Prince Balthazar has been very busy in the kingdom. Nay, not the realm of jousts, castles, moats and fair maidens. The arena of cars, cheeseburgers, insurance and other B.S.!!!!!!
Argggghhh!!! Can somebody pay me to just work on my novel? Please?
I know this may be a long shot, but, do you have the opportunity to take somere vacation time? There is nothing like a big chunk of uninterrupted time to crank out some serious writing.
That, or get yourself a coffee IV and work till the wee hours of the morn.
Hi guys, thanks for your lucid comments. I work as a copywriter in the corporate world of advertising and I am so totally over it.
Sure, I can grab a day or two here and there, and I look forward to going to SCBWi this winter in New York. But I really want to write full-time. Now that I've joined a great critique group, I am really learning a lot. It's amazing how much a group can help.
My wife totally understands and she keeps telling me to just quit. We would have to drastically change our lifestyle: (No more fancy restaurants) but that's not that important. What's important is getting to a place where I can write every day. And I'm willing to sacrifice the other material stuff.
Peter Bowerman gave me the courage to make the jump.
You're already a copywriter -- you can parlay that into freelancing.
If you can get several months' worth of expenses socked away (I know, tough in this day and age) and make some lifestyle changes to cut back some expenses, you can do it.
I mix the business writing along with the fiction. I'm certainly not making bundles, and it'll be easier once I move away from New York, but I get by. And I'm happy.
The thought of freelance copywriting might make you want to gag at this point, but the payment turnaround time is quicker than with novels. So think about it.
The Well-Fed Writer, Peter's book, is a huge inspiration, and his site is great, too. Whenever I wonder if I made the right choice, he perks me up.
Actually, since I don't "niche" and can write about almost anything, I'm doing a lot better than many other freelancers I know who "niched" themselves right out of jobs.
Also, look at state funding for artists. Even with cutbacks, most states have programs where you can get grants and maybe teach a few workshops. I find the teaching fuels the writing. You could also create seminars in your area for businesses so that they learn how to do their own copywriting.
Great stuff Devon, thanks so much. I think you're giving me the spark to see this actually becoming a reality.
I've thought about the freelance thing and also doing voiceover work for commercials and radio since everyone tells me I have such a rich, deep voice. I've done a little for work. One time the client insisted that my voice be on a commercial I had written. I was picked over Armand Assante! I've always found that really funny. At the same time, I know what it's like to direct "talent" and I don't want to be the guy in the booth with some twenty year old copywriter telling me to make that line "sing," or "put a smile on that last sentence." Oh man!
But, I think if I do a little freelance writing and choose to only do the VO work I want to do it may be an option.
Ditto ditto ditto. I quit my job when my twins were born. Of course I had daycare versus no daycare added into the equation, but what it came down to was that I really could make more freelancing. I took the time to build up my business for a couple of months so I'd have some steady clients, and those were VERY short months sleepwise, but it was so worth it when I handed in my notice.
Either that, or I've got some spare quarters lying around. I'll pay you to write. Of course, you'd probably only end up with enough to buy a hamburger at McDonalds.
I'll hire you to write your book. Email me your salary and benefits requirements and I'll have my people work up a some kind of stipend package. Wait, where'd all my people go? Just had 'em a minute ago.
Not to be discouraging, but I'm sure you've heard the statistics. Not many fiction writers earn enough to quit their day jobs. Sucks, I know - I'm dealing with it too.
If you want to earn actual money, freelance is probably the way to go.
Anyway. Short of quitting your job, there are other ways to create time for your writing. I switched shifts. I now write during the day, and work at night, and if I ever want to see my kids again, I have to start earning my living writing. It's pretty motivational.
11 comments:
I know this may be a long shot, but, do you have the opportunity to take somere vacation time? There is nothing like a big chunk of uninterrupted time to crank out some serious writing.
That, or get yourself a coffee IV and work till the wee hours of the morn.
Arthur Miller once told me, "you'll never be a fulltime writer until you need to do it to pay the bills."
He was correct.
It's amazing how much I write since when I don't write, I don't eat and I can't pay bills. Kind of doesn't matter what else is going on, you know?
