they would recognise that underneath the face glitter we were raw talent waiting to be discovered. We'd imagine their lives, wistful of sea views and old typewriters that pleasantly clacked as they typed the words we had spent hours devouring. We'd use them as validation when Craig went off to study Economics and Kate went to work for her fathers company.

So what is the truth for an emerging Australian writer?
Is the industry as hard to break as they say?
What resources do we have available to us and how useful are they?

This is what I'm planning to find out.

Last year I began a Bachelor of Creative Arts at Latrobe University. This year, while studying, I'm planning to go submission crazy schlepping my short stories here there and everywhere, in a crazed attempt to see where finally following my passion will lead me.

If ASIMO can conduct a freakin orchestra there's got to be hope for me eh?

Resigned to potential poverty.

Avoiding the nine-to-five.

Stay tuned,

Sophie. Xx