I fucking love what Kate says here! I was a full-time writer for years and eventually realized I needed to go back to having a day job in order to feel saner (and, it soon turned out, to get sober, too.) This wouldn't have been the case if I were raking in the dough, but it eventually became untenable to only rely on my creative writing for my income. I was fortunate to eventually end up with a full-time gig from which I derive some personal meaning, as well. THAT SAID...if you can live comfortably, take care of your mental and physical health, and derive a lot of happiness from writing full-time, go for it. If you find you are too lonely, find a part-time gig or volunteer job to get you in touch with community.
Lol, I'm a full time writer and wanted to be around people so I could get my work done. But the nearest option was a beachside hostel full of 17-22 year old brits jamming hard to turn of the century British music, which makes no sense to me. So I went to the next resort over where there was but one old dude drinking beer and Richard Marx blasting. Yea, that's my vibe as a writer. So I settled down there to write. You live the lonely life a whole lot as a full time writer. People need to hear real stories about what full time writer lives are like. In fact im currently at a no moon festival with no people on the beach, not in thailand. No joke. No one goes to a club mosh pit to write. And it's stories like mine (not to say it is the best and only) which should make people fully aware of the environments full time writers put themselves in so they don't go insane in a solo mountain shack like Theodore kazinski. And let's not talk about the fact that I'm staying in a bug infested bungalow because that's all I can afford. If you all give me eprops for this post that will sustain me, 😂
I can feel you. I am a full time writer as of now (by default). Art sometimes is not a way of making a living. It is hard. It is hard. Sometimes you operate within the bare minimum and not optimize your full potential. Everyday you must put in effort less you stagnate. But one thing with writers is that they craft the things that the society will celebrate later. So let's go go!
All of this makes sense to me. But I would encourage people to try to consider day jobs that don't drain them completely. I had a day job that was sucking the life out of me, and I didn't even realize it. Once I changed jobs to a role and company that prioritized work/life balance, my writing life also changed. You don't have to quit your job (I don't plan to), but maybe you can find a job that provides stability (and money and insurance!) without draining the well.
I'm not a writer etc but in my last job I was an early morning cleaner at a big lifestyle store,the sort of job we are all taught to dread,loathe the idea of and fear - and I loved it. It was like discovering a secret world. (I'm in UK). Who knew some geniuses,certainly high IQ people hung out in lifestyle stores mopping,dusting and cleaning. It was like an alternative society no one knew about! And finishing by 10am gave you the whole day TO LIVE YOUR OWN LIFE. So it was anti-social hours at low wage,but if you're not motivated by money (who isnt ha ha) that doesnt matter. Just saying that if you are creative then one of these sort of jobs can be good as your work duties are set out,you follow the established routine and you get enough money if you're good at managing it and your freedom.
I knew a musician who was a postal carrier. His job was low stress and gave him a salary and pension. He got to make music nights and weekends and it worked for him. This I think may be easier for men or childless women. Having a day job, raising a family and writing can be draining. One needs a lot of support to do it.
After over twenty years dedicated to Corporate work, I quit last year. I accepted the lack of pay, insurance, security, or schedules to follow because I realized that continuing that life would slowly kill my dreams. I decided to mind my advice, which I gave to many others, from my children to colleagues: "Bet on your strengths, on the things that give you energy and challenge you. Target as much happiness as you can."
I jumped into a black hole of query letters, agent searches, and daily writing, and although it is not easy (IS NOT), I would not change it for anything, not now. Give me a year to see if I change my opinion :)
You have the luxury of doing this after working more than 20 years. I hope other people will be empowered to think the same if they've worked a salaried job for such a long time.
I did this as well and am cheering and rooting for you endlessly!! I'll be 50 in May. I have about 9 months left. I have a question, do you have material already and that's why you're getting an agent or are you seeking out an agent first? 🙏✍️💗
Hi Niki, thanks for your support :) I have my first novel finished, the first of a three part project. That’s the one I am presenting to agents. Parts two and three are on the works.
