[Main Blog Post] Looking Back on 2024 and Forward to 2025

[jprussell]

Another year, another end of year post. Not much that will be new, though if you haven't been keeping a tally, you're likely not sure how many posts I put up this year, and I seriously hope you don't already know how many books I read.

Comments

[thinking_turtle]

Thanks for sharing your oath and I offer my best wishes for 2025!

Writing for a living seems like a tough nut to crack. When your customers are not businesses or governments they can afford relatively little. Writing just one thing for pay is an interesting approach. It might be easier to get paid for reading from your own work.

[jprussell]

Thank you for the good wishes!

Would you mind expanding a bit on what you mean by "easier to get paid for reading?"

Cheers,
Jeff

[thinking_turtle]

Over here there are meetings where an author reads from his own work, or gives a presentation based on his research, or teaches on a subject. Perhaps there is a question and answer session, perhaps there are drinks, perhaps there is a meal. People who are interested in the author's views pay to attend the event. They're hosted by a local school or church or community center.

[jprussell]

Ah, I see, thank you! I know that well-known authors do that (I went to a Q&A and book signing Neal Stephenson gave one time), but I hadn't considered it. I suppose I should add it to my list of possibilities!

[thinking_turtle]

That's cool, I went to a few book signings, but not as well-known as Neal Stephenson :) Some people go because they follow the author, but also because the subject interests them, or because they are regulars for an event that an association they are members of puts up. When there's an organizer looking for speakers Nordic Sagas sounds like something they might be interested in. I remember JMG also spoke at conferences for a while.