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Before and After the Book Deal, Part Two
May. 25th, 2021 09:31 amI know I was dismissive of this book in my previous post, but it actually gives four really good and specific pieces of advice that resonated with me.
First, the only real purpose of an MFA degree is to qualify you for academic teaching positions.
Second, you really don't want to enter academia, though. Especially not as an adjunct.
Third, it's okay not to invest your time and energy into projects you have a bad feeling about or just don't want to do, even if they're paid. This includes book reviews and ghostwriting.
Fourth, it's not going to benefit you or anyone else if you're awkward on social media or at in-person events, and it's totally fine not to do either if it makes you feel weird and gross.
There's also a fifth thing that blew my mind for all the wrong reasons: You need to self-advocate for reasonable compensation for speaking engagements at a level commensurate to your experience and the venue. Putting local book clubs, small-town libraries, and indie podcasts aside, a reasonable starting price is around $1,300 to $3,000.
This is wild to me, because I've given a number of invited lectures at huge events, including giant fan conventions like New York Comic Con and Anime Expo, and no one has ever offered to pay me anything. In fact, it was usually me who had to cover the cost of lodging and transportation through grants and subsidies that I had to apply for through my university. I'm actually really upset about this, and I can't help but wonder if maybe it's a gender thing.
First, the only real purpose of an MFA degree is to qualify you for academic teaching positions.
Second, you really don't want to enter academia, though. Especially not as an adjunct.
Third, it's okay not to invest your time and energy into projects you have a bad feeling about or just don't want to do, even if they're paid. This includes book reviews and ghostwriting.
Fourth, it's not going to benefit you or anyone else if you're awkward on social media or at in-person events, and it's totally fine not to do either if it makes you feel weird and gross.
There's also a fifth thing that blew my mind for all the wrong reasons: You need to self-advocate for reasonable compensation for speaking engagements at a level commensurate to your experience and the venue. Putting local book clubs, small-town libraries, and indie podcasts aside, a reasonable starting price is around $1,300 to $3,000.
This is wild to me, because I've given a number of invited lectures at huge events, including giant fan conventions like New York Comic Con and Anime Expo, and no one has ever offered to pay me anything. In fact, it was usually me who had to cover the cost of lodging and transportation through grants and subsidies that I had to apply for through my university. I'm actually really upset about this, and I can't help but wonder if maybe it's a gender thing.
