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David Perlmutter's avatar

Britain used to have a system where they would grant well-known writers in financial distress an allotment of such-and-so pounds a year, in tribute to their achievements as well as to prevent them from starving. (Arthur Machen, one writer I admire, benefitted from that towards the end of his life.) I only wish such a system existed in North America, without strings attached.

We have the grant system, of course, but the language they use in the instructions is almost like esparanto to me. Plus, they always make it contingent on certain projects, and they are biased towards some at the expense of others. At least it's healthy in Canada; the Americans are threatened by cost-cutting measures and the President's egotism.

Universal Basic Income has never been needed more than now. And underpaid writers would be the ones who would most benefit from it.

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God, Sex, and Rich People's avatar

Ohhhh how I needed this today more than you know.

First of all, YES. The internet made it easier to be a writer and also, harder. Unpopular opinion, not everyone *is* a *good* writer. Not everyone meets each sentence, word, and syllable with care. Not everyone truly delights and is fully in alignment with their soul when telling story through the perfect combination of words and sentences and beats. AI has exacerbated this issue, making everyone think they should write a damn book with a robot helping them. The point of books is that they are arduous, artistic processes in print! Ugh. I digress...

And then there's the making money of it all. I've made most of my money (and I am 34 as I write this) from nannying for the uber wealthy. We all work for the man, I just work in his home. The frustration of this was particularly punch in the stomach-y the day my published book released and I was on the playground getting bullied by a billionaire's baby. Even with the royalty splits, I made more in a week getting pummeled by privilege than I've made in book sales.

And yet...

I know my writing is great. I know that it is truly changing people's lives for the better. I know my book is healing through humor and helping readers feel #SEEN. I know because they reach out, I've met them at book signings. Sure, they're not coming in droves (yet), but I wrote a book I am so delighted to and proud of and confident in sharing. My partner reminds me regularly that I am living the best life. When I pass, unlike many others, I will not have lived for anyone else. I am truly living in authentic purpose, and that is incredibly brave.

Thank you for the gift of your words today :)

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