On Being a Failed Writer

A couple of years ago, this essay got “Fresh Pressed” on WordPress. I’m not sure exactly what that means but “On Being a Failed Writer” immediately went from a blog post that dropped off the page before anybody noticed to the second most read piece on this site.

Now someone’s translated it into Spanish.

http://www.hojaenblanco.com/sobre-ser-un-escritor-fracasado/

Writers Without Money

At the age of 50, I am a failed writer. Except for a few articles on CounterPunch, everything I’ve published has been self-published. I’ve worked tens of thousands of hours, written hundreds of thousands of words, and have never made a dime. Had I spent the same amount of time at a minimum wage retail job, I’d be rich, or at least a shift-supervisor at Starbucks. I haven’t been able to find an audience. You probably won’t even read this.

So why don’t I quit?

I tried. From the age of 25 to the age of 50, I had one goal In life, to cure myself of the urge to write. But I failed. Let me explain.

The urge to write should never be confused with the ability to make a living by writing, or even the ability to express yourself by putting words down on paper. T. S…

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One thought on “On Being a Failed Writer”

  1. Hi, I read this and it’s made me think of my own failure. of having to jump from one idea to another and I’d like to say that it’s okay *pats on your shoulder*.

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