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The Writing Life
What is the typical life of a writer like?
The answer is simple and complicated. There is no typical life.
The vast majority of writers have day jobs that take up quite a few hours of the day. They have spouses or significant others and possible children and pets as well. They have friends and obligations. Writing tends to be fit in around all those other things.
Most women are good at multitasking, but writers take it to a whole other level. I’ve heard of writers who work on their laptops while waiting for their kids to finish soccer practice, they scribble while taking the train to and from work. They squeeze in a few minutes after the kids are in bed or before they wake in the morning. They take precious moments of weekends and holidays.
I admire these women greatly.
I was lucky enough to be able to quit the day job a few years back and concentrate solely on my writing. It wasn’t an easy decision to make. There is no guaranteed paycheck with writing, nor is there any insurance benefits or pension plan. Plus, I loved my job. I worked at a bookstore—writer heaven—and I loved the interaction with the customers and getting to talk about books and writers all day. But I realized I could give the best years of my life to the company I worked for or I could take the chance and put in the work on something for me.
I hadn’t planned to quit, but one day, my boss asked me how my writing was going. I replied that it was going slow. My job was a very physical one—on my feet for about nine hours day, lifting and moving vast quantities of books. When I slogged home from the bus stop in the evening all I wanted to do was curl up on the sofa with a good book. I didn’t have the energy to write. The words just suddenly popped out of my mouth, “I need to put in my notice.”
It shocked the heck out of me, let me tell you, not to mention what it did to my poor boss. I loved my job, but it was time for me to leave. I’ve missed it—I used to be able to read books for free and I really miss that perk—but I love what I’m doing now just as much. I’ve learned so much over the past few years. When I started, I didn’t know what a chat group was, had never heard of blogging, and never dreamed I’d have a website of my own.
I am a published author and I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished. I plan to continue to write and expand my horizons. And if the day ever comes that I have to get a day job again, I’ll have always had this time.
And that is something I’ll never regret.
Emotional~Sensual~Satisfying Reads!
http://www.njwalters.com
http://www.njwalters.blogspot.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/awakeningdesires/ (newsletter group)
The Seduction of Shamus O’Rourke—Jamesville: Book 4
A Legal Affair—Jamesville: Book 5—Now Available
By The Book—Jamesville: Book 6—Coming Soon!
Great blog. Thanks for posting.
Pat
Thank, Pat. Glad you enjoyed it.
That was lovely, NJ! Awful glad you quit that day job. :)
Great blog NJ. It really nakes a person appreciate what authors go through. I think you made the right decision NJ. I don’t know how the other authors do it.
And I am really enjoying your books, so there may be a bit of self interest in my approval of your going to full time writer. LOL
sandie * an addicted fan *
Me too, Sela. Me too. :-)
LOL Thanks, Sandie. You’ll be happy to know I’m editing the next Jamesville book at the moment. Don’t tell my editor I’m here.
It was a hard decision to leave work and I’ve managed to make it work so far. Like I said, I have no idea what the future holds, but for now, I’m enjoying every minute of it.
I also had the privilege of quitting that day job to write. For me, a cross-country move gave me the opportunity to just stay home instead of job searching. It’s been wonderful.
I did the writing route with kids, job, spouse and other obligations, but it wasn’t until I had the chance to be a stay at home writer that I really accomplished anything. I’ve really happy that you made that decision. I’ve enjoyed your books so much.
Hi NJ
LOL Writing is a weird and wonderful career to say the least.
Glad you’ve managed to get yourself established and got a good plan going :)
Congratulatoins
S.J.
It’s such an amazing experience to be able to stay home and write, Anny. I’m glad you’re able to do it and that you’re able to write more. :-)
Amen, SJ!
It is a weird and wonderful career. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
I know some writers who love their day jobs so much that they never want to stop working. And then, there are others who can’t wait until they become the next Danielle Steele or Nora Roberts so they never have to work again. I guess it depends on the writer, what they work at, and how much time they want to put into writing.:-)
I loved my day job, Kathy, but it was time to do something for me. After more than eleven years working there it was hard to leave, but I know it was the right decision.
It’s not an easy decision to make, and I understand completely that some writers want to have the day job as well as write. It depends on what you do for a livign and how much you love it.
The main thing is to be happy with the choices you make.