When it comes to a working writer, movies portray the author as either some sequestered away in a small cabin somewhere, doing nothing except writing books and fussing over story lines or they’re Carrie Bradshaw in Sex in the City, taking New York in stilettos and living the cosmopolitan life. I’m neither of those. I suppose I’m closer to the small cabin. My “office cabin” boasts funny chicken signs (courtesy of Purina’s Chick Days every spring and fall) and I live 15 miles from the nearest town, 2 miles from the nearest paved road. And yet, unlike the fictionalized authors I do more than tap tap tap on my keyboard. I have a homestead. I am an author coach. I work full time.
A lot of people will tell you that you can’t be a working writer or a professional writer if you work full time. I call bullshit. Look, a lot of us need the jobs because in America health care is tied to employment or maybe there’s a pension or 401K that’s there. Maybe they just like the work. Or like me, they need to continue to supplement their writing income with a job. The reason doesn’t matter. The fact that someone has a job doesn’t preclude them from being a working writer.
A working writer is someone who is actively writing, polishing, and publishing some form of written work. It could be blog posts or freelance journalism articles. It might be books or short stories. Maybe it’s technical writing, ghost writing, or marketing copy writing. The types of writing are endless, as are the various ways in which someone shapes a career.
My non-working days begin with me getting up, taking care of feeding the horses, chickens, and bringing SuperDuck out to his outdoor pen. Then, I take care of some work I do for routine clients as a virtual assistant and then polish off half of my writing goal. This takes most of the morning and I get away from the keyboard by doing homestead chores, outside chores, whatever needs to be done for a bit, until my body tells me it’s time to “rest”. Then, it’s back at the keyboard to finish off that word count and continue going through the to do list, of which there are many and they’re long. *smiles*
I’m a working writer. When I work at the day job, since I work from home, it’s a matter of focusing on my job tasks, but where I can snatch in a few words or a few paragraphs here and there until I get my day’s word count done. Then, I take care of the other items on the to do list.
Did I mention I’m also going to college full time? So there are papers to write (YAY! I like this part!) and assignments to complete, along with discussion board posts since they’re all online classes.
That’s my life as a working writer. If you’re a writer, what’s yours?
My working writer life involves a lot less actual work than yours – but there was a time when I fed pigs, milked cows and collected eggs.
That is a lot of work! You are definitely a working writer, and many other things!
Mary, you are so write/right. My desk is a round glass table in the dining room overlooking Bahia de Banderas. I don’t think it matters where we sit as long as we write. You do sound busy.
Wow! and I thought I was busy!
You are living a dream! I wish I had a piece of land and some animals. I’m working towards this. I recently moved and had to leave behind my garden and bees. Apartment life is not for me! I also love and support your definition of working writer.
Oh, apartment living is difficult! Especially when you’ve experienced the freedom of owning your own piece of land! *sigh*
So you’re a bit busy! The very definition of a working writer. I work at a day job, and I write. So I am a working writer as well. I’m Gwen, co-hosting the IWSG this month. Welcome aboard! http://gwengardner.blogspot.com/
Wow! I got tired just reading this! Good for you though, getting it all done any way you can.
I also work full-time and write. But I’m a teacher, so I really take advantage of summer and breaks to catch up. The hard part for me is that I’m often too tired to write at night during the school year. But little by little, right? Good for you that you’ve found a way to balance it all.
You’re right–it’s absolutely possible to be a working writer and have a day job. In fact, for most of us, it’s essential to have a day job, for exactly the reasons you list. Congrats on the farm! We’re actually leaving that life and returning to the city (long list of reasons, starting with my day job), but I can write anywhere. Great post! (with just one complaint–why does it not include a picture of Super Duck? I require Super Duck!)
I was working a day job and writing, plus had a couple volunteer jobs. I’ve stepped away from the day and volunteer jobs and returned to school for a business degree, BUT I’m still writing at least four days per week.
You stay busy! And you have Super Duck. Cool.
Welcome to the IWSG!
One of the IWSGers said that a working writer is beyond hobbying. So spot on!
Like Steph, we moved into an apartment, leaving behind country life where we had chickens and a horse. It was serene working outdoors!
While I don’t tend to land or outdoor animals anymore, I am raising 5 kids whom I have/am homeschooled/ing–the fun never ends! And, in between breathing, I try to get some editing done along with my writing. I’m so far behind with my editing because writing books are so much faster! It’s a toss-up: Do I edit my last book or write a new one? ;P
Wow, you are busy. I wake up, work from home because of the pandemic. Try to stay on top of the kids getting to their classes on time with virtual learning. Helping them with their work when they need. Getting on their case and staying on top of them to complete and submit missing assignments if any. Writing inside my head between all this. And now prepping for NaNoWriMo.
Good luck with school and balancing everything.