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 nearly 25 years working in the book publishing industry, with a focus on author education and trend reporting. She is the editor of The Hot Sheet, the essential publishing industry newsletter for authors, and was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World in 2023. Her latest book is The Business of Being a Writer (University of Chicago Press), which received a starred review from Library Journal. In addition to serving on grant panels for the National Endowment for the Arts and the Creative Work Fund, she works with organizations such as The Authors Guild to bring transparency to the business of publishing.
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.