Kristin Butcher... has novel ideas

The myth lives on.

"What myth is that?" you ask.

Why, the one that puts writers in the same category as doctors, lawyers, professional athletes, movie stars, Oprah, and the Queen! Namely, financially well-off.

Granted, there are some writers who can afford to fly first class, but most of us are seat sale seekers, bus riders, and car poolers. Unless writers hold down other jobs besides writing -- and many do -- they are probably living at the poverty level. Ah, yes, it's glamorous to be a writer, folks. Think about it. Aside from book advances (which are generally 4-figures tops! -- and how far does that stretch?), those of us who earn our living writing books get paid twice a year. You want to try budgeting that -- especially when you don't know what the paycheque will be until it arrives. And don't forget, you have to pay income tax and CPP (as the employer AND the employee) out of that too.

Of course, you do get to write a lot of stuff off, which is a good thing, albeit a tad demoralizing when your expenses repeatedly outweigh your income. The really bizarre thing is the fact that writers often get audited. I guess the government really does think it can get blood from a stone.

My point?

Writing isn't a lucrative career. It has it's rewards, but money isn't one of them. As a means of supplementing our meagre incomes, many of us take on speaking engagements. We talk to writing groups, schools, and conferences; we give workshops, become mentors, and teach classes. All these activities help to keep the wolf from the door, but they don't get us rich.

And yet there are still many people out there -- people who would seek our services, who expect us to provide it free of charge. It boggles my mind. Do teachers work for free? Principals? College deans? Company CEOs? Of course they don't! So why would these same people assume that writers are willing to do so?

In less than two weeks I am heading off to Winnipeg for a mini-book tour, which just got minier. (I don't care if that's not a word.) When presented with the invoice for the presentations they wanted me to make, two of the schools claimed they hadn't realized there was going to be a fee and promptly cancelled their bookings. Come on, People! Think! The thing is that my fees aren't hidden. I always direct inquiries to my website, where my fees are clearly stated.

This new development poses a great loss of income for me, especially considering my flight is already booked and paid for. Needless to say, I am not a happy camper.

Actually, no -- it's more than that. I'm insulted, and I'm angry. I spend a lot of time, energy and money developing my talks, and I'm good at what I do. I hold the attention of large audiences of young people for a solid hour so that their teachers seldom have to even shush anyone. So ... those teachers are sitting on their behinds doing nothing for an hour and getting paid for it, while I'm expected to perform a razzmatazz song-and-dance routine for an hour free of charge.

Is it just me, or is there something wrong with this picture?