Quote:
Originally Posted by calvin-c
Work. Now there's an interesting concept. As a programmer I don't consider programming work-to me it's fun. Yes, I want to get paid for it-but I don't insist that I need to get paid for all that I do. As long as I make enough to decently live on (an amount that varies not only from person to person but also, with me, from time to time) I'm fine. I guess authors are different-or maybe they're as different from each other as everybody else is?
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I suspect authors are much like the rest of us. For some it is fun and for others it is difficult and stressful. For some it is just a job.
I was a programmer for quite a few years, and it was rarely fun. But it paid well. I still do it on occasion when greed takes over, but still not fun.
I know at least two people to whom cleaning is the greatest pleasure. I'm talking down and dirty cleaning involving disgusting environments. Each to their own I guess.
If you were out of work you would probably continue programming as a hobby. Would you spend as much time and energy on it if you were providing it free of charge to people who could afford to pay for it and chose not to because you like doing it so why should you get paid?
Lots of people enjoy hobbies and they give away the fruits of their labours because after all what are you going to do with 200 crocheted tea cozies, and lots of authors give away books, and programmers write programs for free, just because they can. But for most there comes a time when they say enough is enough. Not only does it take up increasing amounts of time, but people become demanding. A friend of mine used to knit dishcloths and give them to friends. Two different people approached her and asked her to make a hundred or more so they could use them for Christmas gifts. Only one offered to pay for the materials, the other wanted to know if she could have them in two weeks.
My friend politely told them it took her an hour or so to make one so she would have to take time off work at $30 an hour to do it in a timely manner and most likely have to work 24/7 to do it. Wish I had been there to see the proverbial blank stares
Helen