tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post8275726899343223675..comments2024-03-11T16:14:49.158-07:00Comments on Don't pet me, I'm writing: Let's talk about money...or let other people do itTAWNA FENSKEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468819219529035563noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-31431628005525067322011-05-01T15:43:06.166-07:002011-05-01T15:43:06.166-07:00If I could write for a living instead of selling c...If I could write for a living instead of selling cars...you bet your sweet ass I'd give my boss the middle finger (and a few choice words) and do a happy dance all the way out to my car.<br /><br />Alas, my last royalty statement was for $1.50... so rude gestures must be kept to a minimum (or concealed behind his back,) as I continue to write. <br /><br />I dream daily of being able to devote 6-8 hours a day to writing. That would be bliss!<br /><br />Thanks for another great post and some awesome links!Kim Mullicanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08379949268188977298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-28090955877901456152011-05-01T06:39:59.927-07:002011-05-01T06:39:59.927-07:00I quit my day job and finish working at the end of...I quit my day job and finish working at the end of May. It's not so I can write full-time, but because later this year I'm moving countries. I will have to find a job at my next destination, but in the meantime I'll have a couple of months just for me, and I plan to make the most of it writing-wise. <br /><br />I have always dreamed of quitting my day job to write, and I reserve the right to do again, once I start my next job.Gemma Sidneyhttp://alphabetagemma.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-85042893785948180132011-04-30T04:40:45.282-07:002011-04-30T04:40:45.282-07:00Personally, I don't think I'd be able to w...Personally, I don't think I'd be able to write without a dayjob. I need a steady stream of inspiration coming my way, and how would I get that from sitting at home? I want my stories to reek of real-life, and working like real people would help with that.<br /><br />Not that I don't hope and pray to be a multi-millionaire and live on my dream farm with loads of horses, helping unprivileged children to ride, and all that. But I think it would make me a less productive writer.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14869145555938203736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-15365497730784494392011-04-29T21:29:45.485-07:002011-04-29T21:29:45.485-07:00With two small children suddenly entering private ...With two small children suddenly entering private school, I am pounding the pavement to GET a day job. And when I do, I promise not to quit it.<br />Selling a book would be nice, too, though.LilySeahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812905445813679050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-43361979381992283002011-04-29T17:37:35.441-07:002011-04-29T17:37:35.441-07:00I guess I learned early in my research about profe...I guess I learned early in my research about professional writing that it is the rare and lucky few that can make a living from it. So I've always looked on writing as my way to take advantage of early retirement in about 10 years. It's doubtful it will be enough to live on by itself, but it might be a nice supplement.Jen J. Dannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00817943866838270699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-57406181569743178512011-04-29T13:49:52.245-07:002011-04-29T13:49:52.245-07:00Nah, I have no great illusions about making mounta...Nah, I have no great illusions about making mountains of money, but if it were offered, I might consider deep sixing my whole I'm-doing-it-for-the-love-of-doing-it attitude and humbly accept. Purely out of the goodness of my heart.Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-61901303384520078132011-04-29T12:39:24.553-07:002011-04-29T12:39:24.553-07:00Of course I want to make money. I put a lot fo tim...Of course I want to make money. I put a lot fo time and energy into what I do and i would liek to be rewarded for it financially. Love and adoration is great too...but money would help. I don't expect to make piles of it, but being able to help with our finances would be nice. I left my 9-5 when i had kids...for us it was just the best decision. Our budget has been tight and we've learned to live with it...but I would love a little more money so life wasn't quite as stressful come bill paying day.Stephaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17401931638397651614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-79627596005509051112011-04-29T11:56:41.102-07:002011-04-29T11:56:41.102-07:00One of my biggest downfalls or assets, depending o...One of my biggest downfalls or assets, depending on how you look at it, is that I have many varied interests.<br /><br />While writing is certainly one of them, I also do find my career in orthopedic bracing interesting---not to mention my alternate ego as a rock star. Then you stack fly fishing, mountain biking, skiing, hunting, kayaking etc. and my life gets pretty crowded.<br /><br />But particularly with music, I am often asked about what it is like making a living that way and they are usually surprised to hear that I don't. Our band has been playing around Phoenix for a decade now, and are now what you might consider a top-tier band, playing the best venues in town. (such as they are) The only real way to get there part-time is a lot of hours invested early, a little money for pro gear (thanks day job)and other talented guys you can get along with for the long term.<br /><br />While I truly enjoy the band as a great hobby/break that actually pays for itself, I do know guys who play full time--grinding out 4-5 acoustic gigs per week plus a band gig or two on the weekends. To each their own, but my impression of them is that they are aging at twice the normal rate in a "groundhog-day" life of bars, booze, and late nights.<br /><br />I suspect that writing full time might be the same way, with different pitfalls. While it would be fun to be a superstar top one percent of one percenter (like in music) I think the stress of scraping by while praying the book sells better would wear on me--not to mention the day to day reality of being camped out in front of a computer with far less real world life to draw from for the writing.<br /><br />If the conditions were right I wouldn't turn it down of course, but wouldn't be too surprised if the reality of it didn't quite match up with the ideal.Mark Simpsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-35314759366104108222011-04-29T10:38:17.463-07:002011-04-29T10:38:17.463-07:00I'm way too chicken to give up the security of...I'm way too chicken to give up the security of my full time job with benefits. On the other hand, I'm not that far away from retirement age so my fantasy is to get some of these books whipped into shape and sold in time to suppliement my retirement.<br /><br />Or there's always the lottery fantasy.jillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12201064746352004309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-84383021792203785892011-04-29T10:29:36.783-07:002011-04-29T10:29:36.783-07:00I know I'll never be rolling in the dough and ...I know I'll never be rolling in the dough and living a life of spending all day every day in my immagination. However, those big dream fantasies of being the next JK Rowling help me get through the hard parts of writing. The ones where you have to choose between writing and something fun because the day job sucked up the other parts of the day.Steph Schmidthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00975939582442193113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-8919457584665618732011-04-29T10:22:21.773-07:002011-04-29T10:22:21.773-07:00Blogger just ate my really smart post.