OH I FEEL THIS SO MUCH! I have my second book coming out this fall and I'm starting to really finally truly realize how difficult it is to piece together a real income off of freelance writing/illustrating. Sigh. Plus, I literally never feel "done."
I've been self-employed my whole adult life (full-time farmer before this), and I find myself daydreaming about salaries and pensions a lot. Especially as I get older.
The primary things that are keeping me going right now:
1. The flexibility while my kids are at home is priceless.
2. I'd probably just need/want to write ANYWAY. When would I do it?
3. The joy of a good day of flow. It's so addictive! Even if it feels elusive many days amidst all the other distractions and realities.
Katie, I’ve been employed all my life and continually wonder if I should have gone freelance. I’ve been very lucky with my career and continue part time even though I’m past retirement age.
I do have some books in the pipeline, maybe if they end up being published I will finally, finally go self employed.
I’m obsessed with this thread and identify with what everyone is saying. I also have a full time job that provides me with ample time to write and structure my schedule the way I want. It’s not ideal in that it doesn’t align exactly with something I derive personal meaning from, but it’s not far. Hopefully I too will connect to a full time situation that is more along those lines, and/or find I am able to write full time and handle my business. I used to have a lot of shame around not being full time as a writer, and I’m beginning to slowly see the light. Ultimately I think the priority should be on creating the circumstances that allow you to write most productively. Currently having one of those flow state days as we speak. There’s nothing like them...
It’s horrible. I wrote full time for a couple years then covid hit and it was all hands on deck at our family cafe. Now I’ll happily get up before the start of the work day to write, then move my body all over that cafe. I’ve found a better balance. Too much time alone wasn’t good for me.
As someone working 40 hours a week at a job I am totally burned out on and feeling constantly 🤬 about the amount (and quality!) of time I have for my own writing, I just want to say thank you for writing this post. It is great perspective for me and I did not find it discouraging at all. It’s good to be grounded in the reality of the situation (and also reminded of the very real benefits of a salaried day job).
I think the happiest writers I’ve worked with in the past 16 years have had another gig. Maybe not working 60 hours a week at a tech company, but having experiences and interactions with other people, making progress and hitting milestones for goals, learning new skills.
Late commenter and minority viewpoint: I've been very happy as a full-time writer, and lived off an advance for four years--which I realize is exceedingly rare, but it happens, and I still hope it happens at least once more! I've also found grants, crowdfunded research for novels, and enjoyed the occasional income bump from film options and speaking fees. But I will admit that FT was more isolating. I'm even happier as a half-time writer with writing-adjacent jobs that help me connect with things I care about (books, other writers, other subjects I'm exploring that will feed back into my writing). I think this post made me a little contrary, because for every 99 people who won't "make it" or simply don't want to --they feel more comfortable with a regular job, that's fine-- there's someone like me who wanted to know it IS possible and wanted to connect with others who have made it work, at least some years. Most of us know if we are a "steady is better" or "feast/famine" kind of person. I'm the latter. And the short-term famines have made those feasts taste really good.
Thank you for this! If you don’t mind me asking, how were you able to do this? I’m an MFA student at the moment and would love to have a full-time career as an author. It can be discouraging because everywhere I look someone is confirming that this isn’t possible, that I will need to teach or find a “real job” to support me and that idea makes me feel dead inside. Thank you for offering a beacon of hope💜
If I can butt in here--the secret is to either live where it is very cheap and/or get a "real job" that doesn't make you feel dead inside. They exist! Writing can be your full time job, but it doesn't come with a regular paycheck, so you have to figure that part out until advances/royalties feel like a paycheck. That might be a long time, but you use that time to full yourself with things that aid writing, not take away from it. Jobs, experiences, places, people. Look at it as an opportunity to learn.
