I've tried the short story route and I have a collection of rejection slips. I've tried the agent route, and I have a file full of rejection letters and emails.
Well, I self-published a thin volume of stories of one of my enduring characters and I've actually made a bit of pin money on Amazon. Not much, but it's something. Suddenly, with the prospects of actually earning a few bucks, she's had a turnaround in support. She's offered to proofread (a searing weakness of mine) and is asking that I get my next work done so by the time she's through, she can be working on the next publication.
Money. It can do some amazing things.
[This message has been edited by Owasm (edited October 23, 2011).]
She has read, and liked, the two literary flash pieces I sold this year.
But she will not read anything else I've written.
But, I like a challenge.
For months I've been asking her questions about her childhood and her friends and neighbors where she grew up in Brooklyn.
And, slowly, I've been crafting a "weird" tale in which she, her friends and neighbors, and her street in Brooklyn will be prominently featured.
Respectfully,
Dr. Bob
It's good to have company.
Alas I am one too, not so old, but... My wife is actually fairly supportive, in general, but things are tight and have been for pretty much our whole marriage so I know it would have a positive effect if she could see some return on all the time I spend in front of this glowing blue, liquid cooled computer.
Ironically, her mother has read my current novel, but she's waiting for me to finish editing =)
Women want security, I wax chavanistic, and if your art can bring a small measure more of that...it's a good thing. It's when she feels she's stuck with a whimsical bum that it's not so good.
My wife supports me mostly. She does like SF and Fantasy... in fact she might write herself if she hadn't gotten interested in crafting. She's had ideas she thought about doing.
But so far she makes significantly more money at her crafts than I do writing. So mine is more a hobby and hers is kinda of a second job. I don't think she does it on purpose but I get the idea that she feels her crafts are more important.
She has read some of my stories and has offered to beta read more but finding the time for her to do it.
On a side note I'm almost glad she isn't writing. The way things usually go she would probably have sold more than I have, by now.
I have a running joke with my husband about how I wouldn't dedicate my first novel to him because he's not particularly interested in my writing, my desire to build a writing career, and my overall writing pursuits.
However, that said, he's totally supportive of the ACTUAL writing, because I think he understands that it's a kind of work. He won't bend over backwards to make time for me to go off writing, but if I ask for time on a Saturday he'll accommodate it. He comes home early from work two Thursdays a month (provided he's not traveling for business) so I can attend a local Writer's Group, and he recently took four days off of work (semi-off, working from home but not working the 12+ hr days he would normally work if I were home) so I could attend a writer's workshop (one of Dean Wesley Smith's, and excellent!)
So, while he may still shake his head and be confused about my little "hobby" he actually does plenty of things that are supportive, so long as I don't creep too far into family time with my writing. It's been a pretty good deal, and I'm starting to make lunch money/coffee money on my ebooks, so that's exciting. (works both ways, by the way, gender-wise. With some cash inflow, no matter how small, came an increase in respect.)
So in the end I did actually write him into the dedication, though it's all tongue in cheek, "and to John, even though I said I wouldn't. Love you, mean it." 
When I got my first acceptance, she suddenly was bugging me about when and how to write. It was a surprise to me, because all though I know she loves to read (just not what I like to read) I did not know she had any interest in writing. She says she has always enjoyed writing, but never bothered with it.
So perhaps my small amount of success inspired her. That of she figured if I do it, she surely could.
Anyway, she is somewhat supportive, as I mentioned she proof reads for me. But, she doesn't go out of her way to make sure I can get my writing done. Either way I am blessed to have her in my life.
[This message has been edited by EVOC (edited October 24, 2011).]
Sometimes the notion of them reading my stuff really gives me the chills...brrr!...