Does your work place offer a day or two a week to telecommute? Can you take a sabbatical? Take a week off for a writing retreat?
Hi guys, thanks for your lucid comments. I work as a copywriter in the corporate world of advertising and I am so totally over it.
Sure, I can grab a day or two here and there, and I look forward to going to SCBWi this winter in New York. But I really want to write full-time. Now that I've joined a great critique group, I am really learning a lot. It's amazing how much a group can help.
My wife totally understands and she keeps telling me to just quit. We would have to drastically change our lifestyle: (No more fancy restaurants) but that's not that important. What's important is getting to a place where I can write every day. And I'm willing to sacrifice the other material stuff.
Thanks!
Peter Bowerman gave me the courage to make the jump.
You're already a copywriter -- you can parlay that into freelancing.
If you can get several months' worth of expenses socked away (I know, tough in this day and age) and make some lifestyle changes to cut back some expenses, you can do it.
I mix the business writing along with the fiction. I'm certainly not making bundles, and it'll be easier once I move away from New York, but I get by. And I'm happy.
The thought of freelance copywriting might make you want to gag at this point, but the payment turnaround time is quicker than with novels. So think about it.
The Well-Fed Writer, Peter's book, is a huge inspiration, and his site is great, too. Whenever I wonder if I made the right choice, he perks me up.
Actually, since I don't "niche" and can write about almost anything, I'm doing a lot better than many other freelancers I know who "niched" themselves right out of jobs.
Also, look at state funding for artists. Even with cutbacks, most states have programs where you can get grants and maybe teach a few workshops. I find the teaching fuels the writing. You could also create seminars in your area for businesses so that they learn how to do their own copywriting.
Great stuff Devon, thanks so much. I think you're giving me the spark to see this actually becoming a reality.
I've thought about the freelance thing and also doing voiceover work for commercials and radio since everyone tells me I have such a rich, deep voice. I've done a little for work. One time the client insisted that my voice be on a commercial I had written. I was picked over Armand Assante! I've always found that really funny. At the same time, I know what it's like to direct "talent" and I don't want to be the guy in the booth with some twenty year old copywriter telling me to make that line "sing," or "put a smile on that last sentence." Oh man!
But, I think if I do a little freelance writing and choose to only do the VO work I want to do it may be an option.
Thanks
Definitely go for the voice over work, if you can do it. Now, with such great software programs, you can cut your own demos.
AND, with sites like CDBaby.com distributing not only music, but spoken word, you can recored some of your own material and sell audio versions.
I'm a huge believer of giving up the day job and just going for it. You sound like you've got both the savvy and the work ethic to do it.
Check out Lori Widmer's blog, Words on the Page (on my blogroll). she's a good friend and freelancer based in Philly -- she's a wealth of information.
Ditto ditto ditto. I quit my job when my twins were born. Of course I had daycare versus no daycare added into the equation, but what it came down to was that I really could make more freelancing. I took the time to build up my business for a couple of months so I'd have some steady clients, and those were VERY short months sleepwise, but it was so worth it when I handed in my notice.
Either that, or I've got some spare quarters lying around. I'll pay you to write. Of course, you'd probably only end up with enough to buy a hamburger at McDonalds.
I'll hire you to write your book. Email me your salary and benefits requirements and I'll have my people work up a some kind of stipend package. Wait, where'd all my people go? Just had 'em a minute ago.
Not to be discouraging, but I'm sure you've heard the statistics. Not many fiction writers earn enough to quit their day jobs. Sucks, I know - I'm dealing with it too.
If you want to earn actual money, freelance is probably the way to go.
Anyway. Short of quitting your job, there are other ways to create time for your writing. I switched shifts. I now write during the day, and work at night, and if I ever want to see my kids again, I have to start earning my living writing. It's pretty motivational.
LOL, V, I'll be sending you my requirements immediately!
Carrie, sounds like you had a good plan. I'm glad it worked out for you!
I would love to get paid, too, to write a novel!
I think that is the hardest thing to keep going, is just the faith that eventually, our efforts will pay off. :-)
I feel your pain!
And I think it's often worth the risk to go flat out for something you really want to achieve.
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