What do you do for a living?

Shagy1186 · Sep 8, 2005

I imagine most of you dont write as your full time job. I was curious what you do for a living? I'm wondering because I'm 18 and graduated from high school in June and am currently looking for a job. But I believe once I start working I will grow more and more apart from my writing and will not be as interested in it as I am now. What job would you recommend someone like me getting if I still want to continue writing and still keep it a part of my life and eventually get my first novel published.

zornhau · Sep 8, 2005

It depends? What do you like writing about? Get a job related to that. For example, if you're a hard sf nut, then get a job in a lab.

In general, worldy experience will enhance rather than hinder your writing.

But... you're 18, and you're picking a career? Erk!? Get some money together and travel!

veinglory · Sep 8, 2005

A mere 8-10 more years of education and you can be a university lecturer writing elegant science articles for no pay whatsoever-- you know it just struck me that's not such a great deal.

I suggest going for anything you like that pays well and working part time?

Sarita · Sep 8, 2005

I've worked in the Market Research Industry for the last 6 years and just started back to school full time to get some degrees. Market Research was nice because I was constantly exposed to various kinds of businesses, people and products. Most of us know a little about a lot of segments in order to help out clients.

If you're getting ready for college, you could work in a phone center as an interviewer. A lot of our part time people were college students. We also had 3 writers working as telephone interviewers, one romance, the other paranormal and the other historical. They said they used the interesting characters they met on the phone to spice up their stories...

So, a job where you deal with people can help you develop good characters.

scfirenice · Sep 8, 2005

I'm a registered nurse. It actually works very well with my writing. I work three days a week, have the others to write (theoretically), and get lots of ideas working with patients.

Richard · Sep 8, 2005

I'm a full-time journalist. I write a lot of words. Most are more interesting than this post.

Dawno · Sep 8, 2005

I think signing up with a couple of temp agencies and trying out a number of different jobs in different industries would be a good idea. First if you don't like it there's no stigma attached to 'job hopping'. Next you get a more flexible working experience -- take short term assignments. It also seems to me that you'd have a broader range of experiences and meet more people as a temp - good fodder for writing.

Richard · Sep 8, 2005

Yes, a couple of years temping and you'll never be stuck for horror plots in which the lowly underdog slices up the foul forces of oppression with a meat-cleaver after being asked to staple one too many A4 sheets with Herman, the Human Body Odour.

Dawno · Sep 8, 2005

I didn't know we had worked at the same place, Richard! Small world.

Cathy C · Sep 8, 2005

Richard said:
Yes, a couple of years temping and you'll never be stuck for horror plots in which the lowly underdog slices up the foul forces of oppression with a meat-cleaver after being asked to staple one too many A4 sheets with Herman, the Human Body Odour.

See, that's why we don't use A4 paper here in the States! We lack a sufficient supply of meat-cleavers. Fortunately, stapling 8-1/2x11 paper makes you want to take out the Uzi, which we have plenty of...

I personally spent 20+ years in a law office putting words on paper. Now, I AM doing the writing thing full time... so I guess nothing much has changed except that I'm making a lot less money! :Shrug:

Azure Skye · Sep 8, 2005

I'm an IT (Information Technology) wannabe working in food service. Yay me.

Saanen · Sep 8, 2005

Elementary school teacher here, currently with the third grade, and a worse bunch of eight-year-olds you never saw. I expect I'll be completely gray-headed by the end of the year, and I'm only 35.

I temped for five years in my 20s. I've often thought that someone needs to write a murder mystery series with the sleuth as a professional temp. I'd buy it!

Avalon · Sep 8, 2005

I'm a freelance copyeditor.

You might think about starting at ground level (eg, the mailroom) at a publisher.

A.REX · Sep 8, 2005

When I was younger I tried several times to get on with local papers. I'm not that disappointed though because the slant is different than my opinions and I'd have to have compromised likely to get past the editor.

So back to my ole roots, fixing stuff... I'm a carpenter. Pays the bills. My fantasies and passions are elsewhere.

zarch · Sep 8, 2005

I'm a high school English teacher. I absolutely love it, but I'd also like to add "published novelist" to my resume.

Andrew Jameson · Sep 8, 2005

Shagy1186 said:
But I believe once I start working I will grow more and more apart from my writing and will not be as interested in it as I am now. What job would you recommend someone like me getting if I still want to continue writing and still keep it a part of my life and eventually get my first novel published.

I imagine this is debate-able, so I shan't belabor the point, but:

a) I think there's room in most people's lives (including yours) for more than one love. Who says you can't be involved with two (or three or four or five) different things that you enjoy doing? In other words, there's nothing wrong with saying, "hey, I want to get a job that allows me to write," but I think it's awfully short-sighted for that to be your only criteria. Pick something you like.

b) The above notwithstanding...what's wrong with becoming less interested in writing? People change and grow and become more interested in some things and less interested in others. Again, nothing wrong with being excited about writing and hoping to keep doing it for years and years and years, but don't keep forcing yourself to do something long past the point you're interested in it.

