A great and educational piece. I've been broke most of my adult life, and only recently did I have a long-simmering deal finally hit and make me not-broke. I have savings for the first time in forever, and I'm still adapting to it, and trying not to be dumb about the little chunk of change I've ended up with (it's not even six figures, but it's a high five... which is very high for me.)
The (reasonable) fear that I'll blink and be back to worrying about the rent and the health insurance payment is too strong for me to enjoy the current moment as much as I'd like to.
I think of my dad, who grew up in the Depression. We had a period of relative wealth from the late sixties through the mid seventies, but when my mother would make a dinner that included a protein and a vegetable AND a salad, my father would wonder aloud what we were celebrating. What's the special occasion? (To be clear, he'd say this with pleasure not with judgement that my mom was being wasteful.) The trauma of his childhood set the bar on "wealthy" at "dinner which comes with a salad."
After forty plus years as a freelancer, I understand completely. My definition of comfort is "not doing math in the grocery store."
Obviously your income declined in 1994 because that was when I stopped buying comics due to the money crunch following the birth of our second child. Sorry about that.
I had lots of feast and famine swings in my writing career. It taught me a lot about being careful with money. In my most desperate year, with about $30k in debt, I took a full time job for the first time. I spent the next ten years working in videogames, but paid off the debt and got well ahead. Sometimes, it takes making the tough choices to survive.
It sure does. My income tanked in the late 1990’s, and I actually applied for a job at UPS. The very same week, a big assignment from Marvel came in, so I didn’t take the job. I’ve worked pretty much steady ever since but for a slump around late 2006 to 2010-ish. I sometimes wonder how different things would be if I’d had a day job! You never know.
I hear that! Just before the videogame job appeared, I had applied for a mundane job at the local library. I mean, I didn't even have *clothes* I could wear to a job like that. Luckily, the game job saved us. ;)
Eh, people are always picking at what creators make. It's a thing, and I've always been honest about it. I even posted my social security statement for the entire 1980's.
Oh, and yeah to commissions. Still have about a half dozen major ones to complete. If you are going to be at the Lakes Festival, I could deliver by then.
Edited one date, should have been 2023 not 1993. Oops.
A great and educational piece. I've been broke most of my adult life, and only recently did I have a long-simmering deal finally hit and make me not-broke. I have savings for the first time in forever, and I'm still adapting to it, and trying not to be dumb about the little chunk of change I've ended up with (it's not even six figures, but it's a high five... which is very high for me.)
The (reasonable) fear that I'll blink and be back to worrying about the rent and the health insurance payment is too strong for me to enjoy the current moment as much as I'd like to.
I think of my dad, who grew up in the Depression. We had a period of relative wealth from the late sixties through the mid seventies, but when my mother would make a dinner that included a protein and a vegetable AND a salad, my father would wonder aloud what we were celebrating. What's the special occasion? (To be clear, he'd say this with pleasure not with judgement that my mom was being wasteful.) The trauma of his childhood set the bar on "wealthy" at "dinner which comes with a salad."
After forty plus years as a freelancer, I understand completely. My definition of comfort is "not doing math in the grocery store."
Can relate.
Obviously your income declined in 1994 because that was when I stopped buying comics due to the money crunch following the birth of our second child. Sorry about that.
It's all your fault! Actually, I don't think my income really tanked until late 1995-1996.
I had lots of feast and famine swings in my writing career. It taught me a lot about being careful with money. In my most desperate year, with about $30k in debt, I took a full time job for the first time. I spent the next ten years working in videogames, but paid off the debt and got well ahead. Sometimes, it takes making the tough choices to survive.
It sure does. My income tanked in the late 1990’s, and I actually applied for a job at UPS. The very same week, a big assignment from Marvel came in, so I didn’t take the job. I’ve worked pretty much steady ever since but for a slump around late 2006 to 2010-ish. I sometimes wonder how different things would be if I’d had a day job! You never know.
I hear that! Just before the videogame job appeared, I had applied for a mundane job at the local library. I mean, I didn't even have *clothes* I could wear to a job like that. Luckily, the game job saved us. ;)
Gaming ended up being VERY lucrative. And I am someone Wizards of the Coast approached back in the day...and I turned them down. BIG mistake.
I’m glad you made it through all that Colleen. I’ve had some similar experiences up and down experiences with money.
To me it's normal, but people with day jobs look at me in horror when I relate things like this.
Freelancers, particularly creative freelancers, deal with a basic survival fear that most people can't imagine living with.
TRUTH.
Damn I just wrote a long reply and it disappeared-
Just to say what an amazing, brave, powerful essay. Like you showed the world your bank accounts - I hope you don’t regret.
There is a hell of a memoir to write and draw in there somewhere.
And I see you are at SDCC too - hope to find you there - if you don’t mind me turning ‘fan’ for a sec, are you accepting commissions?
Take good care
Eh, people are always picking at what creators make. It's a thing, and I've always been honest about it. I even posted my social security statement for the entire 1980's.
Oh, and yeah to commissions. Still have about a half dozen major ones to complete. If you are going to be at the Lakes Festival, I could deliver by then.
Yes I’ll be at the Lakes.
Sounds good.
You shd still have my email to drop me a line ?
I've watched/read a lot of "how to" comics stuff over the years. Learned a few things.
This single post pantses the lot. Well done 👍
You are most welcome.