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It’s a Job
Posted on October 9th, 2011 6 commentsThe other day I was thinking about how it is no secret that successful authors such as Michael Ondaatje, Stephen King, and Nora Roberts treat writing as a job. None of this pattering about or dabbling business. These guys are serious about their careers which has something to do with why they have published so many successful books. They “go to work” every day and write. For them, it is a nine to five type situation. And it works. (And I do believe they began treating it as a job before they reached their famed levels of success where they had to treat it as a job in order to survive and sustain their level of achievement and success.)
Yesterday*, I was listening to Charlaine Harris on CBC radio, and again, up came the idea that writing is a job. (Job being “a paid position of regular employment” according to dictionary.com.)
So, until you start treating it as a job–even if it is a second job, part-time job, unpaid job, etc.,–how is it ever going to become anything else? How will it leave the status of hobby if you don’t commit to it in the way you would a ‘real’ job?
Just a little food for thought on a hot, hot day.
*I wrote this in July while on the road, but ran into posting issues. And so this post sat in my drafts folder until, well, now.
6 responses to “It’s a Job”
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We had a hot day here, so it all works!
I agree – if we continually look at our writing as a hobby, it will probably stay that way. Attitude is pretty powerful stuff!
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Hi Jean and Jemi!
I agree with both of you. Even though it feels better and more creative to think of our writing as a hobby, it really should have the priority of ‘job’ status. I think it makes writing as important as any other job – even if it doesn’t pay a cent right away. It will eventually.
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Here’s another ‘agree’ Jean. I have a full time job and am a mom, so the only time I have to write is either on the weekends before anyone gets up or at 4:00 a.m. on weekdays before anyone gets up. If I get up at 4:00, I have an hour of uninterrupted time to write or research. If I don’t hit my alarm or spend too much time on the internet, I can get quite a bit done. Seems like just when I start to really wake up and get going, it’s time to stop and take a shower. Getting up that early is hard on the body after a few days in a row, but I hear Diana Gabaldon say she didn’t sleep much either when she started writing Outlander. So I just remind myself of what she did and it keeps me going.
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You are an inspiration, Suzanne! Wow! I don’t know that my brain would function very well that early in the AM!
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Good point, TK. It does feel more creative and fun thinking of it as a hobby. But hobbies also get ignored.
Not to say that you can’t write as a hobby! That’s fine too.
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Attitude is amazing, isn’t it? It can make something unbearable or quite the opposite!
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Welcome to my Website and Blog
I am an aspiring fiction writer (children's, women's and commercial) and an agented nonfiction writer. I am also a member, critiquer and site moderator over on AgentQueryConnect.com. And, I also blog with other fabulous writers at all stages of the writing game on From The Write Angle.
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Jemi Fraser October 9th, 2011 at 18:17