Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Work Or Write?

Having a three day weekend always makes me question whether or not I would quit my day job when my writing career takes off. It would give me more time to write but that might not necessarily be a good thing.

I’m a deadline sort of person. If given too much time I procrastinate and make up excuses not to get started (Stephen King marathons on cable). But when I know a deadline is approaching, when the pressure is on, I excel. It’s when I do my best work, whether it’s my day job or writing.

Also, I get a lot of good story ideas from my crazy co-workers. Not sure I could give that up, at least not completely.  It's like having a secret identity.  And you know I like to think of myself as a super-hero.


What about you? Would you devote all your time to writing?

6 comments:

  1. I write full-time. (Well, I help out one day a week at my cousin's physical therapy clinic, but otherwise...) And you know what? It's hard. Hard to find the motivation on some days. And even with a lot of time to write, I'm somehow STILL constantly feeling like I don't have enough. Because I grocery shop, and workout, and clean, and cook, and go to the post office... ALWAYS have a million little things to do.

    But. In the past few months, I've really tried to take more advantage of the writing time I have. I set schedules for myself and clear my day/mind and spend hours writing. And it's awesome. So I vote for you to write full-time if you're ever able :)

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  2. For me, it depends on what the job is. If it's a job I don't really love, I'd probably drop it to write full time. If it's a job I do love - I want to be an editor - than I'd keep it. :) And hug it every day. (I really want to be an editor)

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  3. I think you are so right about deadlines and time-crunches making people really focus on the writing. And crazy co-workers who provide endless story fodder are a terrific bonus. Still, there's something kind of great about having all day to lollygag on a laptop in make-believe land. (Though you do have to seek out your crazies on-line. Like that's hard). :P

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  4. I think that if I was a full time writer I would. Of course, not all of my time could ever be absolutely devoted to writing. There has to be someone running around the house like a crazy person! :)

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  5. I already do devote all my time to writing. Which is good and bad. Good because, "Yay! I get to write all day!" and bad because, "Argh! I have to write all day!"

    I miss having a regular 9-to-5 sometimes. Mainly I miss the daily camaraderie with my coworkers. Writing can be so solitary!

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  6. In NO PLOT, NO PROBLEM, Chris Baty (of nanowrimo fame) talks about how he took time to write and everything else got in the way.

    I will never write "full-time". But I don't like 9 to 5ing, and I'll take any excuse to get out of it. Even if I do get out of theday job, I'll still have a lot of other things on my plate. Part-time tour guide/translator/tutor work, school visits, random volunteering, lots of travel.

    Unless you're a hard-core introvert (in the MBTI sense) I think you need to get out of the house and be around people at some point.

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It helps to know I'm not just talking to myself.