Writers and their day jobs? - Writers Forum

Rue669 · 12-06-2007, 06:38 PM

The majority of writers in the world don't make that much money from their novels. Well, they don't make a stable income. It can take years and years of writing until a writer/novelist will actually be able to live off his/her writing. (And this you can totally badger me on since I don't have statistics... it's only what an editor once told me... but I digress.)

SO... my question is... what are your jobs? What pays the bills as you write and strive for a career as a writer? This has been a question that's plagued me for awhile. I want to ultimately become a novelist, but it's a hard and long road with little to no money at the start. So what can a writer do to make enough money to live and still write? Or has no one really thought of this?

I'm mainly just curious, but it has been something I've thought of seriously about.

Erik Buchanan · 12-06-2007, 08:49 PM

I'm a writer.

Seriously, I write and edit content for a website company. Before that I was an actor and fight director, which I supported through admin work.

For a young writer, find a job that will keep a roof over your head and food on your plate, and still give you time to write.

When I wrote my first novel, I was living in a 8x10 room, canvassing door to door for a living, writing on a laptop (university graduation present) propped up on a box while I sat on a cushion.

It was fun, in it's own way, but then, most of being young is fun if you have a job and goals.

SevenWritez · 12-06-2007, 10:43 PM

I'm a highschool student, and I'm at cashier a Big Lots (I'm going places). Anyways, I'd suggest finding a job where you can write when the day is slow. If I'm just standing at my cash register I take out a notepad and pen and dabble away at phrases and sentences until I find something I like. It's something I recently started--that and actually trying to bring together good sentences--but it's very rewarding. While I agree having the scheduled writing sessions is a good habit to have, if you find yourself jumping around to fit necessities in(Sports/Homework/School Projects/Work), then writing in small bursts at different times of leisure works, too. To each their own.

Mr Sci Fi · 12-06-2007, 11:29 PM

I play online poker. Like writing, it's a fuckin' gamble...

lin · 12-07-2007, 01:35 AM

Have worked as: copywriter, mail-order catalog director, jail guard, psychodiagnostician, jewelry maker/sculptor, jack hammer operator, photographer, editor, magazine owner, publisher, gun runner, drug retailer, fight instructor, ski instructor, bi-lingual tour guide, website designer, radio sports announcer, temp, property manager, handyman, cowboy (no shit), pool hall manager, bus driver/monitor for special ed gorkos, teacher of English/Spanish, ditch digger, soldier, cop, inmate, PR director, orphange houseparent (they must have been out of their minds--two different outfits!)

Some of writing friends have worked as: headline writer, male prostitute, automobile racer, professional athlete, physician, college professor who did nothing but sit around writing SciFi all day, martial arts instructor, bodyguard, bouncer, poker player, rock guitarist, painter (artistic type), goldsmith, turkey wrangler, scuba instructor, dance instructor, human bee.

Compiling these jacket blurb lists of odd jobs for authors is an art form in itself.

RomanticRose · 12-07-2007, 06:43 AM

Writing is my day, and my night job, and my weekend job. The particulars of what I write depends on the time of day, the phase of the moon, barometric pressure, what has the closest deadline, what pays the best, what point I am at in my cycle, my own capricious mood, and several other factors I haven't figured out yet

JohnN · 12-07-2007, 07:25 AM

I think if you start up your own business then it can give you flexibility to write almost when you want (depending on the business), However, this does mean a lot of work initially. In the long run though, if you get managers for your biz, you can sit back, eat the profits and write all day long.

Loulou · 12-07-2007, 07:33 AM

Wow, I've had so many jobs while writing. The crappest was being a chambermaid in a hotel, and the best was being a travel agent. Now I do write for a living, for a newspaper, though it isn't enough alone to survive on. My husband fortunately works. I get Care's Allowance and Disability for my daughter so, until she's a bit older, I'll be at home for her, writing while I am. Then one day, unless I've made a million writing shit, I'll work again in the day too. I quite fancy being a driving instructor. Have to learn to drive first.

Non Serviam · 12-07-2007, 09:29 AM

I've worked full-time since I left university. Family to support--not much option there. Which fills my days and evenings.

I write late at night.

Faustling · 12-07-2007, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Non Serviam

I've worked full-time since I left university. Family to support--not much option there. Which fills my days and evenings.

I write late at night.

So "Non Serviam" is more of a wish then a description then?

CaptainFreedom · 12-07-2007, 02:19 PM

You're still young so it's not too late - think of the second favorite job you'd like to have, and if it's something attainable (not an actor or an astronaut), go for that.

You don't need any training to be a writer. So forget about studying it at college. Learn a real profession that you like and you can make enough money at. Then write in your spare time. (and if you don’t have any spare time then you’ll have to dump something else – TV and unnecessary sleep should be at the top of your list)

If lightning strikes and your writing is something that you can live off of then great, but you don't want to waste your whole life hoping that some weirdo agent is going to like your stuff enough to take you on and get you published.

There's just too much luck involved with success at being a writer. Even if you're great, without luck you aren't going anywhere. There are thousands of writers who are great, but only room for a few dozen at the top.

CF

Throughy · 12-07-2007, 10:27 PM

Have done website design, remodeling, construction estimating, and now recently returned to painting.

There's been a lot of searching and while working for others, a lot of unwarranted reason to not see me show up for the first or next day. Honestly, one consistent factor has been that there have been people throughout the run of this life that have not wanted to see me succeed. It's an unusual situation. One that you would have to witness firsthand to appreciate. (writing aside, this has had, a seperate purpose -- but it has helped in developing a semi-active presence that can be crucial as a storyteller)

Not relying on others can mean a more reliable source of income.
Too, incurring debt can serve to place effective pressure on your writing and make it perform. Unless, that is, it becomes too burdensome and you become overly occuppied with over whether the bills can actually be made for the month.

Quote:

I think if you start up your own business then it can give you flexibility to write almost when you want (depending on the business),

Agreed - depending on the business. One possible venue might be developing niche websites getting decent traffic, in conjunction with Google Adsense. The big plus is that it is extremely flexible and allows you to operate silently. Too, Google always pays the bills.

If it helps anyone, this has been the most financially successful by me. Which bypasses dealing with customer concerns/billing and the like altogether, combined with the fraud on the internet which has flared out of control (I would say mainly from since last summer onward - buyers posing as credit card holders). Beware of this if you plan on setting up a payment gateway with a credit card processor. Chargeback fees and refunds fall back on you as the website operator.

Cran · 12-07-2007, 11:40 PM

For the past few years, Rue669, if I'm earning at all it's as a non-fiction researcher, writer, proofer, or subbie ...

but, like Erik and lin and others here, and the vast majority of successful writers anywhere, my employment history is long and varied (and sometimes with jobs overlapping) ... clerical, administrative, storeman, factory hand, transport services, site labourer and foreman, sales etc, mixed in with positions in general and industry-specific journalism ...

there are two real benefits for living thus -
the obvious one is that it provides an income when writing does not;
the less obvious one is that it provides a much broader range of experience in the real world, and this can add a great deal to your writing (no matter what genre) ...

HarryG · 12-08-2007, 03:32 PM

Robbing banks seems a fairly drastic alternative, but I know of more than one person who have done just that, in fact, I’ve just finished reading one such book.

Non Serviam · 12-08-2007, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faustling

So "Non Serviam" is more of a wish then a description then?

It's a quote.