"Writing is the hardest way of earning a living, with the possible exception of wrestling alligators"

Olin Miller’s witty remark wields both humor and insight, positioning writing at the rugged end of the spectrum for livelihoods, rivaled only by the dangerous ordeal of wrestling alligators. On a literal level, wrestling alligators conjures an unmistakable image of physical peril, brute strength, and a near-constant risk of injury or failure. By comparing writing to such a task, Miller elevates the challenges of literary labor to a similarly daunting stature, albeit in a different register.

Writing is commonly perceived as a comfortable pursuit, one sits in safety, armed with only pen and paper or a keyboard. However, beneath this tranquil surface lies a battleground fraught with uncertainty, emotional turbulence, mental exhaustion, and relentless self-doubt. To compose sentences that resonate, organize ideas into cohesive narratives, and produce works that may influence, entertain, or inform, calls for immense stamina, resilience, and self-discipline. Writers labor not only against deadlines and editorial demands, but also against the capriciousness of inspiration, the endurance needed to revise and rewrite, and the haunting possibility that their words may go unread or misunderstood.

The comparison to wrestling alligators is particularly apt in how both roles demand confrontation with daunting opposition. For the writer, the “alligator” may be an uncooperative paragraph, a blank page, an elusive idea, or the harsh criticism from publishers and readers. Each step forward feels like grappling with a force intent on resisting control. Financial insecurity also plays a part, since making a living from writing is as uncertain as surviving a struggle with a wild beast. Miller’s metaphor reminds one not to underestimate the craft; writing takes courage, persistence, patience, and a willingness to face continual rejection or failure, all with only the reward of possible expression or fleeting acknowledgment. Humor softens the sting, but the truth remains fierce: to write well and survive by it is a heroic, nearly perilous endeavor.