My fantasi...Blogger just ate my really smart post.<br /><br />My fantasies involve protective robots and hungry aliens, not money. Well, except for the money to build/buy the robots.Patrick Alanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01121337008453549441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-47504526105065377282011-04-29T10:10:15.636-07:002011-04-29T10:10:15.636-07:00If being a nude cabana boy who tosses cash at attr...If being a nude cabana boy who tosses cash at attractive female authors pays better than my current job, then point me to the application form, darlin'! But I guess that wasn't the point of your post, now was it?<br /><br />*shifty*Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-47320666811491381482011-04-29T10:01:21.680-07:002011-04-29T10:01:21.680-07:00I have the fantasies, sure. But I also know I prob...I have the fantasies, sure. But I also know I probably won't even quit to write full time. Even though I'm in a place where I'm not sure I'll continue to write, I still can't help but have the fantasy. :)Michelle Mileshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05442813530538808627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-16485062659578523962011-04-29T09:46:12.335-07:002011-04-29T09:46:12.335-07:00I like being able to say I make my living writing....I like being able to say I make my living writing. Then, sadly, I have to say that I write for other people as an employee or contractor, and I am not writing fiction.<br /><br />Of course I have fantasies about living on my own fiction writing (which I'll start any day now). These fantasies also involve having a home in the south for warmth during most of the years and on the OR Coast for the summers so I don't die of hell in the Southern summers. I'll happily hire the cabana boy.<br /><br />But I will happily work freelance because I usually do that for fun projects, while I work with my own writing.Skyehttp://thingsintheskye.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-63710118910338170012011-04-29T09:23:58.852-07:002011-04-29T09:23:58.852-07:00I just worked the holiday season in retail, at the...I just worked the holiday season in retail, at the mall, and totally loved it! <br /><br />No matter how much money I make writing novels I know it would not be enough of a career for me. I've had the time to try out the career and it doesn't include daily interaction with a team and that's something I need for my well being.therese patrick, authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14624202282411832436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-58551171932543464902011-04-29T09:02:12.810-07:002011-04-29T09:02:12.810-07:00I'm lucky enough not to have a day job, but my...I'm lucky enough not to have a day job, but my fantasies of turning over all family maintenance to paid hands will (sadly) not be occurring in the near future. Nor will travel to all those exotic places. Worst of all, hiring my personal masseuse and cabana boy will be on hold indefinitely. <br /><br />But I have high hopes for the future. Writers are good at fantasizing. ;)Linda G.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04576828490765434497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-6674869184508312382011-04-29T08:45:25.993-07:002011-04-29T08:45:25.993-07:00I thought only I had the retirement dream, but Sar...I thought only I had the retirement dream, but Sarah beat me to it.<br />A quick breakdown of the numbers I plan to retire with. In 20 years I can put out 40 to 50 novels. With ebooks those can stay on sale forever.<br />If they sell an average of 300 books a year each that is a comfortable wage with SS and Medicaid on top and no mortgage it will be easy to survive on writing then.Darrell B. Nelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02851443183217238218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-35513240070795750582011-04-29T08:43:47.926-07:002011-04-29T08:43:47.926-07:00Do I ever entertain the quit my day job fantasy?
...Do I ever entertain the quit my day job fantasy?<br /><br />How does "Oh hell yes" sound? :)<br /><br />Gotta strive to be that top 10%. :)<br /><br />Although, if I could earn enough writing where I didn't need the full-time job and I could take a part-time one doing something more enjoyable, even if it was a quarter or a third of my current salary, that would be nice too. Or...I could use the part time job to help facilitate character development, maybe even moving from part time job to part time job. Would make life interesting.Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12321865399706410702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-52933653772320366182011-04-29T08:15:22.561-07:002011-04-29T08:15:22.561-07:00I'm planning to just win the lottery. Or hurr...I'm planning to just win the lottery. Or hurry my kids through college so they can become little Bill Gates or Donald Trumps and just support me.Teri Anne Stanleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15500524348027951939noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422555164465305734.post-24201663072352158422011-04-29T08:08:08.506-07:002011-04-29T08:08:08.506-07:00I never thought I'd quit my job to write full ...I never thought I'd quit my job to write full time -- that's a retirement dream, to be fulfilled once the mortgage is paid off, the kids are out of college, and Medicare (please, god) kicks in.<br /><br />But I wouldn't mind earning enough through writing to go to part-time at the library so I can be at home with the kids after school.Sarah Whttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13265589529909793312noreply@blogger.com