I'm an aspiring writer but also have a small music career on the side; I write and release my own music. It's nothing massive, but I've had a small loyal following for a few years now. I'm currently in the process of revamping my websites and am thinking of combining both my writing and music into a single brand, because at the moment they're separate and managing/building them is a pain.
Assuming I'm able to pull them both together into something cohesive, is this a good idea? Would me also being interested in creating music as well as novels make me look unfocused in the eyes of agents? My following probably isn't big enough to be much of an asset to my writing career as of yet, but might my music work against me when I'm out there in the query trenches?
This is too subjective for any kind of definitive answer.
Here's what my experience tells me: writing requires time. It requires deep thinking time. It requires staring at a screen and saying words out loud to figure out which one is the right one. There's no such thing as "quality time" for writing. It's quantity.
Most of my clients have income earning jobs that allow them to stare at their computer screen contemplating the difference between "smells" and "stinks" and "odiferous" on nights and weekends.
While it's entirely true that some people can do more than one thing at a time, truth be told, I want writers who are focused on polishing their work until it shines.
And again: time.
This means that when someone tells me they wrote three books in two years, or they have a burgeoning career in the music business as well as being a writer, my first uncharitable thought is harumph.
This ia blatant prejudice pure and simple.
But I don't think I'm alone in my bias.
I've never passed on a project cause I thought a writer was too busy.
I've passed on HUNDREDS of projects cause the writing wasn't polished.
Therefore it's not your website that will hurt you here.
It's the hundreds of hours you didn't put in to your writing.
The commments here today will no doubt have some examples of people doing two creative things well. I don't disagree with them. But, the question was, at when an agent looks at your website, what's the takeaway about a writer with another creative career as well.
I want to be wrong about this, so when you get a book deal, put my name in the Un-Acknowledgments with a big NEENER NEENER and I'll own it.
35 comments:
FWIW I do find that doing something else creative that is NONVERBAL actually helps writing creativity. But, to support our QOTKU, the difference is that I have NO delusions that my painting is in any way professional, a career, or even that I'm particularly good at it.
But spending an odd hour here and there contemplating Phthalo Green vs. Sap Green vs. Hookers Green does seem to free up the words so when I go back to the computer words flow more easily. And I have instant gifts for friends' birthdays and Christmas presents. (Potential friends BEWARE if you don't want stacks of paintings to hide in your attic!!!)
I'm also not spending any time promoting or building any kind of art career--but it does help writing creativity to do something differently creative. I suspect the same effect would work for any other nonverbal hobby: knitting, gardening, woodworking, pottery, basketweaving, sewing, cooking, etc. etc.
"This means that when someone tells me they wrote three books in two years ... my first uncharitable thought is harumph."
I don't understand. Three books in two years sounds like a productive writer to me.
Also, I would think if OP can incorporate their music into their plots it could enhance their marketing, make them a standout from the crowd a little.
Well, the author of The Magicians (which has done extraordinarily well - been turned into a television series) does both music and writing. I don't think he does anything else, however, and I could see those creative pursuits fueling each other.
I will be super impressed by anyone that is writing AND working a day job AND raising a family. I can't imagine how they would get it all in and be able to polish the writing. I work full time and raised a kid on my own. While my daughter was growing up, I stole little bits of time to write but could never polish anything. Or really finish anything worth a darn. I had so little time and energy left over at the end of a day.
It's only been about nine years (since my daughter was a junior in high school and finding her independence) that I have really been able to focus on my writing. And I am still not published.
My hat is off to the people that can work full time and polish a novel while taking care of young ones. There are some here that do that well, but man, that is some doing.
A lifetime ago I had three choices (talents): fine art (watercolor), music (melody and lyrics), writing (essays, op-eds, fiction). After winning numerous art shows I put my awards on a shelf. After the thrill of hearing my tunes played by a band, I left my piano behind when I moved. My first byline made the state’s biggest daily in 1988 (like I said, a lifetime ago.) Hundreds of published pieces later, I continue to write. I never looked back.
I used to believe that our futures are built on talents and how we enhance and hone them.
I was wrong.
Achievement, success and joy are not about talent, they are about choice.
OP, you are at a crossroad. Choose wisely and a lifetime from now you will know what I know, that yes, you can walk and chew gum at the same time but gum rots your teeth and walking keeps you healthy.
Un-Acknowledgments--ha!
Mhleader's mention of gardening jumped out at me. I don't plan to start a website about gardening. (It would have to be a comedic venture due to my un-green thumbs.) But I do find that oftentimes when I'm working in the garden, material for my writing floods my brain. I come back inside revved up and raring to go to the computer and get back to my writing. Ooooh, a thought: Maybe all these years of gardening weren't really about attempting to grow veggies; maybe they were really about the writing. Hmmm ...
