An Emerging Writer's Christmas - K. Marie
Christmas. Puzzle solving in pyjamas, meals prepared outside of a microwave and three decades’ worth of decorations decking the halls. In my family’s Tasmanian brick home, ‘tis the season to be jolly. And as the first writer in a family of overachievers, ‘tis also the season to be rehearsing some answers. Fast.
When my sister chose medicine over architecture, she joined the somewhat long list of medical practitioners in the family. As she aced her studies, we cheered her on. When she took the Hippocratic Oath, we celebrated. When she ummed and ahhed over a speciality, my family ummed and ahhed with her. With her career path, there was always an understanding of success and failure.
When my brother chose architecture over medicine, he followed in the footsteps of our father’s family’s success. Although there were fewer architects in the family, there were still plenty of questions about ergonomic designs and sustainable living over glazed ham and mash.
So, when I chose writing, after giving up on understanding multicellular organisms and the complexities of geometry, it was unprecedented. There was no set path, no relatives to lean on for guidance. In fact, the better part of my family tree still doesn’t really understand what a Bachelor of ‘Creative Writing’ even is and how one could ‘study’ it. I love my family, and they love and support me, but I just can’t get a conversation going about the Oxford comma in the same way that my siblings can about antibiotic resistance or Grand Designs.
In less than two weeks I’ll be sitting around the family table doing it all over again. Scratching my head trying to come up with answers to prove to my family and friends that my career in writing is, in fact, blossoming. Even if it doesn’t feel like it yet.
This year, as I ready myself for the return of Christmas cheer and curiosity, I recall the questions that have stumped me in the past.
1. The book questions: How’s the book coming along? When’s the book getting published? What is your book about?
Contrary to popular belief, I’m not actually working on a best-selling novel. Not every writer is, but people don’t always understand that. Instead of focusing on a non-exciting book, I try redirecting this question by answering what I’m working on at the time, or what I’ve written during the year. I try to not let the mention of manuscripts overwhelm me. Short stories, poems, and personal essays are plenty impressive with the right crowd.
2. The curious reader: Can I read your stuff? Where can I find the things you’ve written? Do you have a blog where you post what you have?
These questions are great for when I’ve recently published a piece that I’m proud to share! Not so great on the days I’m not feeling overly confident though… There’s plenty of reasons why I prefer to keep my writing to myself, so I’m learning to stand my ground and not cave to the whims of a pushy friend of a friend who ‘knows about marketing’. On that note, I do have a pretty useful party trick: the truth. Sometimes, I just explain that I’m polishing a piece for a journal that won’t consider work that has previously been shared online. Therefore, it’s simply out of my hands.
3. The broker questions: Are they paying you yet? What are your plans if this doesn’t work out? What kind of job can you get when you graduate?
Talking finance over dessert is never the best part of a holiday, but it’s always part of the package. There’s only so many times I can say “I’m still building my portfolio” and “the experience is my pay” before I stop believing it myself. I know I can’t cash in referees, but my hope is that enough connections will lead me somewhere, someday. And that’s exactly what I try to remember during the holidays. I breathe in and out and recite “a career in the publishing industry is a marathon, not a race”. I don’t know when or how things will work out; I’m just trying to meditate through this bumpy ride.
Above all, I try to remember that these questions don’t accurately measure my success, and that no matter how badly I answer them this year, I can always try again next Christmas. After all, anything can happen. Maybe I will be working on a best-selling novel by then. How exciting! I can’t wait to find out what it’s about and where I can read it…
K. Marie - Queensland Writers Centre Intern (QUT)