I worked many jobs in my younger days: Papa John’s pizza delivery driver, Cedar Point amusement park employee, McDonald’s drive-thru worker, and KFC associate, just to name a few.
Most writers have worked a number jobs before finding the way or the means to pursue writing full time. Open Road Media has put together a lovely 2-minute video featuring David Corbett, James Salter, Susan Dunlap, and others, all speaking about their day jobs before they pursued writing.
If the video doesn’t appear below, click here to view.
Jane Friedman has spent her entire career working in the publishing industry, with a focus on business reporting and author education. Established in 2015, her newsletter The Bottom Line provides nuanced market intelligence to thousands of authors and industry professionals; in 2023, she was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World.
Jane’s expertise regularly features in major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR, The Today Show, Wired, The Guardian, Fox News, and BBC. Her book, The Business of Being a Writer, Second Edition (The University of Chicago Press), is used as a classroom text by many writing and publishing degree programs. She reaches thousands through speaking engagements and workshops at diverse venues worldwide, including NYU’s Advanced Publishing Institute, Frankfurt Book Fair, and numerous MFA programs.
Thanks for sharing, to be a full time writer needs a real breakthrough; with the corrupt nature of the industry it is clear everyone wants a cut of your royalty and it seems only the giants can survive or else, you must be exceptionally good and given the opportunity by the big house publisher.
Adeyemi
Brooklyn, NY
Good piece in the latest Poets & Writers why you should not quit your day job, even when you become published. Too lazy to dig for link now …
Aah, the murky waters of days (and nights) spent determined to become a successful author – WAIT: I’m still there! I absolutely love the gritty reality behind massive success, for one isn’t nearly as magical without the other.