Personal Development for Smart People Forums - View Single Post - wanting to be a full time author, but don't want a low end side job.

PipHunn · 10-16-2009, 06:17 AM

Good on you for being clear about what you want!

I recently quit my job to write full-time, so I can appreciate what a challenge it is.

If you're going to support yourself, you'll need another source of income. It doesn't have to be much, it depends where you live and how much money your lifestyle needs.

I live very cheaply, and get by on about $100US a week, including rent. THat's not much work at all - a day and a half's work doing unskilled labor.

The best place that I can recommend to hunt for jobs?
Bookstores.
Second-hand bookstores don't often need staff, as they're usually owner-operated, but chain stores are often on the lookout for staff, especially those flexible with shifts.

They offer lots of benefits for writers:
1) a finger on the pulse of the writing world
2) Lots of industry contact-building opportunities
3) Generally varied and interesting customers
4) Opportunities to meet awesome authors at book signings, tours, etc.

Through my time working at bookstores, I got to have chats (and drinks!) with people like Cecilia Dart-Thornton and Neil Gaiman. Awesome? Awesome. A friend working in a bookstore is now working for Penguin.... Once you get into the 'loop', you'l find it's a very intimate, jobs-for-those-in-the-gang sort of environment.

Good luck!

10-16-2009, 06:17 AM	#7 (permalink)
PipHunn Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Hobart, Tasmania Posts: 93	Conrgatulations! Good on you for being clear about what you want! I recently quit my job to write full-time, so I can appreciate what a challenge it is. If you're going to support yourself, you'll need another source of income. It doesn't have to be much, it depends where you live and how much money your lifestyle needs. I live very cheaply, and get by on about $100US a week, including rent. THat's not much work at all - a day and a half's work doing unskilled labor. The best place that I can recommend to hunt for jobs? Bookstores. Second-hand bookstores don't often need staff, as they're usually owner-operated, but chain stores are often on the lookout for staff, especially those flexible with shifts. They offer lots of benefits for writers: 1) a finger on the pulse of the writing world 2) Lots of industry contact-building opportunities 3) Generally varied and interesting customers 4) Opportunities to meet awesome authors at book signings, tours, etc. Through my time working at bookstores, I got to have chats (and drinks!) with people like Cecilia Dart-Thornton and Neil Gaiman. Awesome? Awesome. A friend working in a bookstore is now working for Penguin.... Once you get into the 'loop', you'l find it's a very intimate, jobs-for-those-in-the-gang sort of environment. Good luck!