Advantages and Disadvanatges of Being a Writer with a Day Job
Writing after a day at work can call on extra reserves of energy. But don’t let that put you off. Take a positive approach to your writing to make it even more enjoyable.
For many writers, whether poets, novelists or content writers, the reality is contending with a day job. Many of us dream of changing this situation so we can spend our days writing, but that’s not always possible. Having recently returned to full-time employment for six months and trying to complete a memoir by the end of the year, I’ve had to consider how I can keep writing without too much disturbance.
It takes discipline for a writer to work at a paid job all day, then come home to attend to household and family matters before taking the time to write. Personally, now there are only two of us, I sometimes turn a blind eye to domestic chores if I have words that really must be put down on paper.
If you’re a writer with a day job, it’s best to look at your situation in a positive light. No matter what we write, there are some definite advantages to having a day job to go to. One is obviously having a steady income, as without this we may not have the security and peace of mind to throw ourselves into a writer’s life. But consider the other advantages that a writer in employment has.
Writers feed off people and interesting situations for the ideas we use in our writing. We need to be out in the community making observations and gathering material. Not only do our jobs provide us with plenty of material, but the journey to and from work also allows us to observe human behaviour that will enrich our writing.
While most of a writer’s attention is obviously focused on our employment, a true writer stays alert to writing possibilities. Snatches of conversation come our way, interesting reactions between people are in front of us all the time and unusual possibilities occur in our communities. These can be stored away for future writing. The more writers are exposed to people and events, the more future material we have a our fingertips.
However, there are also disadvantages to being a writer in full-time employment. Instead of looking at these as disadvantages we should look at ways of managing them, so that we have the energy to keep writing. And energy does seem to be the major factor. We all come home from work tired, but still need to keep going. Depending on whether we are younger with families to look after, or older and need only fend for ourselves, there are still groceries to be purchased, food to be cooked and lifestyles to be maintained. That can be quite energy draining. Throw an hour or so of writing into the equation and it sometimes becomes too much to handle.
A writer needs to be disciplined. We need to know when we can snatch the time to write according to personal circumstances. It’s important to not let other distractions get in the way. Although I know it’s not the best decision, at the moment I’ve sacrificed exercise as I work toward my memoir deadline. Others may make other decisions about time management. But, if you are a writer, you must write, every day f you can.
A day job need not mean the writing brain isn’t working. Jot down notes, let your mind work on ideas and stay alert to possibilities. Try and write every day, even if it is just ten minutes of self indulgent feeling sorry for yourself. But do keep writing.
We must remember how lucky we are to be writers and make the most of every situation. Then we won’t waste energy on the wrong things. For now I’m making the most of being a writer with a day job.
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August 16th, 2012 at 5:47 pm
What you write is true, I am experiencing the same situation.
August 16th, 2012 at 5:58 pm
Good work thank you for sharing.
August 16th, 2012 at 10:34 pm
You are so right Val. I could use a little more discipline, I really do need to find more time to write.
August 17th, 2012 at 4:56 am
If I had no day job I don’t think I would ever get down to writing anything Val. Good thoughts here.
August 17th, 2012 at 5:20 am
Good share.
August 18th, 2012 at 1:59 am
So very true. I early retired two years ago but before I did, I was writing and it seemed so natural, I didn’t really create much of a schedule; I’d just sit down and ideas would just rush in. I found Ehow and it was so nice and comfortable writing about all that I had learned life. Thanks for sharing.
August 18th, 2012 at 11:51 am
not easy to work full time, attend to household chores and also do online writings. You have good planning, and you see, just sharing with us about your planning, you are already writing something, as you are one of the good writers here.
August 18th, 2012 at 12:40 pm
Unless one is lucky to write a huge bestseller that sells by millions, writing isn’t a well paid work for all the work it entails. Yet, if one really likes writing, it shouldn’t be much of a sacrifice to devote some time to it. A couple of years ago, I had a day job. True, I hardly wrote during the week, except for some loose pages before call it a day. On my days off, it was a most profitable time, because one has to write when one feels fhresher and rested. On these days, I’m unemployed, but most of my prime time goes on job serach for a job that pays my basic bills and food. Good sharing!
August 19th, 2012 at 7:03 pm
I remember taking a writers course and being told a true writer wrote everyday. Well working 12 hour shifts as a nurse it’s impossible to write everyday. I try to make a goal to write so much a month and pray life doesn’t get in the way too much. What I hate are when my children call to talk or drop by and say, ‘ Well I know it’s okay to come over your just writing. My family even my wonderful husband can’t always understand how important it is for me to write.
August 21st, 2012 at 4:34 pm
There are some of us who are fortunate to have a paid jobs and some not so fortunate but even so writing can be a soothing craft. It’s important to do what you love and appreciate it.
August 24th, 2012 at 6:07 am
You make me feel a bit guilty as I seem to have stopped altogether and am now finding it difficult to get back to writing. I really admire the way you juggle all the things in your life.