OK, this made me remember Anne McCaffrey's DRAGONSONG, a book that incorporated music and story (well, lyrics, and the mc was singing in the book).
Anyway, the mix of art (music and writing) was incredible. My sister and I both read it and loved it. We made up our own music to go with the lyrics. Who knows if it was any good, but whatever because I remember believing the story as borderline real. I think it was because it mixed music with storytelling with creation in my mind.
I'm not sure if this is coherent but I hope so. And I know it's not exactly what OP is talking about. My point is, I think there's room in the world for all kinds of crazy art forms, away from the traditionally accepted of what will be the most successful. You never know what will inspire people.
I also love that Janet owns things. Un-Acknowledgments, ha!
I work full-time in technology and write in my off time and probably couldn't fit in more creative pursuits than that (or children! I know people that do this!!), but someone on Twitter asked recently if your full-time job was writing, what would you be doing in your free time? Immediately, I thought learn to play piano! Read more! Or maybe clean my house more often. The truth is I would probably end up watching Netflix or playing video games like I do in my free time now, but that's beside the point.
I do agree that time is important to further one's writing career, and honestly I've been worried about what experience and practice I'm missing out on because of 40-hour work weeks, but I need to eat and need a roof over my head, yada yada. So I don't know. Maybe if I had those 40 extra hours, I could follow multiple creative pursuits. I do think it'd be difficult if I was trying to make both my career though. I feel like one would still need to be a hobby.
I have a similar kind of prejudice to Janet's, but it's with regard to agents who are also published writers. How can you a) devote as much time to both endeavors as they deserve and not allow one of them to suffer, and b) how can you avoid conflict of interest with your clients who, no doubt, write in the same category?
But I also understand being an agent--especially one who's still establishing a client list--isn't exactly the most lucrative career choice. Many young agents have side jobs to help pay the bills. And if books, writing, and publishing is what you know, it makes sense you'd try your hand at getting published. So I have learned to temper my prejudice and save those tough questions for "The Call." :)
I'm sure Janet has learned to do the same. After all, regardless of whatever else the author does, if he's written an outstanding novel, that's what it's about, isn't it? And if he can write outstanding novels and make outstanding music, then both his music agent and literary agent are laughing.
There are plenty of people in other time-demanding fields, both within and without the arts, who have written novels.
But here's where branding can, I think, help focus your thinking, Opie. Most, if not all, of those people in other time-demanding fields who have written novels are known primarily for one thing. Their novelist careers are usually listed among the other things they do. John Lennon published two collections of art, prose, and poetry in the 1960s. Paul McCartney has recently written and published a children's story book. Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, and Steve Martin have all written novels (darned good ones, so I gather). James Franco and Sylvester Stallone have also published. The point is, they have carved out their artistic niche in a particular field, and all other artistic pursuits are side-lines to that. Fry, Laurie, Martin have branded themselves as actors/comedians primarily. At least when they started out, that's what they were. That's what they were known for. That was their brand.
So, what's your brand? If you had to choose between music and writing as a career, which would you do? Are you a musician who writes, or a writer who makes music? Is music part of your writing brand, or is writing part of your music brand? I'm not saying you have to choose which you do, but your answer to that hopefully will help you focus your creative energies on what you have the most passion for.
I won't go into my own story around this since I've already rambled long enough. But I think Janet has a point in her prejudice. If you try to pursue both a publishing and a music career, one of them will suffer. Your music output will be limited by the time you spend writing, and vice-versa. Unless I am mistaken, the famous names I listed above only started publishing after they became successful. Their success in their "branded" field afforded them the time to craft novels that, I daresay, they had been wanting to write for years. When you're starting out, you need to focus. If you secure an agent, do you have the time to deliver a second novel in 6-12 months? And how's novel number three coming along? And if your music career takes off, will you cut back on tour dates to fit in novel writing, or can you only write a novel every other year to accommodate touring and studio time?
Hard questions. But if you're serious about both your music and your writing, they are worth thinking about.
Enough of my wittering! Y'all have much better things to say...
I am a glorified woodworker. As such, and what I work on, I am a mechanical artist, aesthetic artist, chemist, scientist,and mathematician.
I think people who write should expand their horizons on a regular basis. Keep learning and it will increase what you can write about.
As far as picking words; I have spent days on one sentence and I have also thought I had it worked out, only to sit at my computer and have it all blank out. To me that means that I was on the wrong track.
I have been trying to make my writing more intuitive, maybe that is why wrong sentence fade into the sunset.
Colin: I would be willing to bet that someone was hired to write that list of books you referenced. Maybe even McCartney's children's book.
Y'all have a nice, safe, and productive weekend.
