Recovering The SelfA Journal of Hope and Healing

Writing

I Made a Whole Dollar

by Patty Fletcher

My laughter rang out long and loud. The email stated, “Service at PayPal® You’ve received a direct deposit from Amazon®.” When I opened it to see my royalty payment, I laughed even harder. I’d made a whole dollar.

I don’t know just what struck me so funny at that ridiculously small sum but as I read on to see which book and from what seller it sold, I continued to laugh.

I think, what tickled me so was the thought that accompanied the reading of that statement. People are under this impression that the words “Starving Artist” are a joke. Folks, I’m just here to tell you, it ain’t no joke.

Though there are many authors both traditional and self-published who do break through into the industry and go on to fortune and fame, the majority of us do well to sell enough books each month to buy ourselves a decent dinner or bottle of wine. Pay bills and make our way in the world? Ha! Rubbish.

Don’t get me wrong, there have been a few times during my career as a writer when I’ve made great money. Back when I could afford to buy print copies of my books and then pack a backpack full and go out town to do errands or whatever other business I might have going on or attend a craft or book fair set up for selling my books, I could at times make anywhere from 60 to 80 dollars in a day’s time. But now we’ve a pandemic on and what with the fact that I’ve no steady income with which to purchase copies to keep on hand I’m completely dependent upon online sales.

I’ll be moving to a rent-controlled apartment soon which will ease my financial burden and am hopeful of being able to keep copies of my books once again on hand to sell to those who are interested in learning about the things of which I write, but until that day happens, I’ll keep laughing at the thought that ‘I Made a Whole Dollar’.

What’s the moral of the story? “Don’t quit your day job”. Write your books. Sing your songs or dance your dance. Chase your dreams but do it realistically. When I say to people that I’m self-employed and am a self-published author, do you know what I hear in the majority of voices when they answer? I hear awe. Somehow people have it in their heads that the life of a writer, musician, or some other type of artist is a glamorous existence. There are those who even romanticize the poverty in which some of us live. I’m here to tell you, if I didn’t have my disability check and work hard to make up the difference in the gaps which remain when that check is spent, I’d most likely be homeless and there’s no glamor or romance in that.

I certainly don’t want to discourage anyone from following their dreams. I just want to help you realize it’s a long bumpy road to success.

For now, my tale is done. My work awaits.

Thanks in advance for reading. May harmony find you and blessid be.

About the Author

Patty L. Fletcher lives in Kingsport, Tennessee, where she works full time as a Writer with the goal of bridging the great chasm which separates the disAbled from the non-disAbled. She is Also a Social Media Marketing Assistant. To learn more, visit:  https://pattysworlds.com/.

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Recovering The Self is a forum for people to tell their stories. Individual contributors accept complete responsibility for the veracity, accuracy, and non-infringement of their reporting.
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