The Real Writing Life
THE REAL WRITING LIFE
TOPIC I:
“I Quit?”
May 2002. My life was more changed than it had ever been. I was without a job-that’s another story- but I was looking diligently. Thank God for my parents. They took in me and my then one year old son without question and with much love.
I’d been writing since 1994; purely for my own enjoyment. Then, when the manuscripts began to mount, I decided to try my hand at getting published. It began to pay off with the publication of several short stories beginning in the fall of 1999.
Still, I needed a full time job and steady income. While my parents never asked for a dime, they’d raised me to be self-sufficient. That wasn’t a characteristic that faded because I lacked employment.
Backtrack two months to March 2002. I received a call from the Director’s assistant of the county library where I’d placed an application for a Reference Associate. I’d never worked at a library before; but being without a job, the library had become my second home. I could job hunt, write, read-I was in heaven. When I saw there was a position available, I thought, why not? The assistant told me they were impressed with my resume and application and wanted an interview. Great! But, I wasn’t ecstatic. After all, it was only an interview.
Ecstatic came the first week in May of 2002. The assistant called again to tell me I had the position. This was fantastic, my prayers were being answered. More fantastic, was the fact that I spent so much time at the library, I already knew everyone there. I was due to start work in a week.
Then, everything was thrown off balance. Later, that very same week, THE CALL came. BET wanted to purchase my book! Even better-they were offering me a two book deal! Of course, I was screaming my head off. The editor even told me to get it all out before she continued. At last, this is what I’d prayed for. The writing life-writing all day and getting paid for it.
Then, as with all things, reality set in. What about my new job at the library? Was I going to quit before I even began? Sure I was! After all, I’d just gotten the job I really wanted, right? Right. But, what about that steady income I needed? Was writing going to provide that? Yes my advance was more money than I’d ever received at one time, but no way was it enough to retire on. What was going to happen when it was gone? The reality is, the royalty check for a new author is oftentimes non-existent. You’ve got to make your name first.
In spite of all this, I would have taken the writing life any day. There was only one person stopping me and I’m so glad he did. My son made me really consider the consequences of the decision. Taking a chance is something I’ve never been afraid to do, but I needed to exercise more caution now. I needed to do what was best to support him as well as myself. There were financial obligations and other needs I wanted to satisfy. In short, I needed to and wanted to start the following week as a library reference associate.
I was thirty years old when I made this choice. Until then, I don’t think I’d ever made a truly adult decision. Do I regret it? I answer with a resounding no. Sure it’s rough and stressful. But it’s worth it because I know I will soon be able to live the writing life with no doubts and no regrets.
AlTonya Washington now lives in Charlotte, NC and works as a Senior Assistant for an academic library. Her son is five years old. She will release her sixth novel “A Lover’s Dream” (BET/Arabesque) in January 2006.
November 1st, 2005 at 5:47 pm
AlTonya, This article means more to me then you can possibly imagine. We have too much in common. It is almost like you wrote a portion of my life story and my very thoughts when I awoke this morning (i.e. “I Quit”).
I am a new author awaiting my first book to come out and I would love to keep in touch with you. We may also have one more thing in common. Do you know Brenda Jackson, she writes for BET as well?
November 1st, 2005 at 6:12 pm
I read your story and we have similar situations. I just quit my dead job after 2 1/2 years. I was not happy at all. I was tired of working in dead jobs with no future. Now I am focusing on findinf me a job where I can write or at least a printing or publishing company. Since I quit my job in Sept. I have successfully began a prosperous writing career. I submitted poetry to an online magazine and it was published. Even though I do not have a full time job yet I am happy because I’m using the talent that God has blessed me with. I am also in the process of setting uo various poetry readings and so on. I will continue to look for a regular job to care for my son but my heart lies with writiing. Also where may I purchase your books. I am a huge fan of Bet/Arabeques books?
November 1st, 2005 at 11:03 pm
I read your story and related to it so much. I’m an aspiring novelist who has been more unemployed than employed this year. I finally started a temp job last month. In the meantime, I sent letters out to publishers and started editing my two manuscripts. I am so motivated to put both of my stories out next year. I can feel my time is coming. I’m just patient and allowing the Lord to work his wonders. God is so Good!
It continues to amaze me how he can just take so much from you to get you back on track and to get you focus. I love writing, researching, and critical thinking. I continue to feel blessed and impassioned to work for God’s glory.
I really enjoyed your article. May God always bless…Michael
November 2nd, 2005 at 1:06 am
Hi AlTonya. How are you doing?
I am a fan of BET/Arabesque books, so I look forward to reading your next book. I am a writer too, and I want to quit my day job just to write, write, and write. I know I can’t do this because it won’t pay the bills. I have one published book, I CONFESS, and I am waiting for my second book to come out, EVERYTHING AND MORE. I also published two books, REJECTION and ARTICLES FOR THE SOUL with http://www.lulu.com. I want to write for the rest of my life, but we have to be reality-based. The bills do have to be paid. Good luck with your books. Please check out my website, and sign the guest book.
November 2nd, 2005 at 10:18 am
Awesome testimony! This is only the beginning.
November 2nd, 2005 at 10:31 am
Did you send your manuscript to BET? Did you self-publish your book? Please expand how you got you first manuscript published?
November 2nd, 2005 at 11:18 am
AlTonya:
What an AWESOME testimony! Keep doing what God has called you to do. I am always happy to hear good stories about new authors who are just breaking into the literary world because it’s not every day that we are able to land deals like this. Keep your chin up and keep moving forward! Looking forward to possibly seeing you on the BIG screen some day! I am a published author who just released my latest, “From This Day Forward…” Please check me out at http://www.maplejohnson.com when you have a chance. Until next time–Peace & blessings 2-U!
November 2nd, 2005 at 8:22 pm
Altonya, I am so proud of you. All your preserverance and determination has paid off. You have inspired me so much. Writing is my dream (children’s books). I have so many thoughts and ideas I want to put on paper. My children are growing up so fast, I just want to remember and cherish the memories in my writing. Altonya, be blessed and as I have always told you, keep GOD first in your life and the sky will be the limit!
Ms Beatty
November 7th, 2005 at 11:41 am
It blesses my life everytime I read that someone’s writing dreams have been manifested. It gives me inspiration to know that my time will come soon.
November 12th, 2005 at 6:21 pm
Hi AlTonya. This is a wonderful story. I will be hosting a TV show here in Rocky Mount, NC Starting in December. I would love to have you as a guest on the show to talk about writing and publishing. If you are interested, send me an email with a short bio and I will send you some dates.
The show is a live show that is aired regionally, but for viewers who are not in the area, they can subscribe to watch the show via the internet.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Audrey
November 21st, 2005 at 5:27 pm
Thanks so very much to everyone. Your comments regarding the article “I Quit?” mean more to me than you could imagine. It’s great to know that I’m not the only one out there who had a dream that was often criticized-a dream that was extremely hard to obtain. I am as motivated by your comments as you have been by my article. Keep writing everyone! We’ve got dreams to fulfill!
AlTonya
September 5th, 2006 at 11:08 am
I just read A Love pretense could not put it down is there going to be another book on the Ramsey Family.Keep up the good work you motivated me.