From an outsider's perspective, the life of an author sounds like easy street. Lots of alone time. Sitting all day, imagining things. Not going to a regular job. Getting involved in wild adventures.
Anyone who has actually put forth an effort to become a writer knows that's just not how things go. Contrary to what most people believe, being a writer is no easy task. There's nothing romantic about being shut away from society while trying to compose. Moreover, working to balance a creative lifestyle while paying bills is even less exciting. It's downright stressful. To top it off, since people with regular jobs seem to think writers frittering their lives away playing with words that don't matter, it can make a person feel the work they are doing isn't really worth anything.
News flash!!!
Everything a creative person conjures up is worth something. It could be worth more experience to help a person build their talents or worth a million dollars. All I can say is don't stop creating whatever it is you’re creating. That is, unless, you're creating stylish clothes out of human flesh. If so, please, stop. Now.
Ok, for all the rest of you creating things while refraining from hurting people (which seems to be a feat nowadays. Can you guys hold a how to seminar for President Bush?). Now it is time for you to center your life on creating without becoming a martyr. The prevailing "starving artist" stereotype is gasping its last breath, so let's shovel the first clods of grave dirt on it, shall we? The way we’re going to do that is by getting some quick money in your pocket. That’s how you’re going to buy some prosperous time before you hit pay dirt with your best seller.
The first thing you need to do is figure out when your favorite times to create are. If you're like me, that's all the time. Still my most creative time was from midnight to 9 am. For a while I was babysitting, which worked while I was in school. Then I would take naps and stay up all night, go to class and take another mid day nap before going to work. That was a crazy but productive schedule. I had to learn that I could not sleep like the rest of the world if I wanted to get my work done. Don't be afraid to try an outside of the norm schedule to get your day work done in addition to your writing. Just make sure you get some sleep in. Trust me, if you don't, you'll get loopy.
The second thing to do is look for a job that will pay your bills while still giving you the time to create. Now that I fill the gaping hole of free time that school used to take up with a concert addiction, I need way more loot than babysitting offers. Let's say I'm the stereotypical artsy type. My problem is I can't take a regular job because I have a fear of commitment. One day I might be totally stoked to work behind a desk. The next day I might want to take my camping gear to the mountains for a three-week solitude hiatus. So I need something with a schedule that is virtually nonexistent. Impossible to find right?
Wrong. The best gig for a person with that disposition is substitute teaching. The pay is about $100 a day here in Stockton, CA, so other towns can't be too far off the mark from that. Granted, subbing won't make you a millionaire. Still, it leaves the door open for one to make money while avoiding typical work scheduling conflicts. Take a good look at your town to see if there are other job opportunities where you can create your own schedule. Some examples that pop into mind are salesperson, dog walker or tutor.
On the flip side, there are jobs where you can work while you write and the supervisors really won't mind. Librarians are quite open to having a writer work in their midst as long as there is no pressing work to be done. My friend works as a security guard. He writes to keep himself up during the long nights. Just be careful to pick the right position and work with people who know your ultimate career goal. That way they'll be cheering for you when you get that book published, not glaring at you because you don't participate in office gossip.
Now that you've got some ideas in your head, get out there and get working, you broke bum.
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