Writing, Money, Balance: Spring Edition
- At May 10, 2015
- By Jeannine Gailey
- In Blog
- 0
Sorry I haven’t been around on the blog – in the last week, I took on a grant application, a manuscript editing project, construction – getting a large bathroom project done on the house, and, oh, yes, house hunting. Did I mention we’re also getting the house ready for sale? So it’s been a bit bonkers. My asthma’s been acting up – a sign of allergies, or a sign of stress? I threw out my shoulder doing something that should have been easy. These are physical signs of lack of balance – literal and metaphorical.
In the last ten days, we had several large unexpected expenses – over $1500 on the car, over $400 on the house project, plus trying to update the outside with freshly planted flowers for extra “curb appeal” when we go to list our place. Plus one of my student loan payments unexpectedly went up by $200. It all felt very humbling compared to what I make as a writer, editor, poet, etc. Right now I’m behind on unpaid work, like writing reviews and sending out my own poetry and, oh yes, writing poetry. This is all compounded by trying to bid on houses in the hot hot hot real estate market of the Seattle area, where houses are getting ten offers and going 100K over listing. You can see how this is good for selling, not so good for buying. Talk about money worries!
Applying for the $1500 grant – a time-consuming prospect – made me think, gosh, writers really do not get paid very much. I wish I was passionate about writing romance novels or crime thrillers or anything besides poetry, sometimes. (I’m a Taurus, very hard-headed when it comes to finances.)
My friend Kelli – who is a poet who remains at all times grounded and practical, wonderfully qualities – reminded me that we all have different goals when it comes to writing. I mentioned that my favorite thing about being a writer was when young people – high school and college students, especially – get to read my work. And that has happened, which makes me feel lucky, and I hope this new book gets taught as well. Poetry is more about goals besides money-making – making a difference, being remembered after you die, you know, that kind of thing.
What are your best prescriptions for poetry money worries? Let me know in the comments! Since it is a lovely May afternoon, I am going to go smell my little lilac which is in bloom, walk around on the waterfront in the sunshine, and do some other free but relaxing things. I’ve got a reading this week on Wednesday at The Station in Beacon Hill, which will be extra nice because I’m reading with a poet I admire but haven’t gotten to see read all that often, Nance Van Winckel. A local artist I like, Yumiko Kayukawa is having a show at Grace Gallery downtown this week as well, that I hope to get out to see. Seeing art and hanging out with poets seem like good counterpoints to unexpected bills, real estate and mortgage worries, and the like.