And, to contribute to the thread: I do research and development work in hybrid vehicles and clean engine technology. Not really related to writing novels (other than through the meta-skill of clear communication of ideas), but then, I've always thought there was room in my life for multiple interests.

MarkEsq · Sep 8, 2005

*sigh*
I'm an attorney. I used to be a newspaper reporter, when I lived in England, but I moved to the US and figured that if I was going to do a job that people distrusted, I should at least get well paid for it.

ANNIE · Sep 8, 2005

another Registered Nurse here. I also have a degree in geology-never used it.

traveled around the country for a few years with my hubby (before kids). There's a lot to be said for life experiences. But no matter what else I did, I always wrote. I'm only more serious about it now.

Do what you love- then do what you have to to pay the bills, but never forget your passion.

WVWriterGirl · Sep 8, 2005

I've been a medical transcriptionist, medical records file clerk for two different hospitals, legal transcriptionist and law clerk, full time student, data entry clerk at two different offices, and spent four years as a health insurance claims examiner. Now, I'm a stay-at-home mom and writer. It doesn't pay the bills, so I'm going to have to find at least a part-time job.

Writing is a very rewarding career choice, but sometimes, in the name of survival, you've got to do what you've got to do. I know that if I go back to work, I'll not be able to write again (it's burnout - it's happened to me before). It may not happen to you; but keeping a job, kids, a husband and a house going doesn't lend itself to writing "on the side". I hope you can, but steel your resolve; you'll need all the backbone you can get.

WVWG

azbikergirl · Sep 8, 2005

Andrew Jameson said:
Pick something you like.

Amen to that. If you're a writer, you will write and no job will stop you.

It's good to earn a living that gives me the needs and comforts while I do write, but what if my writing career never takes off? I need to be happy NOW. I'm a software engineer. I enjoy what I do. It's not writing, but it's more than "just OK" (and it pays well). Doing it for the rest of my life wouldn't be a disaster.

Richard White · Sep 8, 2005

I'm a tech writer.

Before that, I was a soldier.

Plus, I'm a full-time dad.

kelker11 · Sep 8, 2005

Andrew Jameson said:
Pick something you like.

Truer words were never spoken.

I work in the banking field (paper pusher extraordinaire is the official job title!

). And while this is an 'okay' job, there's no passion in it. It pays the bills, and the work schedule (three days a week) is fantastic, but there is no real liking for the job, yet, I've spent the last 18 years doing this.

To Shagy, you are so young right now, and everything is still a possibility for you. Go to college, later on, you'll be SO glad you did--especially if you don't ever become a successful megabucks writer...that college foundation will allow you take jobs that pay more than someone with a high school diploma could earn. Travel, as someone else recommended. Later on, life is going to tie you down with responsibilities that may not allow the time or the finances to go and do things that you want to do. But most of all, pick something that you are going to enjoy doing. You'll be spending a lot of time doing it, so it should be something you can look back on and say, "That career was a good decision."

Anastacia · Sep 8, 2005

I grade nationally standardized tests at home part-time. The pay is decent. That is when they aren't slashing it so the company can give undeserved bonuses to upper management.

When I'm not doing that I write articles, work on fiction and watch my toddler daughter.

My five year plan is to have another child, write and grade tests for a few years. After that I'd like to go back to work full time ideally as a magazine or book editor.

If you're interested in writing, why not consider a career in publishing? The pay isn't always great but if you have to earn a living let it be for something you love.

Pat~ · Sep 8, 2005

I am a figure-skating instructor and also design custom handbags, in addition to doing the writing thing. I have two college degrees and used to be a full-time teacher, but much prefer the part-time ventures for this time of my life. I'd strongly encourage any writer to get as much education as possible; most writers need a day-job, and the education will bring more to the table when you do write.

MarkPettus · Sep 8, 2005

Go west, young man.

Do it all. If writing is what you want to do, your first assignment is to live and experience as much of life as you can.

George Plimpton inspired me as a teen. I saw him as a modern renaissance man, boxing with Archie Moore, pitching to Willie Mays, playing for the Detroit Lions, joining the circus... I've used his inspiration as an excuse for never knowing exactly what kind of work I was out of at any particular time.

In my current gig I'm a newspaperman. It's similar to being a writer, except the pay is a lot less.

What do you do for a living?

Swordsman

volitare nequeo

carpe noctem

professional multitasker

13th Triskaidekaphobe

Shiny!

13th Triskaidekaphobe

Shiny!

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

Huh?

Linda J. Daly

GOML.

(not his real name)

Clever title pending.

Inked Mom

I really do look like this.

Stealthy Plot Bunny Peddler

Milk Maker

Luftmensch Emeritus, A.D.D.

Writer and Editor