Yes, I Quit My Day Job to Write

My final Editor's Note for Down East is up today. For years I was the living embodiment of Yogi Berra's famous maxim: "When you come to a fork in a road, take it." It worked for a while, but recently I decided it was time for a change.

As I write in my column:

Most people are lucky in life to find their dream job. I have been fortunate to find two.

I dreamt about becoming editor of Down East since I was in college. When I was a bellman at the Black Point Inn in Scarborough, I used to sneak the most recent issue out of the gift shop to read between calls. The first essay I ever published — an account of being struck by lightning — was in this magazine.

For the past fourteen years I have been fortunate to work at Down East, and for the past eight years I have been even more fortunate to be its editor. Over that time I collaborated with and learned from many talented professionals: editors, writers, designers, photographers, and illustrators who are among the best in the country at what they do. I owe a debt to them and to the Fernald family for entrusting me with this iconic Maine institution. Mostly, though, I am indebted to you: the most loyal readers a magazine editor could ever wish for. Thank you for your time and attention; thank you for your compliments and criticisms. Thank you, most of all, for giving me this life.

But as I said at the outset, I have always had two aspirations. Since I was a boy, I have wanted to write novels, and four years ago, with the publication of my first book, The Poacher’s Son, I took the first step on the path that is now leading to my second dream job: that of working author. And so I must step aside from one position to accept the other.

There's a good reason why agents discourage authors (even published ones) from quitting their day jobs. In a publishing industry that is going through daily convulsions, there are no guarantees. Still I'm encouraged by the enthusiastic response Mike Bowditch has gotten from readers, some from as far away as Japan and Australia. So I'm proceeding with confidence—but also with caution.

As Yogi Berra also supposedly said: "You've got to be very careful if you don't know where you are going, because you might not get there."

Good News for Mike Bowditch Fans

Today is my last day as Editor in Chief of Down East Magazine. I am stepping aside to focus on my novels. The November issue, out in a few weeks, is officially my last.

For years people have asked me how I have managed to balance both careers (the answer is "by sacrificing everything else"), but the time finally came for me to choose. Fans of Mike Bowditch will be seeing a lot more of him as a result. Happily, I'm staying on at the magazine in the newly created position of Editor Emeritus which mostly means I will be an on-call editorial consultant and troubleshooter. 

But this is a day of departure for me, made more sweet than bittersweet by good news from the International Regional Magazine Association. Down East dominated this year's awards, winning more than any other magazine.

 

Looking for Maine Writers? Here's Where to Find Them

Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance (MWPA) has just launched a new site designed to bring attention to Maine authors. It's called, plainly enough, Find Maine Writers. Here's the idea behind it:

Find Maine Writers is dedicated to profiling Maine’s many diverse and talented writers, publicizing their work and accomplishments, and connecting them with readers, editors, literary agents, publishers, and potential employers. 

The design is beautifully minimalist, featuring an always changing grid of author photographs and book jackets. If you're not familiar with the state of Maine's many talented writers, it's an ideal place to start. I am proud to be included in the launch.

Disclaimer: Back in the early 1990s I was the executive director of MWPA. It was a different era: self-publishing was just taking off, independent bookstores were in a struggle with the big-box chains, and Amazon wasn't yet a glimmer in Jeff Bezos's eye. The organization is now closing in on its 40th anniversary, and it makes me incredibly happy to see it evolving to suit the needs of twenty-first century writers, publishers, and readers. The alliance seems more vibrant to me than ever.