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Topic: best day job for writers
| Author | Message |
| writesonwater | Posted – 8/13/2006 2:20:06 AM | show profile | email poster Look for something that pays the bills best in the shortest amount of time with the least expended effort. (No, streetwalking doesn't count -- and you kNOW I'm teasing). Or look for something that inspires you -- either gives you something to write about (okay, streetwalking MIGHT count -- that reminds me about this woman I worked with who decided to do a piece about the life of a hooker in her city, so she went downtown and tried to act like a hooker. It was noted by some that she didn't have to change her clothes or makeup.) or something that gives you a chance to think. I've heard from writer friends that the least recommended things are jobs like editing, because writing plus editing is too much of the same thing not enough variety. |
| Marie | Posted – 8/13/2006 2:03:51 PM | show profile I'd recommend a night job, especially if you're talking about nonfiction writing, for which you'd have to do reporting. That way you spend your best hours doing what you really want, and then your exhausted evening hours doing what you need to to to foot the bills. It's not as bad as it sounds--you're not likely to write for eight hours a day, so you could give yourself a few hours off between jobs. |
| amyward | Posted – 8/13/2006 9:54:42 PM | show profile Ooh, good question, and something I've always wondered about. I think it depends a lot too on what you need out of a day job. Like some people still want to work in the media field to gain insight and contacts and maybe even inspiration. Some take the philosophy that the further the tasks of your day job are from those of your freelance work, the better. In that case, you wouldn't want anything where you had to read, sit at a desk, or work at a computer. Even a factory job, driving a taxi, or some other monotonous, physical sort of job might give you a lot of time to think about your writing work but not drain your intellectual reserves. You just wouldn't want too heavy of a physical job, like a laborer, because then you'd just be drained by the end of the day. Some of the jobs I've considered most conducive to writers either give the freedom to daydream, random social interactions to inspire your writing, or some combination thereof. For that reason, waiting tables, driving cabs, delivering mail or packages, nannying, janitoring, or even working as a low-level secretary (ie, with lots of lulls to work on your own work) seem to fit well, if not exactly help with the bills. But if you're looking for an actual "career" that requires some training but could mesh well with the writing life, I also think of real estate sales, scientific/medical lab work, teaching, or many other professions that you can pursue on a part-time basis - depending on your disposition and prior training. If you're looking for a more short-term solution that makes use of your current skills, there are plenty of ways to make some extra cash quickly. (And no I'm not just talking about streetwalking). I don't recommend these as necessarily long-term jobs because there's too much similarity to the act of writing that it could hinder your other work. For example, freelance transcription work, offering editorial services on university campuses or to non-native english speakers, etc etc. But I wonder, aside from the standard career paths for someone with a degree in english or journalism (ie, editing, teaching english, or writing on staff at a paper or magazine), what jobs are most common for working writers who still need something on the side? |
| Daisy Chestnut | Posted – 8/14/2006 11:17:38 AM | show profile | email poster Housekeeping When I first quit my office job and began freelance writing, I took a job as a housekeeper for a local doctor. He paid me $20/hr. cash. It was PT, no-brainer work. The first year I had a lot of fun. I'd shop for him--he loved fresh flowers so I got to buy amazing bouquets. I'd also shop and cook for him and his two kids. I like cooking and baking so I got to try new recipes. He had a nice (BIG) house with air-conditioning so come summer, I couldn't wait to get inside ... and clean the toilets! After two years, the toilet cleaning eventually got to me, so I quit. But it was good money and fun (?!) while it lasted. |
| ttwin | Posted – 8/14/2006 11:10:28 PM | show profile I would advise *against* teaching--especially if you teach something in the English/journalism/writing field. You'll be too wiped out at the end of your school day to have the energy to do your own work, not to mention you'll have very little time with all the paperwork/grading/reading you have to do outside. Teaching a course at the college level could work though. |
