Comments on: How to Get Support as a Writer Living Abroad

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 12:09:03 +0000

@Baron’s – Thanks! As for publishing e-books, check out the comment I left for you on this post:
https://www.theprofessionalhobo.com/from-the-grand-canyon-to-the-great-wall-im-published-again/

By: Baron's

Baron's — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 00:18:23 +0000

Nora, just read this post…you are full of surprises and I love the fact that you tell it from the heart…like it is, very candidly.
BTW: I am also trying to understand how E-bboks are made and published….

By: Lenka

Lenka — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 22:21:33 +0000

That’s an interesting thought, somewhat I’d expect it to be the other way around. :))

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 22:17:44 +0000

@Lenka – Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and observations. I think sometimes if we’re not getting the support we want, that we just need to ask for it outright. Somebody recently asked me to like them on FB when they liked me and I didn’t reciprocate, and frankly I liked the reminder since it had slipped my mind.

In regards to people picking you up when you fall, it reminds me of a quote I read recently:
“Friends will pick you up and dust you off when you’re down. Best friends will push you back down and laugh at you.”
It’s somewhat irrelevant (and irreverent), but I liked it! 🙂

By: Lenka

Lenka — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 18:30:23 +0000

Oh, I’m exactly the same with helping others. Or if I can’t perhaps purchase something, I can’t but at least try help them promote it via social media. To set an example – somebody has a page on FB, I immediately like it and share it on my wall to help them. Then I make a FB page for my blog, share it on my wall and nothing. Not even from the people I helped before. And I’m surrounded by artists, whom I believe should help each other as I feel like we are all on the same boat, yet I sometimes feel like most people have the mentality of “more for you, less for me” and I totally disagree with that. But sometimes I’m thinking that I’m perhaps naive and should take off those pink hippie sunglasses I’m wearing. But then time to time people approach me and tell me something positive about my work and it just makes it. All forgotten. I also learned through the time that I can’t reach everyone and stay in touch with everyone. Being away, doing some work or achieving things filters people around you. The right people stick with you through the down times, through the up times. The other ones come in the up time all wooed, but once you trip and fall, they aren’t there to pick you up…

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 00:53:28 +0000

@Sherry – Thanks for your support! What a life we choose, to live abroad, huh??? (smiles)
You also bring up a good point; one about not remembering some of the personal details of folks back home…I think we all experience a mutual “apathy” (for lack of a better word!) towards staying up the latest of people – even friends and family – who are far away for long periods. I have to wonder what support I’ve unwittingly withheld from my own crew back home, and how they feel about it.
And no worries on the manuscript – it will come out (again) when it’s ready! I’m at relative peace with it now.

By: Sherry Ott

Sherry Ott — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:33:53 +0000

Nice post Nora and appreciate your honesty. At a much smaller level, I’m going thru the same thing. Upon returning home after being away for 1 1 /2 yrs I”m finding that my family or friends no longer even read my blog. They are full of apologies though…but that doesn’t seem to help me much. I no longer feel bad about not remember their kids names or ages!

Distance and friendships is a difficult thing. While living abroad, I came to the conclusion that I really couldn’t depend on anyone but myself. Probably not the exact right stance to take, but it helped me survive.

I know just how much work you put into your writing career and can appreciate everything you said in this post. I don’t really have any answers, as I’m currently struggling with this.
I hope you do re-think your other manuscript, you have absolutely nothing to lose.

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:48:43 +0000

@Laurie – I agree! Other artists and entrepreneurs could stand to benefit from these guidelines too. Cheers!

By: Laurie

Laurie — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:41:47 +0000

All of this is really good advice, not just for writers, actually. Anyone who is trying to do something on their own and put themselves out there in some form or another professionally should carefully consider your list of lessons. It really makes you think.

By: theprofessionalhobo

theprofessionalhobo — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 23:21:10 +0000

@Delphine – Thank you so much for your offer! I really am going back to the drawing board with this manuscript, as I believe my extra year of travel – and life – experience since the last version will make it a different book.
But please stick around….I’ll put up a post the next time I’m looking for feedback….