So, who's really getting money from the Canada Council for the Arts?

I recently recorded a video where I talked about the Canada Council for the Arts. At that time, I stated that I was by no means an expert on the council, nor had I done deep, investigative research on the group; however, I did question why I was seeing their logo on almost every book published in Canada. I thought it was an interesting topic to ponder. 

In my limited research, I did see that there were questions surrounding the money spent (or misspent) within the organization, which seemed to favor urban areas, while not so much a fan of indie authors. As an indie author, I wasn't surprised; these kinds of organizations have poo poo indie authors for as long as I have been one, something I would've fought in my earlier writing years, but now see them as nothing more than another elitist organization. If you aren't a writer, you probably aren't aware that there's a general snobbery toward indie authors, supposedly because we are 'less than' the traditionally published lot. And if you know me, you also know I couldn't care less. 

But getting back to the topic at hand, I simply questioned how Canadians felt about more of their tax-paying dollars, in the tune of millions, being pissed away  distributed to particular Canadian artists. Knowing how most of our tax dollars are misspent, I'm guessing that most citizens are simply in a constant state of shell shock and really can't process it at this point. Our government spends like a billionaire on a minimum wage salary. 

Personally, as an author, I think it's only my responsibility to fund my writing projects and expenses, not the government. And definitely not the taxpayers. And if publishers in Canada can't stand on their own two feet, perhaps they should look inward and ask why, or, like most good businesses, start making cuts or changes. 

I know, what a strange concept. To learn more, check out my video.

What are your writing fears? 😱

If you always wanted to write a book but never started, what is the reason? Is it because you lack the time? Are you intimidated by the process? Do you have writing fears?

Writing a book is like eating an elephant; it's a one-bite-at-a-time process. You might only have a few free hours a week. You mightn't be able to write enough words. You may have a general idea but aren't sure how to communicate them. Many reasons might keep you from writing that book, but don't let that hold you back. If you want to write, start slow and see where it takes you. 

Remember, you don't have to share your writing with anyone. You don't have to announce you're about to write the next best-seller. You can work on it over months or years. You can start tomorrow and decide it's not for you. But I would recommend starting, even if that means writing a blog for your eyes only. Writing is cathartic. It doesn't have to have a purpose.

Concerns such as grammar, plots, and word counts shouldn't hold you back. I only check my word count when I finish a book. I don't care how many words I write per day. I never know the entire plot when I start a book. I allow it to flow naturally and see where it takes me. I don't worry about grammar because there are apps that can catch a lot, and friends and family will catch the rest. 

To learn more, check out my writing playlist for tips and ideas.