It seems to me that many people who strive for a particular life—say writer, actor, rock star—and don’t break through often end up in supporting roles. I’ve looked for agents for three of my books (unsuccessfully, of course) and have noticed that many agents list themselves as authors as well. I’ve not heard of any of their books, but then again, there are thousands of new books (likely closer to two million) published each year. Nobody can keep up. Since I can’t break through, I work as an editor. A support role. Many colleagues who haven’t made it to tenured ...
