There are really so many misconceptions about writers, what they make, how they do what they do, that it’s laughable.

Not all writers parade around in bunny slippers, dashing off a book in a weekend between watching reruns of Supernatural. And writers usually don’t make an astounding amount of money. Not even those that hit the golden hallowed ground of New York Times Bestseller.

See what I mean – a first-hand account with actual royalty statement, compliments of Lynn Viehl at GenReality. Out of a $50k advance (only two-thirds you get before the book comes out, 15% percent of which goes to pay the agent) she netted less than half. Of the $40k+ royalty for a top 20 NYT bestselling book. She got zero in her paycheck (because she has to pay back the advance).

Writers don’t write for the money. Most of us write to keep our sanity, because we really do have other people’s voices (our characters) talking incessantly in our heads.

So how long, exactly do you need to work at this before you start making anything at all? It depends. That’s the straight up truth.

Read this and you’ll understand: How do You Know When to Quit over at Murderati.  You stop when you can’t go anymore, and for most writers, the process is far more invovled that the end result you see on a bookstore shelf.  We spend months, sometimes years, of our lives on stuff you read in a week or less. 

The truth about writing is this, and I’m only telling you because I know a lot of people want to write the Great American Novel someday: Writing is a lot of work. Hard work. The majority of time you are rejected. Persistence is key. Talent is important. Learning and improving your craft a constant given. But timing, opportunity, just like the singer Susan Boyle in the link you’ll find in the Murderati link, that is the critical element that makes it all come together.

I promised that I wasn’t fooling around!  Today I’d like to announce the two winners for my month long blog tour contest.  If you commented on one of the blogs I was at, like Vampire Wire, Patricia’s Vampire Notes, the Harlequin Paranormal Romance Blog, or Make Believe Mondays, you were entered to win.

The two winners are: Kim Giardna who’ll be getting both a $20 gift certificate to Wicked Wines Online (where she can indulge in either red Vampire Vodka or other Vampire Winery offerings) and a copy of Salvation of the Damned.

MelJPrincess, you’ve won those snazzy customizable chrome fangs and a copy of Salvation of the Damned.

Congratulations to you both!

After one of the worst Winters in the Pacific Northwest since the 1860s, I’ve really been looking forward to Spring.

You know I was just beginning to think that Spring was really here. Near my house there is a wetland area and every year I wait to hear the chorus of tree frogs start up. That’s a sure sign Spring is just around the corner. Well the frogs have been singing. Loudly.

Then I saw the crocus coming up and even had a few early daffodils bloom. That’s a irrefutable sign Spring is here.

And we even had the Spring Equinox so it isn’t getting dark before 5 p.m. anymore.

But then it happened. Today, April 1, April Fool’s Day. Apparently Mother Nature is in on gags today too, because it’s snowing! I can’t even begin to tell you how wrong that is. We live in an area that gets decorative snow maybe once a year. You know the kind that falls, is there for a day to make snowmen, then melts away?

Sigh. Just when I thought it was Spring…

I guess it’s Mother Nature’s way of saying Spring Break is for writing, go back to your keyboard!