Starting out as an creative person..

[shedevilone]

So here's the deal...(first of all I'm new to the boards so Hi everyone)

I just graduated from college and my whole life I've been on the track headed towards wanting to be a successful actress. An extremely difficult endeavor to begin with.

But I've always been a writer. I can write almost anywhere anytime and I love doing it. I think I'm good at it, and my mother and father have always loved what I write, and some others, but not a ton.

My parents have always been objective (yes I know they're my parents it's impossible, but I believe they are). Truth is...I don't know that I want to act anymore. I want to be a travel writer, or spend my time writing each specific piece in different places.

I still love acting, but it's been exhausting in the short time since college I've been pursuing it. And even though I love it, I'm having a hard time being away from everything else I want to do with myself, like truly enjoying life rather than being a workaholic. Trouble is that no matter what it is that I want to do writing or acting, being a work horse seems to be a necessary factor.

Its not that I'm lazy, because I work my butt off and I don't mind working my hard if that's what's needed, but it just feels like I could wind up working really hard for something I may not want.

Quarterlife crisis truly rearing its ugly head...still living at home too and really loving the time with my parents whom are people I'd much rather be with than a lot of my friends...

Thoughts?

[Kitty]

I would venture to say it will probably be easier to make a living writing than acting.

[wordsmith]

So here's the deal...(first of all I'm new to the boards so Hi everyone)

I just graduated from college and my whole life I've been on the track headed towards wanting to be a successful actress. An extremely difficult endeavor to begin with.

But I've always been a writer. I can write almost anywhere anytime and I love doing it. I think I'm good at it, and my mother and father have always loved what I write, and some others, but not a ton.

My parents have always been objective (yes I know they're my parents it's impossible, but I believe they are). Truth is...I don't know that I want to act anymore. I want to be a travel writer, or spend my time writing each specific piece in different places.



I still love acting, but it's been exhausting in the short time since college I've been pursuing it. And even though I love it, I'm having a hard time being away from everything else I want to do with myself, like truly enjoying life rather than being a workaholic. Trouble is that no matter what it is that I want to do writing or acting, being a work horse seems to be a necessary factor.

Its not that I'm lazy, because I work my butt off and I don't mind working my hard if that's what's needed, but it just feels like I could wind up working really hard for something I may not want.

Quarterlife crisis truly rearing its ugly head...still living at home too and really loving the time with my parents whom are people I'd much rather be with than a lot of my friends...

Thoughts?


I majored in theatre for a while, along with English, b/c I always loved both writing and acting. The longer I studied theatre, the more exhausted I got with the scene, and was smart enough to realize that if I found the college theatre scene exhausting, pursuing such a competitive field as a career would be not very me. I demoted my theatre to a minor, and focused on English/writing, and got an ed certification as well (enabling me to teach theatre if I wanna).

I write, now, I'm a writer and editor for newspapers. Writing is awesome, and not hideously difficult to find a career in...as long as you're not looking for a glamorous career in it...that's harder to come by (and not to be the voice of doom, but travel writing ranks right up there, along with food critic, and film and theatre critic, so be aware). And, yes, it does take being a workhorse. No way around it.

P.S. I don't live with my parents (just near them), and I hear you on loving spending time with them andd preferring their company to a lot of others. :)

[LaFille]

hi and welcome. figuring life out is not fun. :0

just my two cents on travel writing... while it probably would be the coolest job ever, i think it's occurred to everyone who likes to either write or travel or both to pursue this as a career. the problem is that there are people out there willing to do it for free, which makes it really difficult for anyone just starting out to actually support themselves.

[NewMrs.]

I majored in theatre for a while, along with English, b/c I always loved both writing and acting. The longer I studied theatre, the more exhausted I got with the scene, and was smart enough to realize that if I found the college theatre scene exhausting, pursuing such a competitive field as a career would be not very me. I demoted my theatre to a minor, and focused on English/writing, and got an ed certification as well (enabling me to teach theatre if I wanna).