I agree with Kate. And I’d add that the “real job” may in fact be a combination of jobs, some writing adjacent, some not. Most writers I know teach (even if it’s not on a career track). I also book coach, edit, freelance; at times I’ve ghostwritten and been paid to write tv pilots; I’ve also received many grants over the years. Other writers I know work pt or temporary jobs that have nothing to do with writing but allow them hours or entire seasons when they can write. I know authors who are fishermen, lawyers, outdoor guides. So none of this suggests that one can easily write full time, forever, and do nothing else. But if one gets lucky, there may be times when one does nothing else. It’s possible. (Also as Kate said: create a low cost lifestyle—that’s a big part.)
Ha! Kate with the hard truths. It's a good reminder about what to strive for, though. Especially for writers like me who have yet to break into their author careers.
I've been a full-time writer, ghostwriter, developmental editor, and writing coach for decades, and I wouldn't trade it for anything, least of all a 9-to-5 job. I've even reinvented myself three times, first as a parenting writer, then a medical writer, then a speech and book ghost/dev editor. I've published five of my own books traditionally and four self-pub. All that time, I raised my kids, first as a married mom and then a divorced one and now an empty nester. I get my health insurance on the ACA and I've got retirement funds set up. You can do it, but you have to want it, and you have to evolve with the market and technology changes.
Yes! My ghostwriting rates and payment schedules are always set up as a salary of sorts. And writing for someone who has $$ isn’t as fun as writing for myself, but it’s more sustainable.
Okay, this was amazing -- about 40-45 years too late for me, but I loved it anyway. I was the one getting up at 5:00 am (only for me it was 3:45 because I started at 6:00 am.) And I was writing again by 8:00-8:30pm, until I passed out at my desk. I never made it as a successful writing, because I didn't apply myself, but then I found Substack, and shortly after that, I retired.
And here's where it gets interesting. I no longer care one way or the other if I publish legit. I'm here on my 'Stack for anyone to find: https://benwoestenburg.substack.com/about thinking I want to make a success of THIS. I can be my own boss here. I don't have to worry about all those little nit-picking things I had to before. I just have to build a following, hopefully pick up a few PAID subscribers, and just ride the wave. I publish my stories regularly; I have a serial novel completed, and am working on two others. I've placed myself in a position where it doesn't matter to me one way, or the other. I may eventually try to sort through my stories (they're novelettes and novellas) and put them together to send out into the wild, but if I get enough PAID subscribers, I might set up a POD.
I do things this way because I hear from other writers how much they are stressed by self-imposed deadlines. Being retired, I can write at my own pace. If I don't want to write today, I don't fret over it. Weekends are meant for the wife. (She gets a 3 day weekend.) I don't expect an agent to scroll through my stuff and say: "Wow, I can get this published for him." If I've learned one thing, it's that things don't work like that in the real world. At the moment, I'1m making a grand total of $460/year, and do you know what? That's more than I've ever made before. I just need to carve out a small corner of the 'Stack for myself and let things take care of themself. As long as I write good, quality stories, I'll always have readers. It might only be 445 today, but in five years, it could be 4400, or 44,000. It's a roll of the dice, or a turn of the card, only now, I'M the house and I hold the cards!
Great Substack. I do like the way you lay it on the line: take me or leave me, your choice! I read the start of the Bashful Courtesan, but then, boom, had to pay to read it all. I think your prices are really good, and in line with what I'd charge, if I charged. I still have to set up a pay button and all that. I think Substack is a brilliant way forward. At least I hope so for me. I may have had enough of bashing my head against the publishing wall. Or maybe not, I'm such a masochist.
Thanks for that Ben! I am just starting out on Substack. I'm not even sure how someone can find me on that platform, but I really enjoy it. It's Memoirist in the Museum, or ROSEHURST431. Substack. You can see what a newbie I am at this! Will check out your Substack, and if you want to have a look at mine, that would be great. Hopefully you can find it!!
