“You Make That Much From Just Writing?!”

“How much money do you have floating around in that head of yours? Stack those memories, skills, opinions, and talents into dollars!”

“My future smells like freshly printed money.”

Sanni Lark

I spoke to my mother on the phone today. After the dreaded bullshit pleasantries we exchanged, because I am always suspicious of anyone calling randomly to “check up on me,” she asked how my writing was going.

“It’s fine,” I replied. I am usually short with anyone who tries to pry into this part of my life. I mean, what do people actually want me to tell them?

“I’m curious, how much do you make every month from writing?” she asked.

Ugh. I hate this question.

“It varies every month,” I said, annoyed and silently wishing this interview would end.

“I understand. But just give me a ball park number,” she pressed further. My mother is a stubborn Taurus. She cannot let anything go.

I decided to indulge her. After all, she is my mother. She is always very transparent with me; hell, I even know her salary. So I took a deep breath and told her.

“You make that much, from just writing?!” she asked, trying to confirm with amazement in her voice.