Dear Reader,
Well, I’m in Monterey this morning, here to help some writers. Also here to write on my own.
When I was writing the Since You Asked column for Salon.com, which I did for nearly 12 years, every day I wrote it I wanted to be proud. It was an extraordinary opportunity for a writer, for someone who really doesn’t know how to do much else and so has had to find jobs writing and editing and weather the uncertainties and deprivations of such jobs. Having had writing jobs and lost writing jobs I knew also that it would eventually end. That had been my experience and my observation, that writing jobs end. They live at the most 15 or so years, like dogs. So I was ready for it to end.
But every day until it ended I wanted it to be something I could be proud of. So I never slacked. I never dashed anything off. It may have seemed at times that I did but when the column was sloppy or not well thought out it was just because I reached the limits of my own personal ability. Because I knew it would end and I wanted to serve in that strange army with whatever strange distinction I could muster.
So when I left Salon, when that job ended, I thought at first that the noble and fine thing to do would be to end it. I did not want it to have a sloppy, drawn-out death of half-starts. So if I were to continue, I would have to give it the same effort as before. This I continue to hold to. So if I cannot give it the same attention and care and desperate effort as before, I do not think I should do it.
This raises a problem, because the one reason I was able to throw myself into it every day was that I knew it was paying the bills. I knew that as long as it was a salaried occupation, I could give it everything and be exhausted and unable to do much else for the rest of the day, and that was OK because the nut had been secured.
The nut is now not secured. So when I write the column I must somehow again reach that fevered certainty that what I am doing is vital.
I am going to try to reach that condition by placing “Donate” buttons at the end of the column. I will see if that works. I figure on some days, if the column reaches a person, truly reaches them, changes their life for the moment, as I have been told these columns occasionally do, then it would not be unreasonable to say that such a column might be worth $25, or $50, or more. Not every day of course, but I would like to present that option, that when a column truly moves someone, they can express that, and by doing so, they can keep me writing it. And of course it would also be possible to donate $1, or $5, or nothing. The column would be free. The donation would be like an expression, a statement: Yes, Cary, I want you to keep doing this. Do that again. Here’s some vital inducement to do that again.
Because I really am going to have to figure out how to make a living.
So for today, because I do not feel I can give it everything I have, because I am in Monterey and have to go to breakfast and see if I can be of service to some other writers, because the day is uncertain and I am in a strange hotel, because I never want to rush it or short-change it or cut corners, I do not think I am going to write a column today. Besides, I have to figure out how to work those “Donate” buttons.
Thanks for being there.
CT
p.s. Oh, one other thing. I find that I miss the daily writing for an audience. I have never acquired the habit of blogging about whatever, because that seemed pointless and self-indulgent and also because I had the column as a perfect outlet for my daily writing obsession. But now that I don’t have the column, and I can’t afford, mentally, spiritually and economically, to write the column every day, I may just adopt the habit of blogging every day about just whatever. It would at least give me the illusion of being in touch with others. And the bar would be a bit lower, so that if I had nothing of any consequence to say, I could still meander a bit, like a morning walk with friends, not saying much of anything, just mumbling, but being there.
Anyway, that’s it for today, from me, for real this time, down here in Monterey in the fog, by the beautiful, beautiful sea.
Cary,
This is just great! Thank you for continuing to write for yourself and for us. I have been learning a lot from you over the years, and I applaud this new venture. I’m sure I’ll use the Donate button on some of your columns. Plus, I’ve just started writing my own first book. And I think there’s at least one more book that I’ll write after that. Maybe more! So thanks again.
And if you’d like to get some insight on the amazing human topic of caregiving for aging parents (or spouses, neighbors, second cousins, and so on), visit me at http://JoyousParadox.com, my blog on health and healing for elders and their families. New this week: Self-Care Diary, a seven-day experiment in reporting what I do to help myself stay healthy in recovery from compulsive overeating.
Yeah Cary, why the f**k did Salon fire you? What were they thinking. I too miss Ray in Korea and the community of people who used to comment at Since you Asked. Glad you are here writing even if it’s not daily.
Good idea Cary. I agree that you must be paid for your work. I was one of the hundreds (thousands?) dismayed when you left Salon. (What’s the goss on that by the way?)I’m willing to stump up now and then, so get the donate button sorted, man. Oh, and RayinKorea, where the hell are you?