Thread: Good day jobs for a writer?

I'm having trouble finding a job at the moment (big shock right now, I know). I have very specific criteria, which is holding me up. I have anxiety issues and am prone to panic attacks if I have to deal with too many people for too long, however I love things like reception work where the interactions are scripted and fleeting. I refuse to do anything third shift.

My main past experience is in reception work (4 years). I have a Bachelor's in English. I have tried freelance writing, but I found that the pay is too unsteady and I do not like the feeling of having to be creative just to pay my bills. That takes all of fun out of it for me. Writing will always be a side hobby/job. The job I'm looking for now should not drain me of all energy to where I cannot come home and write. I'm looking for other ideas than what I have been searching for:

Clerk
Clerical
Receptionist
Front Desk (for a place that is less busy)
Mail Room
Driver/courier
Data Entry

If anyone has any other ideas, I'd love to hear them. I'm just looking for help brainstorming here. Thanks!

In order for you to find a job that isn't draining it should be something that you enjoy doing. No matter how easy the job is, if you hate it you will be exhausted.

Another thing to think about, as a receptionist or front desk person you become the face of that business. I notice that in a small town I have to be 'on' most of the time because people associate me with the business. That can be kind of exhausting.

Maybe you could move to Belize and be a research assistant for Garza.

i guess you could always sell weed or become a womanizer. are you good with numbers?

I would strike mail room off that list. I've done it before and it's more than just a day job (unless you're lucky enough to know someone that can get you in as a regular employee). I was a "casual" employee, and that meant minimum wage, no benefits, and 72 hour weeks. I lasted three weeks before I said "Screw this."

Substitute teaching? It's plenty flexible. If you're good with that age of kids, it's not draining. The work comes and goes, though.

You can always do freelance writing while you have a desk job- anything where you have access to a computer. It might suck to have to bend your writing to a client's (usually ill-advised) directions, but at least you are still exercising your writing muscles (it's a great way to make extra cash at your day job too).