Today on the blog is RJ Crayton with a post entitled "The Place for Humbug During the Holiday Season." This is a particularly apt post for me today as I must confess I was feeling a bit humbuggy. Yesterday was my birthday and I decided to drift through one of my favorite clothing stores in search of a new fleece for myself. It gets cold at the writing desk in the Klondike and so I wear a fleece and slippers, and the two fleeces I have are starting to look a bit bally, which means that I look rather a bit like a yak most of the time. In effort to look a bit more presentable, or at least like a presentable yak, I thought I might get a new fleece.
Alas, I happened to check the line of credit before going into the store. which brought me to an abrupt halt with respect to my potential fleece purchase. So I headed home fleeceless (or fleece free... Well, I was wearing my bally fleece). After a more detailed review of our finances, which I confess I had left in the hands of some other member of our household in favor of writing, I realized that I might actually have to give up writing... well I have at least had to take on more consulting contracts, which leaves me less time for writing. I am at the end of year two of that magic three years that someone (was it Hugh Howey?) claimed was how long it takes to make it in the indie world, and although the royalties are increasing, they still do not come close to replacing my income.
We all know writing is a tough gig to make it in. For centuries writers have worked away at their craft, apparently toiling away in chilly garrets (probably fleeceless, the poor souls), often with little financial reward. I knew that going in, so I'm not whining, but I really do hope that in 2016 there is a renaissance in reading and more writers will be able to make a decent living off their craft... otherwise we might all start to look like yaks.
Addendum: Wouldn't you know it, just as I finished writing this, the zipper on one of my fleeces broke. A sign from the writing gods perhaps?
The Place for Humbug During the Holiday Season
Bah, humbug!
There, I said it.
I know. It’s the Christmas season. Everything is warm and fuzzy like in greeting cards, sappy viral videos and TV movies. Only, it’s not all warm and fuzzy all the time, because greeting cards and video specials aren’t real life. Everyone feels like saying, “Bah, humbug,” at least once during the holiday season. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
It’s not that the season isn’t full of joy. It’s just that the season is also full of commitments — clashing office holiday parties, school parties, recitals, plays, church performances, family gatherings, and the list goes on and on. Sometimes you just want to shout, “Bah, humbug,” hop into bed, and huddle under the covers with a flashlight and your favorite book. (Those old enough to remember, may even want to hop into a tub, and shout, “Calgone, take me away.”*)
So, this is just a little post to remind you that you get to have a “Bah, humbug” moment or two this holiday season. Not everything will go the way you want it to. There’s someone you’ll want to see, who you can’t see. You’ll have family you don’t want to see, who you have to see.
… Read the rest of this article here.
RJ Crayton
RJ Crayton is a little young lady who writes fiction when she’s not parenting her two children or wifing her one husband. She writes about characters in peril, who sometimes find a moment for romance. Crayton is occasionally humorous, often right, and always curious. She loves the Christmas season and baking. Due to her severe cupcake addiction, Crayton tries to avoid baking cupcakes, except during the holidays. (As an aside, for the perfect mesh of holiday cheer and cupcakes, check out this recipe.) Crayton has published a three-book dystopian series (Life First), a book on self publishing and a short story collection about motherhood. She also is a contributor at Indies Unlimited, a site for independent publishers. In 2016, Crayton plans to release a novel about a deadly virus and a humorous book on motherhood. You can learn more about her at http://www.rjcrayton.com.