| nellie bly | Posted – 8/15/2006 9:37:11 AM | show profile gardening or working in a greenhouse |
| depietrowriter | Posted – 8/17/2006 2:30:42 AM | show profile I just wanted to add my two cents. I have done many types of work. I have to say I think the medical field is great for someone who is a freelance writer. Some reasons; Many fields are two years of college or less. (I am a respiratory therapist. ) Pay is good enough that you may not need to work full time so you have more time to write. If you do have to work full time many jobs are 12 hour shifts so its only a three day work week. You meet many people and come up with lots of story ideas. You also know a lot about a specific field which sometimes helps with getting published. For example when I pitch a story on children and asthma I not only have clips but my medical background as well. Lastly, I think it truly helps you keep perspective. I get upset because I'm not selling stories, or my queries get zero response. But you know, I will go to work and see a young mother dying of cancer, or a 17 year old come in from a bad accident with their parents crying, and you realize what matters. |
| caldwele | Posted – 8/18/2006 10:13:29 PM | show profile depietrowriter, how would someone with a background in writing/editing land a medical job? I'm interested |
| depietrowriter | Posted – 8/19/2006 3:00:50 PM | show profile caldwele, If your background in only writing/editing it is difficult to get a medical job. But I meant if you have to have a day job to pay the bills if writing is not cutting it yet, medical is great. The training for lots of jobs is anywhere from 8 weeks on up. |
| redline | Posted – 9/25/2006 3:40:46 AM | show profile late input If physically you are up to it, try loss prevention at a major retail shop. JC Penney's , Sears , etc. If can be very exciting, a little dangerous plus you meet alot of interesting people. Not just the one's you catch stealing but other customers and fellow employee's as well. Major department stores are kind of like their own little towns . The are different departments (class structures) and the employee's are it's citizens. Loss prevention officers are the cops , in a way. They arrest theives and dishonest employeee's. But, it can be dangerous so make sure you are up to it. Pay usually sucks but if you have good ( not to serious) co-workers it can be alot of fun. Good luck . |
| JaneSays | Posted – 9/25/2006 10:25:13 AM | show profile | email poster Receptionist! Years ago I worked in an internet company where I would have killed to have had the job of the receptionist. When she was out sick people from the office covered for her so I know first hand that her job really was as it seemed: lots of magazine reading, nail filing and email-checking. That was what SHE did when she was on the job; what I did was a lot of people watching, freelance-pitching and a whole lot of resume sending. The key is to play it off smart enough that you never screw up a phone call or a mail package but dumb enough that people would rather do all the little minutia themselves. I still wish I could land such a plum receptionist gig. Word is half the company has been laid-off but she's still there. Dense as she seemed the woman was a genius. |
| hank | Posted – 9/25/2006 12:27:42 PM | show profile "The key is to play it off smart enough that you never screw up a phone call or a mail package but dumb enough that people would rather do all the little minutia themselves. " No offense, but that is some horrid advise. |
| hank | Posted – 9/25/2006 12:32:50 PM | show profile I guess there's some horrid spelling on my part, too. I don't believe that the ranks of successful people, in any field, are well represented by people skilled at playing it dumb to shed responsibility. |
| clairezulkey | Posted – 9/25/2006 1:37:36 PM | show profile | email poster ta da! http://www.mediabistro.com/mbtoolbox/jobs/what_to_do_when_youre_not_raking_in_the_dough_40277.htm ------ Editor of MBToolBox |
| JaneSays | Posted – 9/25/2006 1:44:09 PM | show profile Hank: I was only teasing. I'll learn next time not to be so convincing. No offense taken--but if anyone took me seriously please don't take my advice. Sorry folks, I didn't think anyone would fall for it. If you can pull off playing dumb long enough to bring in money and benefits, maybe you should consider another career. |
| media_zero | Posted – 9/25/2006 9:58:08 PM | show profile Dog walking might be for you, especially if you love animals and can handle 5 or 6 dogs at a time. It's only a few hours a day and usually reasonably flexible. Plus you'll get some exercise which will make you more relaxed when writing. |
