It’s amazing how little writers talk about the ‘boring stuff’ that helps pay their bills. I read lots of blogs on writing and entrepreneurial experts but they rarely talk about the things that helped them get to where they are. They don’t want to remember that they had to work other jobs before they became successful career writers. They figure that readers won’t be interested to hear about it. To us it’s like a dirty little secret we don’t want you to know. Yet the stuff we do when we’re not writing is kind of important as it helps us to write and in many cases defines us.
The Truth behind the writing
One of my favourite authors – Ben Aaronovitch – spent years working at Waterstones in Covent Garden before his first book “Rivers of London” became a success. Sue Townsend was a playground supervisor before she wrote her first play at a writers group. That play started her career and eventually Adrian Mole made his debut on Radio 4. J K Rowling was a researcher and secretary long before Daniel Radcliffe was earning his pay as Harry Potter. Sandy Osborne is still a serving police officer but wrote and published ‘Girl Cop’ to acclaim in 2012. The sequel is in the works. I met her earlier this year at an event and she really is an inspiration.
In my own case I used to run cinemas. Now I write and part own and run a home visit optician service. We go out and test the elderly in care homes who are unable to get to a high street optician to get their eyes checked. When I’m not doing this I write for money and write for myself. So how do I pay the bills?
I have to be really good at time management
I’ve been busy whoring myself out on Twitter, going to funerals (people keep dying around me this year…okay that’s an exaggeration but seriously no more deaths people!), writing dirty blogs for money (say hello to the online pimp), researching a lot on current market trends for short stories (I’m trying to put together a collection for Christmas), being ill (overworking sucks balls) and having my first book slowly edited together by some very industrious (and generous) beta readers. One made me cry like a little baby. He was right though.
As I’ve been doing all of this I’ve been talking to a lot of fellow writers who are doing what I’m doing – writing and working to write. What does this mean? Basically writing does not pay all my bills yet. It will in the near future but at the moment I have to top up my income with the aid of other work. Loads of writers have to do this because:
a) It takes time to build up your career and reputation (like any career)
b) 99% of us don’t have any financial support when we begin
c) We’re all scared we’re crap (this never goes away according to several well known authors so if you’re a writer don’t worry. It’s normal.)
d) We have to be realistic and understand that hard work pays off but takes time
Stick to a Schedule
I used to hate timetables when I was in school. Bloody annoying practicality irritates me because I know it has to be done to get anything done. I was never practical growing up so I’ve had to learn this over the years.
Basically 2-3 days of my week I invest time in my optometry business. The money I earn from doing this helps keep me writing. I spend another 3 days of the week writing for money, marketing, researching, writing for myself and remembering to poke my head up from my laptop from time to time.
My Point
I’m not naturally bright. I’m not naturally efficient. I’m not naturally practical. I’m not a natural show off. I am naturally good at working hard which means I have learnt and am learning to be all those other things I’m not naturally good at. The other day I was forced to admit that this year has been a particularly challenging one for me. So I booked a holiday. However I’m still going and I’m still writing and working as hard as I can. That’s what writing is and that’s what the best authors do: work hard.
Watch this space.
