This past weekend, I took a road trip with some girlfriends to see the Biltmore House in Asheville, NC. The house of course is beautiful and totally ridiculous as far as the size and luxury. What would it be like to have this much money? The one common ground I felt with George Vanderbilt was his love of books. His library was spectacular and he had books everywhere.
It got me thinking if I was independently wealthy would my focus on fiction be more intense?
It’s very hard to write fiction when you still need to eat. This is why I adore writers who make it happen with day jobs — which includes most writers since fiction can’t feed you until you’re published–and even then you won’t be eating porterhouse steaks unless you’re very lucky.
So I think that most writers — whether they’re single or have a spouse or sponsor supporting them — they have to write for art’s sake. Writing for food may be hazardous to your health.
In this economy, I feel blessed even to have a day job, so I won’t complain. Any money that I make from my writing will be honored and I’ll be very appreciative of it.
These are questions I’ve often asked myself, Karen, and I really just don’t know what I’d do if I suddenly found myself as wealthy as someone like Vanderbilt. Would I still write? Definitely. But beyond that, I just don’t know.
I might find a struggling publisher and buy them up, just for fun, and then submit my works under a pseudonym to the editorial department to see what happened. :-)
Oooo! I wish you had stopped through Charlotte and picked me up. It’s probably the only way I’d make it to the Biltmore.
Those who write while holding down a day (or night) job earn MUCH respect from me.
Sometimes, though, it helps to have a limited amount of writing time. It forces you into a schedule, which may actually increase productivity.
Ladies, I would LOVE to have the Vanderbilt money. But I would be sort of like Lynne. I’m not sure if I would write–there would be so many other things to do—travel, buy diamonds, LOL. And you’re right Tee, having a day job does make you value your writing time more.
wow that’s awesome! I always imagined if I won the lottery I would write more and go back to school and do whatever I wanted. I don’t know!
While in Charlotte recently for the AACBWI Conference, I heard a lot about the Biltmore house and wanted to visit, but couldn’t. Thanks for sharing a photo and your experience, Karen.
@Danielle: You should definitely go visit when you get a chance, but you may to go when the weather is cool. The house has NO air conditioning. But it’s a gorgeous house—really beautiful with TONS of rooms! Event the servants had decent rooms.