YES to all of this. I did not finish writing my first novel until I started working full time when my daughter started school (this was after staying home to raise her and I had these long stretches of time to write, but didn't). I became super productive because I didn't have any other choice. If I wanted to write and finish novels, I had to MAKE THE TIME. And it works for me somehow. If I have long stretches of uninterrupted time, I procrastinate and I don't get the work done. So. Having a full-time day job is actually much better for me than being a full-time writer.
I agree with this so much - I write more in a two hour chunk of time with a one-year-old at home compared to the whole days I had before she came about. The bits I find hard are when those pockets are taken away, like when she’s ill. Three or four days with no time to write starts to claw up my back. It’s partly why I started my Substack, because any sort of writing, even if it couldn’t be my book, made me feel more me at the end of the day.
This is so encouraging! Thanks for sharing your path with us. I work FT too and my son is 3! I have to write in the dark of the night. But I love it.. so that’s enough, right?
As a sort-of full time writer (with a writing side gig), I could not agree with you more. I want to send this to everyone who is like "omg what a cool job!" It really is, of course, but it's also incredibly trying, and getting my side gig was one of the best things I ever did, because it saves me from utter meltdown as my advance money drains from my bank account and I'm faced with figuring out my next book.
I fucking love what Kate says here! I was a full-time writer for years and eventually realized I needed to go back to having a day job in order to feel saner (and, it soon turned out, to get sober, too.) This wouldn't have been the case if I were raking in the dough, but it eventually became untenable to only rely on my creative writing for my income. I was fortunate to eventually end up with a full-time gig from which I derive some personal meaning, as well. THAT SAID...if you can live comfortably, take care of your mental and physical health, and derive a lot of happiness from writing full-time, go for it. If you find you are too lonely, find a part-time gig or volunteer job to get you in touch with community.
The lack of daily community is also really hard. I feel that a lot. I've been subbing at the local high school and it makes me ridiculously happy!
Oh wow this makes me very happy to read. That's awesome and the kids probably adore you.
That's why I practice BJJ
Lol, I'm a full time writer and wanted to be around people so I could get my work done. But the nearest option was a beachside hostel full of 17-22 year old brits jamming hard to turn of the century British music, which makes no sense to me. So I went to the next resort over where there was but one old dude drinking beer and Richard Marx blasting. Yea, that's my vibe as a writer. So I settled down there to write. You live the lonely life a whole lot as a full time writer. People need to hear real stories about what full time writer lives are like. In fact im currently at a no moon festival with no people on the beach, not in thailand. No joke. No one goes to a club mosh pit to write. And it's stories like mine (not to say it is the best and only) which should make people fully aware of the environments full time writers put themselves in so they don't go insane in a solo mountain shack like Theodore kazinski. And let's not talk about the fact that I'm staying in a bug infested bungalow because that's all I can afford. If you all give me eprops for this post that will sustain me, 😂
10000000% this! <3
That's awesome
I can feel you. I am a full time writer as of now (by default). Art sometimes is not a way of making a living. It is hard. It is hard. Sometimes you operate within the bare minimum and not optimize your full potential. Everyday you must put in effort less you stagnate. But one thing with writers is that they craft the things that the society will celebrate later. So let's go go!
As a full time writer who has had many other jobs, I like to say "it't the worst job in the world... except for all the others".
YES
Like what Churchill said about democracy!
A job is a job
All of this makes sense to me. But I would encourage people to try to consider day jobs that don't drain them completely. I had a day job that was sucking the life out of me, and I didn't even realize it. Once I changed jobs to a role and company that prioritized work/life balance, my writing life also changed. You don't have to quit your job (I don't plan to), but maybe you can find a job that provides stability (and money and insurance!) without draining the well.