I write, now, I'm a writer and editor for newspapers. Writing is awesome, and not hideously difficult to find a career in...as long as you're not looking for a glamorous career in it...that's harder to come by (and not to be the voice of doom, but travel writing ranks right up there, along with food critic, and film and theatre critic, so be aware). And, yes, it does take being a workhorse. No way around it.

P.S. I don't live with my parents (just near them), and I hear you on loving spending time with them andd preferring their company to a lot of others. :)


Wordsmith: I loved, loved, loved to write in high school and thought I would end up with a career in it. I ended up taking the path of least resistance after college. That is, I ended up working in insurance because I didn't find it too terribly difficult in that industry to find a full-time job with health insurance and a (meager) 401 (k) plan. However, now that I've worked in the insurance industry for 6 years, I wonder from time to time how hard it would be to transition to some kind of a career writing about business. In your experience in the newspaper industry, do the business section writers rank up there with the travel writers and the food critics?

I think in some ways I'm envious of my 20-year-old sister because she has the guts to actually follow through on what she really wants to do for a career. She's a college journalism major who is currently making plans to secure her second internship. She already did alot of boring and unglamorous things for her first internship, so I think she knows what she's getting herself into.

[wordsmith]

I actually see a fair number of openings for business writers, industry trade writers for various trade publications, etc. (to my chagrin, as business writing really isn't my forte). It's not as saturated as some other branches of journalism, and nearly every branch of business has its associations and association magazines, and all that that entails.

[shedevilone]

well it is always a tough rap to do what I do...but yeah...

there's no way around me struggling I suppose. I can't do anything other than artisitc stuff...I'm not a magazine/newspaper writer...that's not something I have a talent for, although I'm sure I'd love it, because it's writing, but yeah.

Can't do anything else but be expressive so...unfortunately not a demand for this too much anymore...

anyone else think that's kinda sad?

[weary]

well it is always a tough rap to do what I do...but yeah...

there's no way around me struggling I suppose. I can't do anything other than artisitc stuff...I'm not a magazine/newspaper writer...that's not something I have a talent for, although I'm sure I'd love it, because it's writing, but yeah.

Can't do anything else but be expressive so...unfortunately not a demand for this too much anymore...

anyone else think that's kinda sad?

i think it's kinda sad that you think you "can't do anything else..."

seriously. i'm not trying to mean or sh*tty here. but i remember being in that [sad] place and it sucks and only makes you stuck. broaden your horizons. try new things. surely in your twenty-something years on earth you've not tried and found that you do not like/are not good at any and everything else.

[wordsmith]

well it is always a tough rap to do what I do...but yeah...

there's no way around me struggling I suppose. I can't do anything other than artisitc stuff...I'm not a magazine/newspaper writer...that's not something I have a talent for, although I'm sure I'd love it, because it's writing, but yeah.

Can't do anything else but be expressive so...unfortunately not a demand for this too much anymore...

anyone else think that's kinda sad?

Do you mean that there isn't much of a professional demand anymore for artists?

Really, there never has been...at least not if you're looking for something that allows you carte blanche for artistic expression and your only job is creating for arts' sake. Throughout history, artists, novelists, composers, etc. were only able to do what they did via the patronage of the wealthy, i.e. somebody footing the bill for their lifestyles and to immerse themselves in creation, or if they came from well-off families.

If you want to support yourself doing what you love, then, yes, you'll need to find a way to parlay your chosen artform into a marketable skill. There is plenty of demand for being expressive, actually.

[Kitty]

well it is always a tough rap to do what I do...but yeah...

there's no way around me struggling I suppose. I can't do anything other than artisitc stuff...I'm not a magazine/newspaper writer...that's not something I have a talent for, although I'm sure I'd love it, because it's writing, but yeah.

Can't do anything else but be expressive so...unfortunately not a demand for this too much anymore...

anyone else think that's kinda sad?

Wow. You are so emo.

There are a lot of people who see themselves at artists and have to do something other than their art to survive.

[LaFille]

Throughout history, artists, novelists, composers, etc. were only able to do what they did via the patronage of the wealthy, i.e. somebody footing the bill for their lifestyles and to immerse themselves in creation, or if they came from well-off families.


yeah, or they practically starved. and who knows if some would have been able to produce the same type of work had they been living 'comfortable' lives? but that's a whole other topic :)

there are a LOT of would-be novelists and frustrated artist types of people out there, so you're not alone.

