For the rest of us, we have to lead a strange double life - making enough of a living to keep a roof over our heads (and a constant internet connection), then donning the mask of the writer and becoming someone else (a bit like Batman, but with less money and more coffee).
It's hard enough to be a writer anyways, but when you factor in this other you that has to be grown up and sensible and think about bills and whatnot, it can be damn difficult.
I'm having some difficulty in giving enough to both sides of the equation. Focusing on the 'dayjob' means there's less writing (that includes blogging) but if I start shifting my focus onto writing, there's always the nagging feeling that I need to be doing other things that are more important (blasphemy, I know).
How do you manage to live your 'double lives'? How do you keep a balance between the writer you and the 'normal' you?
Be sure to check out some of the other participants below, and if you're tweeting about it, use the hashtag #IWSG to let others know.
At the moment, I'm lucky my day job supports the fact that I'm a writer and gives me time to do that on down times at work. It may not always be the case, and it's still never enough time (I've been known to work 8 hours or more on weekend days to keep up). I suppose we just have to do what we can.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, love the Batman reference. :)
Dang, maybe I need to start sneaking in a bit of writing while I'm at work, just very surreptitiously. Maybe if I goto work dressed as Batman it'll give me the motivation I need :)
DeleteCool, I'm a superhero!
ReplyDeleteLike Cherie, I can blog from work, so big advantage. I don't write as much as I should, but that's my own fault. As long as you devote some time to your writing, it doesn't matter if it's only a little.
I think I need to set aside special 'writing time' otherwise it gets filled with other commitments and I feel bad about not using it for this or that.
DeleteYou're the world's only ninja superhero too, so that's doubly awesome.
Can I wear my pants on the outside now? I promise not to do it at the dayjob.... maybe that's how I can tell between the two me's :)
ReplyDeleteLx
Wearing your pants on the outside is a true mark of greatness. I fully encourage it.
DeleteIf I were still working my previous job I would be doing very little writing and certainly would not be blogging like I do now. But dammit I need to go back to work because I need money and I don't think my wife wants to support me from now on. Curse the need for filthy lucre! I'd rather be a writer. What I really need is a wealthy patron to act as my benefactor so I can write without fear of poverty.
ReplyDeleteLee
An A to Z Co-Host
Tossing It Out
That would be awesome. Maybe we can post an ad somewhere asking for an aged mogul to sponsor us for a little while. That'd be all kinds of awesome.
DeleteIt is a difficult task managing a the double life as you would put. I have plenty of thoughts. My problem usually is remembering and putting it down on paper.
ReplyDeleteI get that; I've made attempts to keep track of my thoughts but I usually end up using the paper for origami when Im bored at my desk, so it's kind of counter productive.
Deletewhy not to have a double if I can?
ReplyDeleteit's true, I wish we could be like bestselling writers who can live from their books and don't have to work to earn money :)
ReplyDeleteWouldn't that be awesome? I was shocked when I read that Terry Pratchett wasn't a full time writer until his fifth or sixth book!
DeleteI'm not sure there is a normal me.
ReplyDeleteThere is a day job me though and fortunately, it does sometimes allow me the time to space out and think about my current writing project while I'm doing whatever menial task I've been assigned. The management team has begrudgingly accepted the fact that I will occasionally have to stop what I'm doing to write down some possibly brilliant idea. I've written some (possibly) great scenes in that store.
I like it; maybe I need to have a chat with my boss and tell them the same sort of thing. Though I try to sneak in some note taking here and there so they'd probably be fine with it.
DeleteI'm so lucky. I have supportive friends and partner. I get up early drive a bus, write, blog and slog then go back to work for a couple of hours. It is tough and I don't know the answer. I do think that writer's have to be selfish. In my house cobwebs and creased shirts are a testament to my determination.
ReplyDeleteWowza; you don't seem to stop! My hat goes off to you, Emma, that's some dedication there.You deserve every success :)
Delete"Both kudos and envious fist shaking to you all." <-- That's exactly what I thought when I found out just how much some authors make. Along with the bloggers and vloggers of the internet.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to think I'd be happy at the stage I could do one thing all the time like that, but I'd probably be bored at the lack of variety (I think I'm just making excuses to make myself feel better, hehe).
DeleteIt is tough! There are days when no writing CAN happen because the job demands extended hours or some other such thing.
ReplyDeleteI do have supportive people around me though that encourage me to write just a bit at a time and that helps/
I know how you feel. Some days once the day job is done all that's left of you is the energy to fall into bed.
DeleteThis is probably the only time that being unemployed is a good thing :-)
ReplyDeleteit's a constant battle and i have no idea how to find the balance either.
ReplyDelete