I’m due to give an online workshop with Colorado Romance Writers — in past years this has been very well attended (it’s the Show & Tell Workshop), but this year isn’t looking too full. And might well be canceled. They show other workshops they’ve held in the past couple of months as also canceled. Which makes me think folks are really tightening belts and budgets, and this falls under extras.
I’ve cut back on a few things–less trips, fewer lattes out, and really thinking twice before I buy a book (but I’m still buying and have hit a new streak of great reading).
But I’ve also seen writer contests struggling, pushing back close dates, entries dropping. So now I’m wondering if it’s a time crunch as well as cash–as in the second job take, or the extra work undertaken, or the stress of job shopping (can be hard on the muse, I know).
Maybe it’s due to just too many contests, too many workshops online, too much info floating about. There’s certainly nothing wrong with putting your head down and writing–much more can be learned from the doing instead of the learning. But I do wonder how this will shape the market, and future writers.
Shannon Donnelly's Fresh Ink 
I think finding the time and money is a big part of the problem. I know for myself, being a mother of 2 and working full time with my husband only working part time causes a lot of stress financially. Not to mention where do you find the time to attend workshops. I’m positive when the economy gets back on its feet things will work out much better for the market and for future writers. Hope that your workshop goes on as scheduled!
Cheers.
There’s a wonderful quote from Toni Morrison, “I think women dwell quite a bit on the duress under which they work, on how hard it is just to do it at all. We are traditionally rather proud of ourselves for having slipped creative work in there between the domestic chores and obligations. I’m not sure we deserve such big A-pluses for all that.”
What I love about that is how she questions the role of creative work, and the priority–or lack of priority–given to what is often the most important thing–what feeds the soul. I often look at my own life and think there are times I’ve let the mundane, the ordinary take up too much of my focus. Yes, bills must be paid, but I’m miserable in the process, that’s doing no one much good and myself much harm.
I actually hope when the economy gets better–or if it gets worse, or stays the same–that the end result is a reshaping of priorities. How lovely to fit the domestic chores and obligations in between the creative work and the work that feeds the soul.
You know, that is a great quote and thank you for sharing it. You’re right too; no matter how the economy is going we should definitely make time regardless how busy we are feed the soul.
Writing for me has back in a time in my life where I need the distraction most. More so than 10 years ago, it’s my time where I get to diffuse any frustration and get to create some really cool characters.
Have a great day and I’m really enjoying reading your blog!
I know you don’t know me, but I’ve heard good things about your workshops. Would you be interested in doing an online workshop for the FF&P Chapter of RWA? If you are I’d be happy to send the request for proposals or answer any questions you might have about doing one for FF&P.
Hope to hear back soon. And thanks.
Sharon
I’ve heard good things on FF&P, too 🙂