It’s been a few months, but I simply couldn’t resist weighing in on the topic for this month’s #Inkripples challenge, career vs. hobby. For those of you who don’t know, #Inkripples is a blog hop featuring themed posts from a variety of authors. The challenge was started by Mary Waibel, Kai Strand, and Katie L. Carroll, and I’ve already participated several times this year.
Without further ado, let’s get into this month’s topic!
Where I stand on the career vs. hobby line
It’s probably pretty clear to everyone here that writing is my career, and I’ve never wanted to do anything else. There are things I want to do on the side, partially to diversify my income and partially to keep life interesting. But those are my hobbies, and writing is my career. I can’t imagine my life any other way.
And every decision I make is based on that choice. I became a freelance writer so I could build a schedule around my creativity. I’ve experimented with virtually every type of writing, and gotten paid for many of them. All of my goals point towards succeeding as an author. Hell, I’m so passionate about writing that my secondary mission in life is to help other writers become successful authors.
To be honest, sometimes I wish I could be something else. Being an author isn’t exactly the easiest way to make money, and neither is freelance writing. I haven’t managed to break out of the feast and famine cycle, or the resulting depression. Starting young has proven to be a double edged sword. On the one hand, I’m way ahead of most people my age–I have one book published and am on track to publish two more next year–but on the other, I don’t have the safety net many other writers do at the beginning. No day job, no backup career, and the savings I left school with disappeared ages ago.
It’s enormously stressful, and sometimes I hate this calling. But it is a calling, and in spite of all the stress, I wouldn’t trade my budding writing career for any other job in the world.
Wait! I take it back. I would totally be a professional cat cuddler. Someone hook me up?
Still a hobbyist. Need the income from my day job to support my family as I’m the primary income.
Would love to be a full time writer, but kids aren’t cheap.
“Would love to be a full time writer, but kids aren’t cheap.”
That is half the reason I don’t have any!
The other half is that I actually hate children and would much rather have cats.
As I stated in my post, I consider writing my career even though I currently have two jobs outside the house. Over the years my side jobs have changed, but writing remains my focus. Great post. Glad you joined us this month again!