Every once in a while, I will catch a TV series or a movie where I’ll envy the full-time jobs and careers of the characters: The offices, perks, comradery, co-workers, the regular salary, insurance, potential for office romance no matter how tricky… And I’ll be a bit sad remembering that it is probably not going to happen for me, and that is my choice.
Then I’ll also read a semi-joking tweet or sometimes even an entire essay on the harsh realities of the gig economy and will feel like crying.
Because no matter how you look at it, making a living with your writing is hard work. Making a decent, regular, and stable income with your writing is much harder.
If you are just starting out, you might be thinking “You get to work in your PJs and vacation whenever the hell you want. How are you even complaining about the hard work?”
I’m not complaining about that. Working hard is not the problem.
We love writing. Otherwise, no one in their right mind would choose to become a writer. But just because we love writing, it doesn’t mean we love writing about anything and everything. It doesn’t mean we will be good at the other parts of the job such as editing, pitching, and marketing.
Being a freelance writer often comes with a challenge: Either you take on jobs writing about subjects you don’t care about so that you will have the occasional freedom to write about the things you do love, or you write about the things you do love and have the occasional freedom to buy the things you need and want.
So we find ways to diversify our income. We take full-time, part-time or freelance jobs that might or might not be writing-related. We write books, launch blogs, create courses, learn affiliate marketing, coach, consult, and study whenever we can to improve ourselves further.
While I love the freedom of being my own boss, I struggle with all the “jobs” I have to perform to keep my dream career going. I write, edit, pitch, market, read, research, answer calls and emails, and find story ideas.
Finding story ideas often means I have to socialize, which can be hard to find the time for with so many balls I’m juggling. And I shall not spend too much money on my social life because I have to save for my future – namely retirement and a damn good insurance because life is unpredictable.
And because we are busy writing and doing all the time, we risk burning out –which makes vacations crucial to our survival. Which brings us back to money.
Not to mention, when you get sick, the whole company shuts down. Because YOU ARE THE COMPANY.
So should you get a day job while you start earning a good income from your writing? It depends.
It depends on your goals, needs, responsibilities, and health.
- Are you an extrovert who thrives more when she regularly comes into contact with people?
- Do you need a stable paycheck for certain expenses?
- Are you responsible for looking after people other than yourself?
- Are you more comfortable and creative with a safety net?
Then you might consider supporting yourself with non-freelance work.
Now, there are many freelance writers who earn a lot of money from their work every month. To get there, you need to be more strategic when it comes to identifying your prospective clients and niches. You need to pitch regularly and according to a plan. You need to market yourself where your prospective clients are.
Yes, it can be done.
But if you are more into working for yourself, calling the shots and writing about things that excite you, things get a bit more complicated. It can still be done. It will, however, likely cause more frustration and anxiety in the process.
I’m sorry to say there is no one-size-fits-all sort of answer to this complex situation. You know you better than anyone. It is up to you to weigh the pros and cons.
As for me, a part-time job at an office where the culture appeals to my personality sounds like an amazing idea. Unfortunately, I haven’t yet seen such an office in real life. Yet.
Let’s discuss how you make a living writing in the comments.
