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Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Karma vs. the Check Book



 This is December's post of Alex Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group.  For links to other posts on writing related, anxiety-type topics, click here.

Last spring, Grub Street offered a novel writing course locally, and I jumped at the chance to take it, though not without guilt.  When I got down to it, I could afford to pay for the class, but was it right to spend that kind of money on myself?  What would I have to show for it?   Nothing I could touch or store on a shelf.  But then I remembered something that helped me rationalize.  I’d written an article several months earlier and payment wasn’t scheduled until publication, the month the class started.  My fee would cover the Grub Street cost.  Bazinga.  I ran to the computer to pay.
  
When that class ended, the teacher asked if we would be interested in taking another session.  As much as I wanted to, dollar-sign guilt fluttered up again.  But get this.  The same week, a local editor asked me to write another article, this time with a much closer publication date. Yeehaa!  Sign me up.

So now, I'm finished with session two.  Grub Street is offering another class after the beginning of the year.  They switch things up and focus on different aspects of novel writing so it will cover new material.  I know how much this effort is helping me improve, so this time when the teacher asked who’d be interested, I raised my hand.  I didn’t even consider that the bill would come due at holiday time.

So here’s the synchronicity.  When life happened last winter and I had to take on more hours at work, I scaled way back on pitching articles, or shopping myself as a freelancer.  Anything that comes my way is gravy right now.  So here I am, all, “Damn the guilt, I’m paying for the third class anyway” when I get an email from the same editor asking for another article. 

Serve me up some mashed potatoes. We start back January 13.

10 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Good for you! Something covered it every time, and I bet something will cover it the third time as well. You are getting paid to write, so this is an investment in your skills.
And besides, sometimes you have to do something for YOU.

Bish Denham said...

Now that's what I called being hooked up with the Universe!

Unknown said...

Since you are working as a writer, shouldn't these courses be tax deductible or something?

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

Sounds like a terrific twelve months. Happy for you.

Robin said...

I believe that this is what faith looks like. If you have faith that it will be handled, it will. There is something in The Bible about thanking God for taking care of your needs BEFORE it happens. It isn't easy. I suppose that is why they call it Faith.

Diane Burton said...

It's great that you were open to new opportunities. Isn't that what's important? Best wishes.

Yvonne Osborne said...

Good for you. Sign me up!

Anonymous said...

You've made the right decision if it's helping you become a better writer!

Robin said...

Before I cover it up, I want you to know that I dedicated something to you on the Thursday post:)

mshatch said...

That sounds fabulous! Lucky you :)