Nava’s right–I do have a job. I’m with my mom right now because I can’t afford to pay the lion’s share on the house AND rent on an apartment. I mean, not if I want to, like. You know. Eat. She’s also said she likes having me here, and I suspect it’s true. . .but I also know my mom wouldn’t bitch if her head’s on fire. That being said, once I’m on my own, being able to contribute to living expenses more fully will definitely help her out.
I’m also not certain I want to stay in this area.
And, seriously; thanks to everyone for the kind thoughts (Seige, I got your PM and’ll respond at work). I guess my wanting to do school is a product of my upbringing. My parents always really, really stressed the absolute importance of education. Which means that I think the solution to everything is found on a multiple choice test. I’m also really good at classes.
I’ve thought about writing about this (though, since it’s not one of those teary-eyed, “we all learn to accept each others’ differences” stories, I suspect it wouldn’t be well-received). Unfortunately, any kind of publication is pretty thoroughly out of the question right now, as he’s not out to his parents yet.
How he’s managed to hide C-cups is pretty well beyond me.
Jane Yolen has said in the past that she needs to have 12 books in print at any given time to support herself. Now, her books tend to be a little niche, I suppose you only need one if you manage to write “To Kill a Mockingbird” on your first shot - or even just “The DaVinci Code.” But I’m not exactly sure that anyone can set out to write “The Great American Novel” or even just “52 weeks on Top of the NYTimes Bestseller List” and do it.
A friend of mine has two published novels - after sending manuscripts off for twenty years. He still depends on his wife to support him, but now he has more than “short story going out to dinner cash” from his writing.
So write if it is your passion (or just something you want to try), but understand that it isn’t likely to be a means of supporting yourself (or paying student loan bills for an MFA) until you have a body of published work.
Oh? Take what you have, add a handsome stranger showing up in the last page and it would be perfectly cromulent for the “chick fiction” section at most airports.