Craig: You'd lose that bet. I've followed these careers for a long time. Knowing Fry, Laurie, and Martin, I wasn't in the least surprised when they published novels. Fry and Laurie especially. They are both highly educated, very literate, and enamored with language. Lennon loved Lewis Carroll and Edward Lear from childhood, and that influence shows in both his later lyrical output as well in his books. As for McCartney, I have no doubt this book is based on stories he'd make up for his grandkids (he's said as much in interviews), and being McCartney, had more influence than most to be able to get it published. From what I gather, Franco and Stallone's efforts are not quite as impressive, so make what you will of that. :)
I came down here to say almost exactly what @mhleader said. Taking some time of to do an entirely different kind of creative thing for a while helps my writing like nothing else. At the moment, for me, it's stained glass work. Sometimes it's drawing. I can pursue all of that and make my writing better, not worse. However, working on other writing projects--even non-creative ones, like financial copywriting--will burn me out.
I went to art school. Pretty much every single creative person has multiple pursuits that they're interested in, dabble in, or that inspire them. I knew tons of people who were torn between acting and directing, music and illustration, writing plays and sculpting. Pretty much every single student had two majors they were interested in and had to pick.
I think if you're a full-time creative, it's a given you'll have multiple passions. Most visual artists I know are also big readers and write in their spare time. Just look at Ursula Vernon/T. Kingfisher, who has a Hugo Award. Most webcomic artists write their scripts and draw them. None seem worse at either for doing both.
Huh! The universe must be speaking to me. I love to paint oils but haven't done anything in almost 2 years. Meanwhile, I'm 8 months into 'research' and hamster wheeling on my next novel and I can't even decide definitively if it's a hard core mystery or a more literary effort with some murders....So maybe I need to get back in front of the easel and let things sort themselves out there!
FWIW, I recently bought George W Bush's art book, Portraits of Courage, and have it sitting here as motivation to do just that. I wasn't a fan of W as president, but I really dig his art--check it out!
OT
I have a story in the just-published edition of Empyreome Magazine. It's available for you to read, free of charge. It's called "Comment Box" and, though not stated in the mag, I dedicate it to y'all, the best comment box on the internet. :)
My comment would be that Muse can strike at any point--"time" can be productive or limiting. Too much time on one's hands can lead to laziness or lack of concentration--or too many hours at Spider Solitaire. Too little time can lead to "I'll do it when...."
My advice would be to use whatever time you have to produce the best writing you can and pray that Muse will move into your house.
I didn't start writing until my children were in high school, but I've had many hobbies over the years. Having other hobbies has helped my writing by 1)refocusing my attention so my subconcious can work and 2)giving me interesting things to include in my stories.
I find, though, that since I've started writing, the other hobby projects have gotten smaller (i.e. tote bags instead of quilts) because it's hard for me to put major effort into two differerent things. However, OP, that doesn't mean you can't. I wrote three books last year (2 70k novels, 1 40k novella)and it was tight. I know someone who wrote eight. Different people have different levels of energy and abilities. I can see, though, that since music and publishing take a lot of promotion time as well as creative time, you may find yourself focusing on one or the other for the next few years. Best of luck in whatever you decide.
COLIN I loved, loved, loved, your short story. I mean really, it is exquisite.
Congratulations, Colin. Now Carolynn has me wanting to duck out of work a few hours early just to read it. I can't wait. You write beautiful short fiction.
I certainly agree about the books that are rapidly turned out. Some authors feel that doing x number a year is a sign of professionalism but I disagree. Generally, the work suffers. For me, the gleam comes in the rewriting.
I’m a crafty sort—sewing, knitting, mukluks, moccasins—and I find that the time spent there actually helps my writing. I can’t compare that to a following in music, of course, but I don’t spend anytime advertising etc either. Could it be that the time spent in promotions is the issue?
Colin, wow! Great story! I was there with her all along the way.
"Most of my clients have income earning jobs that allow them to stare at their computer screen contemplating the difference between "smells" and "stinks" and "odiferous" on nights and weekends."
Dear heavens, that is so true. I am reading Rain aloud now. When I read it aloud, I wind up acting it out because when you read, you must READ. Fortunately, Gage the Wonder Dog is deaf, so he most ignores me, but on occasion when I am waving my arms about, he does give me the side eye.
Smiles. In a Margie Lawson course one of the exercises was to take an ordinary smile and make it something that sings. Sometimes a smile is just a smile. Sometimes it's an unnecessary filler you can get rid of. Usually, you can make it pull some weight.
One smile. Now, how many smiles do you have in your manuscript?
I have a place where the MC is inhaling leather three times in short order. It's on purpose, but it can't look like lazy writing by saying she inhaled the scent of new leather three times. Nor do you want linguistic gymnastics. The author has to disappear.
Easy reading is damned hard writing as they say.
I love your honesty and humor, Janet Reid!