I'm not a writer etc but in my last job I was an early morning cleaner at a big lifestyle store,the sort of job we are all taught to dread,loathe the idea of and fear - and I loved it. It was like discovering a secret world. (I'm in UK). Who knew some geniuses,certainly high IQ people hung out in lifestyle stores mopping,dusting and cleaning. It was like an alternative society no one knew about! And finishing by 10am gave you the whole day TO LIVE YOUR OWN LIFE. So it was anti-social hours at low wage,but if you're not motivated by money (who isnt ha ha) that doesnt matter. Just saying that if you are creative then one of these sort of jobs can be good as your work duties are set out,you follow the established routine and you get enough money if you're good at managing it and your freedom.
I knew a musician who was a postal carrier. His job was low stress and gave him a salary and pension. He got to make music nights and weekends and it worked for him. This I think may be easier for men or childless women. Having a day job, raising a family and writing can be draining. One needs a lot of support to do it.
THIS! I started a job I adore last year. 2023 was the most prolific writing year I've had since I graduated college. That's no coincidence.
After over twenty years dedicated to Corporate work, I quit last year. I accepted the lack of pay, insurance, security, or schedules to follow because I realized that continuing that life would slowly kill my dreams. I decided to mind my advice, which I gave to many others, from my children to colleagues: "Bet on your strengths, on the things that give you energy and challenge you. Target as much happiness as you can."
I jumped into a black hole of query letters, agent searches, and daily writing, and although it is not easy (IS NOT), I would not change it for anything, not now. Give me a year to see if I change my opinion :)
I totally admire you for this, and I wish you an inbox full of agent requests!
Abundance baby
You have the luxury of doing this after working more than 20 years. I hope other people will be empowered to think the same if they've worked a salaried job for such a long time.
I did this as well and am cheering and rooting for you endlessly!! I'll be 50 in May. I have about 9 months left. I have a question, do you have material already and that's why you're getting an agent or are you seeking out an agent first? 🙏✍️💗
Hi Niki, thanks for your support :) I have my first novel finished, the first of a three part project. That’s the one I am presenting to agents. Parts two and three are on the works.
OH I FEEL THIS SO MUCH! I have my second book coming out this fall and I'm starting to really finally truly realize how difficult it is to piece together a real income off of freelance writing/illustrating. Sigh. Plus, I literally never feel "done."
I've been self-employed my whole adult life (full-time farmer before this), and I find myself daydreaming about salaries and pensions a lot. Especially as I get older.
The primary things that are keeping me going right now:
1. The flexibility while my kids are at home is priceless.
2. I'd probably just need/want to write ANYWAY. When would I do it?
3. The joy of a good day of flow. It's so addictive! Even if it feels elusive many days amidst all the other distractions and realities.
P.S. Congrats on being so cloooooooose!
Katie, I’ve been employed all my life and continually wonder if I should have gone freelance. I’ve been very lucky with my career and continue part time even though I’m past retirement age.
I do have some books in the pipeline, maybe if they end up being published I will finally, finally go self employed.
(Kate)
(I think he was responding to me? I'm Katie)
I’m obsessed with this thread and identify with what everyone is saying. I also have a full time job that provides me with ample time to write and structure my schedule the way I want. It’s not ideal in that it doesn’t align exactly with something I derive personal meaning from, but it’s not far. Hopefully I too will connect to a full time situation that is more along those lines, and/or find I am able to write full time and handle my business. I used to have a lot of shame around not being full time as a writer, and I’m beginning to slowly see the light. Ultimately I think the priority should be on creating the circumstances that allow you to write most productively. Currently having one of those flow state days as we speak. There’s nothing like them...
It’s horrible. I wrote full time for a couple years then covid hit and it was all hands on deck at our family cafe. Now I’ll happily get up before the start of the work day to write, then move my body all over that cafe. I’ve found a better balance. Too much time alone wasn’t good for me.
As someone working 40 hours a week at a job I am totally burned out on and feeling constantly 🤬 about the amount (and quality!) of time I have for my own writing, I just want to say thank you for writing this post. It is great perspective for me and I did not find it discouraging at all. It’s good to be grounded in the reality of the situation (and also reminded of the very real benefits of a salaried day job).
