Writing is another kind of marriage. It is a relationship.
Say to your writing on the day of your vows, “I will love you in sickness and in health,” and it will say the same to you, sickness and health. And it will say to you, “I don’t ask for much. A few hours in the mornings or evenings. A rested and sober mind. Healthful foods and a little exercise to stay clear. A stack of books that I may never finish. And dash of faith and a little elbow room to surprise us both from time to time.”
And like any marriage, some days the other will earn a little more to support the other, and some days the other will have to do their part a little more. Just as I supported my writing early on, saying, “I will work this bar job for a few years, I will cater this or that event to bring in some money for a little food, for a room where you can find quiet hours to do whatever you want to do,” she will sometimes say to me (my writing is definitely a she) “buckle up, my love, I’m going to take you to see the world, and if you want you can finally buy those headphones you’ve been eyeing for the last year.”
And then on the other end of that season, she’ll come to me and say, “Well, it looks like there won’t be a renewal on my project, so I’m not sure what’s next. We saved a little though, and I will try to make something else in the meantime.”
And I say, “okay, my love, I will return to teaching as much as I can, and I’ll do my best to provide those few hours a day for you in the mornings or the evenings so you can do whatever it is you want to do. And now that I’m teaching, maybe you can sit in from time to time and learn from my students, or share what you know with them, too.”
And then one day she comes to me and says, “my love, I found something, but it isn’t going to make much money. Are you mad?”
And I say, “No. What is it?”
And then she tells me, “Actually, this one might end up costing us money.”
And I say, “Are you sure this is the next one?”
And she nods, yes.
And I smile and tell her that I trust her, and that I’ll make sure she has her time and hours to do it.
“All I need,” she says, “is a few hours in the morning or the evening, a rested and sober head, a downed internet connection, healthful foods and a little exercise for clarity, books… and maybe this time? A few hundred dollars, maybe more, for a stack of paper, envelopes, postage stamps, a website. Is that okay?”
How can I say no? So I say yes.
Come what come will. Let’s have an adventure and be wrong as often as we are right.