Award-winning author Terry Fallis wrote the essay represented by the link above.
Terry is a successful writer, with multiple best-sellers, TV shows and awards to his credit.
I am a fan of his work. He’s a funny guy, and quite approachable – a good fellow. He’s been in this race for a while. He is not wealthy. He has had other jobs to support his writing.
He writes because he wants to, loves to, needs to.
Go ahead – follow the link.
My favorite quote in Terry’s commentary is from Jack Rabinovitch, the late founder (and funder) of the Giller Prize: “For the price of a dinner in this town (Toronto) you can buy all the nominated books. So, eat at home and buy the books.”
Books are not THAT expensive – depending on how often you eat out.
I don’t write to win prizes – although it would be nice. I write to tell the stories that squirrel around in my head, scratching the inside of my brain trying to get out – most uncomfortable!
I have written bestsellers – although I didn’t know they were important until I read what Terry wrote. And I have a decent body of work: 10 books, not counting 25 years of newspaper and magazine writing. I am quite surprised when I count it all up. So, why am I not wealthy?
Read what Terry Fallis wrote.
If wealth was my aim, I should have followed the advice of my elders back when I was a teenager, and entered another field of endeavour.
It could be worse. I have a roof over my head, food on the table, as many worldly goods as I can handle (that is, as many as I have time to clean and store), and – importantly – lots of loving family and friends.
And a place – and the time – to write.
Me, as a child, scanning the horizon for the pirates brandishing swords in the stories that were in my head.