I think the happiest writers I’ve worked with in the past 16 years have had another gig. Maybe not working 60 hours a week at a tech company, but having experiences and interactions with other people, making progress and hitting milestones for goals, learning new skills.
That’s just called having a life outside of writing lol.
Late commenter and minority viewpoint: I've been very happy as a full-time writer, and lived off an advance for four years--which I realize is exceedingly rare, but it happens, and I still hope it happens at least once more! I've also found grants, crowdfunded research for novels, and enjoyed the occasional income bump from film options and speaking fees. But I will admit that FT was more isolating. I'm even happier as a half-time writer with writing-adjacent jobs that help me connect with things I care about (books, other writers, other subjects I'm exploring that will feed back into my writing). I think this post made me a little contrary, because for every 99 people who won't "make it" or simply don't want to --they feel more comfortable with a regular job, that's fine-- there's someone like me who wanted to know it IS possible and wanted to connect with others who have made it work, at least some years. Most of us know if we are a "steady is better" or "feast/famine" kind of person. I'm the latter. And the short-term famines have made those feasts taste really good.
Thank you for this! If you don’t mind me asking, how were you able to do this? I’m an MFA student at the moment and would love to have a full-time career as an author. It can be discouraging because everywhere I look someone is confirming that this isn’t possible, that I will need to teach or find a “real job” to support me and that idea makes me feel dead inside. Thank you for offering a beacon of hope💜
If I can butt in here--the secret is to either live where it is very cheap and/or get a "real job" that doesn't make you feel dead inside. They exist! Writing can be your full time job, but it doesn't come with a regular paycheck, so you have to figure that part out until advances/royalties feel like a paycheck. That might be a long time, but you use that time to full yourself with things that aid writing, not take away from it. Jobs, experiences, places, people. Look at it as an opportunity to learn.
I agree with Kate. And I’d add that the “real job” may in fact be a combination of jobs, some writing adjacent, some not. Most writers I know teach (even if it’s not on a career track). I also book coach, edit, freelance; at times I’ve ghostwritten and been paid to write tv pilots; I’ve also received many grants over the years. Other writers I know work pt or temporary jobs that have nothing to do with writing but allow them hours or entire seasons when they can write. I know authors who are fishermen, lawyers, outdoor guides. So none of this suggests that one can easily write full time, forever, and do nothing else. But if one gets lucky, there may be times when one does nothing else. It’s possible. (Also as Kate said: create a low cost lifestyle—that’s a big part.)
Thanks!
Ha! Kate with the hard truths. It's a good reminder about what to strive for, though. Especially for writers like me who have yet to break into their author careers.
Thanks for the tough love!
I've been a full-time writer, ghostwriter, developmental editor, and writing coach for decades, and I wouldn't trade it for anything, least of all a 9-to-5 job. I've even reinvented myself three times, first as a parenting writer, then a medical writer, then a speech and book ghost/dev editor. I've published five of my own books traditionally and four self-pub. All that time, I raised my kids, first as a married mom and then a divorced one and now an empty nester. I get my health insurance on the ACA and I've got retirement funds set up. You can do it, but you have to want it, and you have to evolve with the market and technology changes.
Thank you so much for sharing your perspective and experience! What is ACA?
Do you have a profile page? I may need an editor and I'm on the free ACA plan haha
I still think it's the best job in the world. But then again, being a ghostwriter does take care of a good number of those negative points 😊
It's nice work if you can get it!!!! :)
Yes! My ghostwriting rates and payment schedules are always set up as a salary of sorts. And writing for someone who has $$ isn’t as fun as writing for myself, but it’s more sustainable.
I have no idea how someone becomes a ghostwriter. I wouldn't mind trying it.
Hi fellow ghostie 😊
I’m fascinated with the ghost writer life, not my bag but really fascinating none the less.
