As a writer, it’s a harsh reality to note that most writers have supplemental careers while they focus on their craft. And if that is your lot, it’s not all bad. Having income from another source outside of your writing can be a great stress relief. Not having to focus on how to earn money from your creative pursuits can be a very rewarding process. It can literally free you up from having to compromise your artistic endeavors. Not having to choose between your art and your livelihood is a blessing. You may get to a point where your efforts creatively also pay off financially but it’s not a mandatory requirement for being creative.
Many artists dread having a ‘day’ job presuming it somehow takes away their ability to create. With a little reflection and perspective, one can come to see the daily commitments in life, such as a day job, as an opportunity to enhance the creative life. They do not need to be mutually exclusive. They can be seen as two parts of the same coin.
Take some time to see how you can use your day job as a platform for your writing career. Use your day job as a tool to enhance your writing such as perhaps having the means to invest in your craft by buying new equipment, investing in a course, or simply gaining boarder life experiences as a result of your daily experiences.
Using your day job as a stepping stone may be the best way to bridge the chasm of how to create while still maintaining a job.
Happy Writing
LNora
Where Fact Meets Fiction
Carl Hill
12/19/2012 at 4:50 pmI love this post. The reality of the average writer struggling for that best seller stardom is one ignored by the same writer. The industry is easy to get into but who says it will be you who will get that phone call from a major publisher with a six figure signing contract. I love this post. And I will never quit my day time job until I know for certain that my craft I’d a reliable source of income to live off of.
Carl Lamont(037 tag)
L'Nora
12/19/2012 at 5:00 pmThanks Carl for your insight. I think it’s important to strike a balance and be realistic about what it takes to be a self sufficient author. The reality is that it’s perfectly fine to have another career while working on one’s passion. The key is in finding the balance that makes you happy. L’Nora