𝙂𝙊𝙉𝙂𝙅𝙐.

not to derail the low income writer thing, but I’ve actually had this discussion before, many times, in smaller writing circles, with how so much of the current writing and publishing “climate” does not adhere nor even acknowledge how difficult writing (or any creative outlet tbh) can be for people to pursue - even as a hobby - when your energies are sapped into simply surviving, into struggling through life, working full-time, perhaps even balancing multiple jobs, or care-giving children, elderly or sick family, with little to show for it beyond the absolute minimum. how the current economic living crisis has been inevitably crushing creatives, and potential creatives, when there are so many limitations, not just financially, but in time and in energy

I just want to add that this has always been an issue. Successful writers have historically been those who were wealthy or could otherwise be supported by a spouse or sponsor of some kind. It is very hard to be successful at writing in the midst of fighting for survival, but the concept of the “starving artist beating the odds” is so pervasive and people think it just happens every day. It does, in fact, not. Being able to dedicate your full energy and attention to your craft is actually a significant factor in whether you will see even a modest level of success. But that doesn’t make for a warm and fuzzy feel-good story, does it? People would rather focus on the emotionally masturbatory idea of poor people pulling themselves up by their bootstraps even though the demands of capitalism are standing on their necks.