I was listening to a panel at the Surrey International Writers Conference and one of the authors on it, Ann Perry, said one should not quite their day job while writing. I’ve heard that many times from many different authors at various conferences. It always worried me, because I would think “well, I quit my ‘day job’ twenty years ago.” But yesterday something struck me and I turned it around: writing is my day job. And I’m not going to quit it.
I’ve listened to a lot of authors over the years and taken in their advice. I’ve seen some patterns that are consistent among those whose careers have gone well:
- They work. They write consistently. Not just when inspired, but treating writing like any other job; one where they have to suit up (actually not really) and show up every day.
- They are professional. They deliver on time; they make sure they understand the business of publishing.
- They never think they have it ‘made’. They are always seeking to be become better writers. They always try to make the next book ‘better’.
- They put writing before everything else: before promoting, before social media, before checking their email.
I’m not saying quit your day job. When I consider the vagaries of the publishing world, I always feel like I’ve been insane to have been doing it for 20 years and to try to keep on doing it. But the other thing I’ve noticed about authors is they have a passion for it—it’s the thing they want to do more than anything else in the world.
The key is to work hard enough at it; learn enough of the craft; pour enough passion into it; that it can become your day job.
