Potential Book Authors: Become a Librarian's Assistant Instead

Here is some advice for inspiring authors: Don't quit your day job. Be sure to write out of a sense of vocation and/or calling and not to get rich or famous. (You may also want to write to get tenure).

Over First Things blog, Joe Carter writes about the downside of being an author:

1. Nobody is going to read your book.

2. Don't expect to see your book on the front table at Borders. (Unless, of course, you take it out of the History section and put it there yourself! Shhhhh!)

3. You'll become a marketer. (Exhibit #1: Check out this lame and blatant attempt at self-promotion by a blogger I know).

4. You won't make much money. True. Carter concludes that most successful authors make about the same amount of money a year as a librarian's assistant.