At a recent event where I was speaking on writing and publishing a memoir, one man raised his hand and seriously asked me if I was a millionaire now that my book was published.
That was a surprising question, especially if he had noticed that I was wearing well-worn Nine West shoes, NOT Jimmy Choos. But I think I disappointed him when I said “no” and suggested that a lot of authors don’t quit their day jobs.
I felt bad because if he had any interest in writing, I think he lost it. He frowned and his shoulders sagged, like his chest had just deflated. I guess for him, the idea of writing is all or nothing. If he’s not going to write a bestseller, then he’s probably not going to write at all.
But that’s okay. I’m an all or nothing person, too.
At least, that’s how I feel about watching football on TV. If it looks like my team isn’t going to win, I don’t want to watch it anymore. Because I live in a town that lives, breathes and breeds Black and Gold, it’s a little risky to admit that I am an all or nothing Steelers fan. Diehard Steelers fans generally don’t like other Steelers fans who aren’t as diehard.
I am also an all or nothing vegetable gardener. Now that Spring is here, I’m engaging in my annual deliberation to decide if I’m going to plant vegetables. As much as I love picking fresh beans, tomatoes and squash during the summer, I know how much time and energy it takes to commit to weeding, feeding and watering a garden. That’s why some years, I just decide to grow weeds and buy my cucumbers at the farmers market.
My worst fault is that I’m all or nothing when it comes to clothes shopping. Here it is: I’m a horrible shopper. I can walk into a store and if something doesn’t catch my eye in seconds, I’m out of there. And if I happen to find something I like, I will buy that item in multiple colors, which is my way of quickly boosting my wardrobe without making any attempt to boost my sense of style or variety.
I’m not an all or nothing writer, though. I write because I have something to say and if I can say it in a funny, touching, helpful or memorable way, then it doesn’t matter to me if I have an audience of a hundred or a million. I’m all in. The best thing about being a non-millionaire author is that I genuinely appreciate and value every reader who reads my book, articles or blog, writes a review, comes to my speaking engagements, or sends me an email. Every person who connects with me and my writing truly is a treasure to me (including YOU reading my blog!)
Maybe it would be nice to be make millions writing. Relatively few authors do that, though, and I can almost guarantee that if I were ever so fortunate, I’d probably still have a closet full of Nine West shoes.
Sorry Jimmy Choo.
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Ann K. Howley is the award-winning author of Confessions of a Do-Gooder Gone Bad.
Please visit her website at http://annkhowley.com/#about-ann