Comments on: From the Vault: Don’t quit!

By: Natasha Fondren

Natasha Fondren — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 17:24:48 +0000

When I went to conservatory, I keenly felt and noticed the advantages those who did not have a part-time job had over me. Quitting my "day job" (arguably not a day job) was a no brainer for me.

Granted, I'd been self-employed in music for fifteen years, and I'd been writing for seven or eight years before I knew for certain writing and not music was my path. The first year as a full-time writer was tough emotionally (leaving behind something I was really good at for something I was just good at) and mentally (writing full-time with ADD).

But even though I was living on a small income, the financial strains were nothing--are nothing. I do not have materialistic desires. I hate stuff, and I was happy to move into a camper. I get to live and move whenever and wherever I want!

I'm 100% committed to my writing career, and I just don't see how I could split my focus and improve my writing to the level I want and expect while maintaining two careers.

By: GhostFolk.com

GhostFolk.com — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:02:43 +0000

In the strange, strange world of creative endeavor, I find the opposite of what most people do: it is easier to produce when writing in my spare time than it is when I have all day every day to write and only write and…
hey, there's a squirrel crossing the yard… gotta go!

By: Nicole MacDonald

Nicole MacDonald — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:48:44 +0000

I need my day job – it gives me SO much inspiration. I think if I wrote full time a lot of it would be in cafes and public places so I can observe people. Writing at home with no-one there permantly …sounds kind of scary..

http://damselinadirtydress.blogspot.com

By: Jessica Lee

Jessica Lee — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:44:25 +0000

I've actually been wondering what my course of action would be if I happened to get a multi-book deal (unlikely but I like dreaming) before I starting applying for graduate schools. Would I hold off and just stick to writing and then go? Would I just keep writing and never stop? I'll find out–if I ever get that deal.

By: Stephanie Faris

Stephanie Faris — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 19:40:04 +0000

I used to dream of quitting the day job but I've been writing for so long now, I've been at my day job for 17 years. In 13 years I can retire at half my pay for life…so I'd just have to find a way to make up that other half. Maybe a part-time job plus writing or maybe I'll have my house paid off and will be able to live on just half my salary. Who knows? Maybe my husband will strike it rich in his career!

By: DGLM

DGLM — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:54:32 +0000

Thanks, Charlie. I fixed it. -Lauren

By: Charlie

Charlie — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:43:22 +0000

Nice insight.

Also, there's no link to the post by Jane. Methinks it is broken.

By: Yat-Yee

Yat-Yee — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:38:05 +0000

The day-to-day writing life seems so much to do with solitary things: reading, thinking, allowing ideas to brew, crafting, that it's easy to lose sight of the fact that we need something to write about. If I am not doing other things besides writing, I will run out of things to say very quickly.

BTW, I love Sara's thoughtfulness that is so clear in her books, Her point about whether one is quitting a career job or a temporary one makes a lot of sense.

By: Kristi Helvig

Kristi Helvig — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:48:20 +0000

Well, at least I have the warm cup of coffee and ever expanding manuscript going on this morning–I'll focus on appreciating the small things for now and build up to the movie rights.:) Great post! I think perseverance is the key to making it any profession, and long odds only push me to work even harder.