Aspiring writers are often told at writer’s conferences, “Don’t quit your day job!” These words frequently come from writers/agents/publishers who have been in the business long enough to know that having a career as a writer can be the Mt. Everest of dreams. So hanging onto something that you do that gives you self-confidence, and let’s face it, needed cash, is sound advice to aspiring writers. I consider myself an author and this is an author’s blog. And I’ve done many “day jobs” in the course of pursuing my dreams.
Aspiring writers aside, one of the things that resonates with the readers of my novel, Seeking Sara Summers, is that, no matter what your age, it’s okay to begin a journey of self-discovery. It’s okay to be happier and self-fulfilled. You don’t have to settle for a relationship or a career that is desperately lacking just because you don’t know what else to do. No one needs to settle for less than they know they deserve and coast through the rest of their life wondering what could have been, if they’d only had the motivation and courage to step into a bigger life.
As a former psychotherapist, who ran a successful private practice for over a decade, this message was one I wanted to make clear in my novel. Sometimes change is scary, but absolutely necessary. For Sara, the main character, this awareness came in the form of a wake-up call like breast cancer. Sometimes people are so ready for a change, a compassionate nudge is all they need to move in a direction that is more satisfying and rich.
What are you ready to change in your life?
I’d love to hear from you.
P.S. I am an ex-shrink who writes award-winning novels. Check out my books here.
I’ve heard that advice too. But you know what? I DID quit my day job and have never looked back. Since 2003 I have been making my living as a full time freelance writer. Your advice may be sound for some people, but for me it was more important to just “go for it.”
I believe that when the path is right, you know it and unexpected things come your way. This isn’t to say that I didn’t work my a** off to get here. I did.
Susan,
I’ve often wondered what other writers do to earn cash, but I actually find your situation to be pretty unique. I think it is rare for a person to succeed in two careers, as you obviously have. You are a very ambitious lady! Good for you!
When I do work another job, which is becoming less necessary as my wife’s career takes off, I often take minimum wage jobs… my favorite was always working as a projectionist at our local theatre! I find that, when I try to work a job that is challenging, I become too tired to write at night. And then, my art suffers pretty horrifically. Once, I did not write for over five years. I almost gave up entirely!
Writing to me is like breathing, and is something I must do… there’s really no other option. So, given the choice, I would rather be poor and writing than wealthy and mute. I made a decision just a year ago that I would never work full time again. But, it helps to have a spouse who is on board! Shoot! It helps to have a spouse at all!
Great blog, as usual!
Thanks for the comments. I agree with both of you and I’m so glad that you’ve both figured out a way to be true to your art, full-time.
I actually could have written both comments myself a year or so ago. I’ve been writing for 14 years. I was also one of those people who totally went for the dream. And I absolutely hated it when I would hear at writer’s conferences, “Don’t quit your day job!” These people didn’t know me, after all, they didn’t know my determination, my ambition.
So I stopped being a psychotherapist and started writing full time, taking any job I could: running photocopies, substitute teaching, taking part-time secretarial jobs, doing a lot of editing, etc. I totally did the “starving artist” thing and happily. I truly believed I was on the right path.
Then after a decade, it just got too hard. I had written several manuscripts, but my literary agent hadn’t been able to place them. Others came within a cat’s whisker of getting picked up by major houses.
Then the disparity in incomes was putting a strain on my relationship and the lack of validation from the publishing world was really doing a number on my self-confidence. So I decided to do both.
Luckily, I have professional skills and a day job that pays well enough that I can still write in the mornings and consult in the afternoons. And I get to help people, so my self-confidence is in the healthy range again.
I even have moments when I think that even if one of my books takes off (my agent has 2 new manuscripts on her desk from me), and I no longer have to do consulting, I would still do it. Of course, I’d love to have to make this choice.
Love you guys. Keep going for it!