I hear this a lot! I guess it's not so fascinating when it's your daily life, haha.
Okay, this was amazing -- about 40-45 years too late for me, but I loved it anyway. I was the one getting up at 5:00 am (only for me it was 3:45 because I started at 6:00 am.) And I was writing again by 8:00-8:30pm, until I passed out at my desk. I never made it as a successful writing, because I didn't apply myself, but then I found Substack, and shortly after that, I retired.
And here's where it gets interesting. I no longer care one way or the other if I publish legit. I'm here on my 'Stack for anyone to find: https://benwoestenburg.substack.com/about thinking I want to make a success of THIS. I can be my own boss here. I don't have to worry about all those little nit-picking things I had to before. I just have to build a following, hopefully pick up a few PAID subscribers, and just ride the wave. I publish my stories regularly; I have a serial novel completed, and am working on two others. I've placed myself in a position where it doesn't matter to me one way, or the other. I may eventually try to sort through my stories (they're novelettes and novellas) and put them together to send out into the wild, but if I get enough PAID subscribers, I might set up a POD.
I do things this way because I hear from other writers how much they are stressed by self-imposed deadlines. Being retired, I can write at my own pace. If I don't want to write today, I don't fret over it. Weekends are meant for the wife. (She gets a 3 day weekend.) I don't expect an agent to scroll through my stuff and say: "Wow, I can get this published for him." If I've learned one thing, it's that things don't work like that in the real world. At the moment, I'1m making a grand total of $460/year, and do you know what? That's more than I've ever made before. I just need to carve out a small corner of the 'Stack for myself and let things take care of themself. As long as I write good, quality stories, I'll always have readers. It might only be 445 today, but in five years, it could be 4400, or 44,000. It's a roll of the dice, or a turn of the card, only now, I'M the house and I hold the cards!
Great Substack. I do like the way you lay it on the line: take me or leave me, your choice! I read the start of the Bashful Courtesan, but then, boom, had to pay to read it all. I think your prices are really good, and in line with what I'd charge, if I charged. I still have to set up a pay button and all that. I think Substack is a brilliant way forward. At least I hope so for me. I may have had enough of bashing my head against the publishing wall. Or maybe not, I'm such a masochist.
Sorry Ben, I didn't realize I had to hit the button that said "next".
Thanks for that Ben! I am just starting out on Substack. I'm not even sure how someone can find me on that platform, but I really enjoy it. It's Memoirist in the Museum, or ROSEHURST431. Substack. You can see what a newbie I am at this! Will check out your Substack, and if you want to have a look at mine, that would be great. Hopefully you can find it!!
So on point! Thank you for dropping the truth about this amazing, yet under-appreciated work.
YES to all of this. I did not finish writing my first novel until I started working full time when my daughter started school (this was after staying home to raise her and I had these long stretches of time to write, but didn't). I became super productive because I didn't have any other choice. If I wanted to write and finish novels, I had to MAKE THE TIME. And it works for me somehow. If I have long stretches of uninterrupted time, I procrastinate and I don't get the work done. So. Having a full-time day job is actually much better for me than being a full-time writer.
I agree with this so much - I write more in a two hour chunk of time with a one-year-old at home compared to the whole days I had before she came about. The bits I find hard are when those pockets are taken away, like when she’s ill. Three or four days with no time to write starts to claw up my back. It’s partly why I started my Substack, because any sort of writing, even if it couldn’t be my book, made me feel more me at the end of the day.
This is so encouraging! Thanks for sharing your path with us. I work FT too and my son is 3! I have to write in the dark of the night. But I love it.. so that’s enough, right?
As a sort-of full time writer (with a writing side gig), I could not agree with you more. I want to send this to everyone who is like "omg what a cool job!" It really is, of course, but it's also incredibly trying, and getting my side gig was one of the best things I ever did, because it saves me from utter meltdown as my advance money drains from my bank account and I'm faced with figuring out my next book.