[QUOTE="Dan Jones, post: 2298796, member: 37181"Jo's funded book didn't find a home*. So maybe there is some correlation between success and what the author is most passionate about.
*not to say you weren't invested in the writing, but the creative process had to, presumably, be given equal consideration as did the corporate / proposal writing process.[/QUOTE]
Yet
It will appear somewhere - either published, or self published. I like it too much not to bring it out (and I think others will like it too. Donegal and a Wild Fae hunt through a bleak, strange estate, with a grisly murder chucked in. What's not to like?
)
Here's the key thing. The Arts Council do not fund based on the marketing merit of the book. That's not what they look to do here. I know this is so different from other parts of the UK, but they seek to support who they consider talented writers contributing to the Northern Irish creative scene, and giving back to it. So, it was more important that the book stretch me (as it did) and enhance my writing skills (ditto) than that it was commercial and would make me a fortune. I mean, it's nice when that happens, but, realistically, if that type of book was not supported in some way (and it wasn't a fortune, I was given, just enough to drill back work for a couple of months), it wouldn't get written, and then we wouldn't have an Anna Burns to look up to here.
So, commercial outcome wasn't the point of that book.
In case I sound like a mercenary cow here, this is my take on it:
I have very little time. Like, so little. Writing has been stolen from every corner I have over for 8 years. Now writing related activities (which I love, like conventions, and festivals, and courses) are stealing more time, and my balance is completely out. I am not -quite - at the position of being able to rely on that income, which means my day job is not - quite - ready to be downsized, as I'd like to. So, I'm afraid, in order to rebalance I do need to think of where I'm putting my efforts. Which is why my writing scheldule looks like this:
Write the New Thing (because it was funded. And I love it, but that's secondary)
Finish Inish Carraig 2, because people are waiting for it and it should sell well
Then go and do Abendau prequel, and maybe the sequel. I'd much rather write these than the IC sequel, because I adore Abendau's world, but it will not sell as much, it will not give me as much promotional presence, and it will do little to enhance my career.
So, yeah, that's hard-nosed. But I need to maintain my sanity, too - and that means getting the pay connundrum more balanced.