All good comments here!
People vary widely in things like how productive they are, how much sleep they need, etc. I am on the low energy end, but I can imagine another kind of person working FT, raising kids, and still being a good writer. It depends on so many other factors.
When a story is happening in my head, it occupies my thoughts and emotions pretty much constantly. If I am doing a job that doesn't require a ton of concentration, then while I am doing it, my subconscious and often my conscious are still working on the story.
I know we are supposed to be "present," but I've always been a space cadet. If my mind wasn't occupied with the story, it would on something far less productive.
I've always enjoyed painting, sketching, some types of needlework, and gardening, but I've never done more than dabble. I do think it is helpful to create something other than stories--and some of my best ideas have come to me while picking beans or tomatoes--but my writing has always been the important creative activity for me.
Colin Smith
Thanks for a wonderful story. You describe being assimilated into an online group so well . . . I'm sure that jolt of recognition hit a lot of the folks here.
Colin I, too, sometimes wonder about editors and agents who are also authors. Ostensibly, I feel that if a person burns to write, they absolutely SHOULD write. But maybe.....maybe it's a conflict of interest to publish their own stories in their magazine (not naming names)? Or maybe one just doesn't speak of such things....
(also, your story is GREAT)
I at one time played guitar, but I learned guitar to play songs I already liked. I've never been a songwriter, or musically creative, just musically adroit. As a child, I picked out melodies by ear on my grandparents' piano, and begged for violin lessons that never came.
Colin, let me add my voice to the chorus ... great story!
Though I almost hesitate to say so *in a comment* ...
“Great story, Colin,” she says as she makes the sign of the cross!
Thanks everyone for your kind comments and support re. my story. I'm really pleased it found a home as it's one of my favorites. Not least because y'all inspired it. :)
I don't think OP is wondering if s/he should keep doing both, but rather if both should be on one website. I think not. I would keep them separate. That way each brand is focused and they don't detract from each other.
When you have a book published, you can mention it on the music site. When you have a CD released, mention it on the writing site. But keep your focus on the relevant brand contained to that website.
When I was running The Writer's Chatroom, I had a separate site for my accounting business. Each site mentioned the other, and had a single link for anyone who wanted to check the other one out.
My two cents. :)
Hey, very nice job, Colin. I still can't tell if I'm comforted or creeped out (it's truly an interesting feeling). Very compelling!
And, congratulations!
Congrats on a wonderful story, Colin. Loved it!
Colin--your story has stuck with me since I read it this morning. And the more I thought about it, the creepier it got. Now starting to feel that the blog hostess and her minions were rather malevolent actually....nice job! I feel evil now. Mwa ha ha ha....what brick wall?
Oh, well done, Colin! Both funny and creepy, as only you can do. I almost snorted tea out my nose when I made the Sarah Dippendie connection. I'm proud of you for getting your work out there. Thanks for linking to it.
On topic, I'm not going to address Janet's "blatant prejudice" because she's pretty clear about it being just that. Much respect, even though I disagree. As she said, that's not the point here.
OP, you might want to consider that the issue isn't *just* that you're engaged in two creative endeavors -- not a big deal, IMO -- it's that you appear to be in the very early stages of planning to run two businesses at the same time. Yes, writing is a business, even if you go the traditional route. That's a LOT to take on, especially since it sounds like you're too new to both ventures to have first-hand knowledge of what that would entail. Or maybe you DO know, since you said, "at the moment they're separate and managing/building them is a pain." With my experience in business/finance, there are many reasons why I would hesitate to combine the two, operationally or financially (that is opinion, not advice).
I'm not saying you *can't* do it, just that you might want to proceed with caution until you get a better feel for how much time/work/money is involved in making each career a success. Best of luck to you.
This topic is in my lane, so to speak. As someone just mentioned, you seem to be at the beginning of each of these endeavors. (My apologies if I mis-read that) It's hard to dive into two pools at the same time, but once one is well developed, it can be good cross training to develop the other.
Or at least I hope it is, since that's what I'm doing. I do think that working out of your comfort zone in another medium/creative pursuit can spark ideas and connections that wouldn't happen otherwise. I've been a painter for over 40 years and it's been supporting me for over 30 years. The writing bug bit about 11 years ago, when I started the cartoons and then started working on books for children. Another friend of mine is a trained classical musician, a writer, and dabbles in visual art. she says working on one, helps her work on the others.
I agree that the websites should be kept separate, but I see nothing wrong with referencing one on the other. It's not that you want to deny the other part of your creative work, you just don't want to muddy the waters or confuse people.
OT: Colin, LOVED your short story Comment Box. ...Um...I hope you're not proposing that kind of entry to comment here're you?
Colin, great job and congratulations on the story! I quite enjoyed it.
Post a Comment