Any Writers Here?

[drummer]

I'm currently a junior in college, so not exactly in the working world yet. But anyway, ever since I've been in college, I've really wanted to pursue a career that wasn't 9-5, sitting in a cubicle all day long.

I've been spending a lot of time doing creative writing. I finished one book last year and have about 80 pages done in a new one (the subject being a QLC). I haven't had any luck getting published. But, my point for posting is to see if there are any other writers out there? How have you been able to support yourself? Any success? Any tips?

[texasgirl]

I have a journalism degree and love writing... After I graduated, I got a job with a newspaper as a reporter. It has been a fantastic learning experience, but it has also taught me that it's very, very hard to make a living in that field and that you have to be ok with having an insane schedule. There are plenty of other careers for writers, such as ones in PR, technical writing, etc. but most are 9-5. I'm like you in that I can't stand sitting behind a computer for 8 hours straight, but I also realize that I can't find the work/life balance (not to mention financial support) that I need if I stay in reporting.

[Winter Storm]

I'm not a full-time writer but a writer in my own time. I didn't major in English but mass comm, so I took a lot of writing classes. I work full time in marketing and write in my own time, so marketing is my bread & butter and yes I do sit in a cubicle all day.

I'm working on two screenplays and a short novel with a firm goal to finish all three by years end. I do have a local filmmaker interested in my work. But whether he works out or not, I'm going to finish my works.

But truth be told if you want to write, you will find yourself sitting in front of a computer for long hours at a time, so cubicle or not, you'll still be chained to a computer.

Oh and P.S., cubicle life aint that bad. I actually have one of my story outlines open on my desk right now and I'm working on it in between doing work. ;):

[drummer]

I have a journalism degree and love writing... After I graduated, I got a job with a newspaper as a reporter. It has been a fantastic learning experience, but it has also taught me that it's very, very hard to make a living in that field and that you have to be ok with having an insane schedule. There are plenty of other careers for writers, such as ones in PR, technical writing, etc. but most are 9-5. I'm like you in that I can't stand sitting behind a computer for 8 hours straight, but I also realize that I can't find the work/life balance (not to mention financial support) that I need if I stay in reporting.

I was a journalism major until a few months ago when I switched over to creative writing. I definitely understand making it in creative writing will be much more difficult, but I found jouralism to be of little interest to me. Are you still a reporter? Where do you hope to go from there? I'd kind of like to get into some freelance reporting on the side.

[drummer]

I'm not a full-time writer but a writer in my own time. I didn't major in English but mass comm, so I took a lot of writing classes. I work full time in marketing and write in my own time, so marketing is my bread & butter and yes I do sit in a cubicle all day.

I'm working on two screenplays and a short novel with a firm goal to finish all three by years end. I do have a local filmmaker interested in my work. But whether he works out or not, I'm going to finish my works.

But truth be told if you want to write, you will find yourself sitting in front of a computer for long hours at a time, so cubicle or not, you'll still be chained to a computer.

Oh and P.S., cubicle life aint that bad. I actually have one of my story outlines open on my desk right now and I'm working on it in between doing work. ;):

Keep me posted on how all of this goes. I'd love to write screenplays as well. Basically anything creative is of interest to me.

What I'm nervous is I'll get into the working world and work a full-time job and then have no motivation to work on my creative writing at night (or anytime outside of work). How do you do it?

[Winter Storm]

What I'm nervous is I'll get into the working world and work a full-time job and then have no motivation to work on my creative writing at night (or anytime outside of work). How do you do it?

It's hard at times. I'll work all day long, sitting up at the computer typing away, then have to come home and sit at a computer, sitting and typing all night; I have to keep my motivation up. Most nights, I really just wanna crash on the couch with a beer and some mindless TV but I'm putting a timeline on when to complete these things so I'm trying to keep my motivation up.

And its freaking murder on the back, hands and fingers. Yeesh. I don't think I could be a writer full-time. I like that I get to do this at my own pace, not a living.

But when you're dedicated, you can do it.

[texasgirl]

I was a journalism major until a few months ago when I switched over to creative writing. I definitely understand making it in creative writing will be much more difficult, but I found jouralism to be of little interest to me. Are you still a reporter? Where do you hope to go from there? I'd kind of like to get into some freelance reporting on the side.
I'm a reporter right now, but am actually getting certified to become a high school English or journalism teacher. Ultimately, I'd love to freelance full-time but it's not an affordable option right now. I know that teaching takes way more time than just the 8 hours you're at school, but I'm hoping I'll still have motivation to write when I get home. We'll see... If you're interested in freelancing, start at your college paper or at a local publication, even if it's unpaid. From there, you can use those clips to land bigger assignments. That's what I started out doing a couple of years ago, and now I have a few magazines come to me when they need a story. And the pay ain't bad either :)

[drummer]

It's hard at times. I'll work all day long, sitting up at the computer typing away, then have to come home and sit at a computer, sitting and typing all night; I have to keep my motivation up. Most nights, I really just wanna crash on the couch with a beer and some mindless TV but I'm putting a timeline on when to complete these things so I'm trying to keep my motivation up.

And its freaking murder on the back, hands and fingers. Yeesh. I don't think I could be a writer full-time. I like that I get to do this at my own pace, not a living.

But when you're dedicated, you can do it.

Yeah. For me, I try to set a daily goal which is usually five pages. I do that just Monday through Friday, but some days that goal doesn't get completed or I only do three pages or whatever.

[drummer]

I'm a reporter right now, but am actually getting certified to become a high school English or journalism teacher. Ultimately, I'd love to freelance full-time but it's not an affordable option right now. I know that teaching takes way more time than just the 8 hours you're at school, but I'm hoping I'll still have motivation to write when I get home. We'll see... If you're interested in freelancing, start at your college paper or at a local publication, even if it's unpaid. From there, you can use those clips to land bigger assignments. That's what I started out doing a couple of years ago, and now I have a few magazines come to me when they need a story. And the pay ain't bad either :)

Yeah, if I did anything journalism related, it'd be magazine stuff. Music is my life (much more than writing) so for my school paper I've been doing CD reviews for the last two years and have interviewed a few pretty big bands. I'd love to start doing some freelance work now, but having a hard time breaking into it. Obviously, right now, no one is going to ask me to write an article for their magazine, since I'm completely unknown. So it's just trying to send them stuff they might want to use, I guess.