[LaFille]

There are a lot of people who see themselves at artists and have to do something other than their art to survive.
absolutely... lots of people working at music stores are trying to get their own musical career going, people working at art stores are struggling to sell their own work, english teachers who are working on a novel, bartenders dreaming of being actors... the list goes on!

[shedevilone]

absolutely... lots of people working at music stores are trying to get their own musical career going, people working at art stores are struggling to sell their own work, english teachers who are working on a novel, bartenders dreaming of being actors... the list goes on!

true, but it's almost impossible to do that and actively pursue a career and get anywhere. Most actors I see that are doing well are doing well because they don't HAVE to pay other bills aka (silver platter kids) and I'm not saying that I HAVE to work, my parents fully support my career and are letting me live without worrying about money,

I know I know..."so shedevilone what is the problem?"

Guilt...guilt for being able to NOT have to get a second job to support myself. I'm don't have to struggle, but I feel guilty that I'm not working elsewhere to support myself. But at the same time, I can't really commit to my career if I'm not constantly available.

I guess we take the good with the bad and do what we have to do for "art", but it still sucks...

What sucks is knowing that maybe the problem is no one is ever truly satisfied.

[wordsmith]

Just be glad that you don't have to foot the bill while you chase dreams. Most people don't have that luxury, seriously.

[Kitty]

true, but it's almost impossible to do that and actively pursue a career and get anywhere. Most actors I see that are doing well are doing well because they don't HAVE to pay other bills aka (silver platter kids) and I'm not saying that I HAVE to work, my parents fully support my career and are letting me live without worrying about money,



Doesn't that make you a silver platter kid?

I really don't get what you're even complaining about.

[paiger81]

Doesn't that make you a silver platter kid?

I really don't get what you're even complaining about.

Yeah, I really don't get the issue, either? If your parents are supporting you financially, then what is it you are 'struggling' with?

[WorkInProgress]

Wow. You are so emo.

There are a lot of people who see themselves at artists and have to do something other than their art to survive.

THAT'S emo? (I've wondered for a few years now and felt too stupid to ask. Huh.)

[Kitty]

THAT'S emo? (I've wondered for a few years now and felt too stupid to ask. Huh.)

emo =emotional

It's an angsty/whiney tone.

[LaFille]

true, but it's almost impossible to do that and actively pursue a career and get anywhere. Most actors I see that are doing well are doing well because they don't HAVE to pay other bills aka (silver platter kids) and I'm not saying that I HAVE to work, my parents fully support my career and are letting me live without worrying about money,


i think the vast majority of artists work on something other than their art. have you ever read 'me talk pretty one day?' i know it's not highbrow literature, but it's a fun read and the author, david sedaris, talks about all sorts of crazy jobs he had before he gained success in writing. i think he was a moving van driver at some point. in my opinion, these struggles and experiences make a person more interesting and a better writer.

if you are not interested in newspapers or magazines, what type of publications are you interested in writing for? sounds like you do have the luxury of time to explore some of your possibilities and possibly even write for free (like i mentioned before, a lot of travel writers do it for free) to get yourself published.

[wordsmith]

Writing for newspapers and magazines (or for PR purposes, another marketable profession for writers) doesn't preclude you from doing "serious, I'm working on my bestseller" writing, either.

[sgh79]

There's no reason why you have to give up on either one. I wanted to act for years...then I had a bout with depression so I ventured backstage more, but still loved it....I stayed involved in college but majored in English after I realized that I probably didn't have the determination or thick skin to really act professionally. So I settled for being a huge arts advocate and kept writing. You may want to take a journalism writing class at your local community college or something, just so you build up some of those writing skills. As someone who has tried to break out of a "routine" 9-5 life, but was a little too petrified at the thought of starving, I have to say that I've been able to still find joy (and incredible frustration!) in writing while also working at a "regular", not overly creative day job. Good luck!