Writing when you have a day job
It’s hard to make money as a writer. For most of us, it takes a while to hone our skills. It took me five years to get my work to a place where I would even show people, and I am still constantly learning and growing (check out Ira Glass’s The Gap if you need some encouragement there).
But bills don’t go away just because you are following your passion. If anything, expenses usually go up as you’re paying for classes, writing competitions, software, etc.
Day jobs are necessary to survive. They can be supportive and fun if you find something flexible that allows you to still create on the side.
However, they can also be absolutely exhausting.
I was a personal assistant for two and a half years. After long days of running errands and trying to remember a list too long for two people, I would come home completely drained. I worked for a very nice couple (and am extremely lucky in that regard), but it didn’t always leave much mental space for creativity.
That being said, I still had to find a way to write. Here are a few tips for how I got through it:
1. Work on one thing at a time. I feel the need to do a million things at once, too. But you’re not doing yourself every favors. Pick one project to focus on. It’s great if you have lots of ideas, but write them down somewhere and shelve them for later. It is always easier to start projects than finish them.
*Sometimes your focus can change. If you know at a deep level that there is a different project that needs your attention, then pause and focus on that first. If you feel the need to switch again, then maybe it is time to investigate why and where you start to get hung up.
2. Utilize the “dead space” with things that inspire you. Listen to a podcast about writing as you drive to work. Listen to a YA book on Audible as you cook dinner or clean your house. Read an article while you wait for an email. Watch a short film while you wait in line for your to-go order. Or simply pay more attention to the people that come into your work and write down some notes for character inspiration.
You don’t always need to fill every moment with something, but in my own journey, I realized that I would use driving as a time to check out and disengage. When I started filling that time with content and actively listening, I noticed I felt more inspired when I sat down to write. Plus, I had new wealth of knowledge to draw from.
3. Write things down when they come up! As you fill your time with more things that inspire you, you’ll probably find yourself having more ideas. Great! With a day job you might not always be in a place to dive deeper, so write down the thought and save it for later. I once heard a writer say she emails herself every time she gets an idea and puts them into a folder. For me, I keep notes in my phone. I probably have around 400 that list out everything from soft outlines for novels to descriptive words to themes that feel important to me.
4. Using one or two hours effectively is more important than a whole day of forced productivity. You only have the time you have to work on your projects. As someone who has spent both two hours extremely productive and entire days writing nothing but a few sentences, I promise you that it is not always about total time spent. I would always prefer an effective amount of time over a lot of time. Use what you have to the best of your ability. Sit down and see what you can accomplish in even just twenty minutes with no distractions.
5. Write with someone else if that helps you stay accountable. Scheduled writing sessions with another person are a great way to commit to your work. Whether you’re actually writing on the same project together, or just working side by side, it is more difficult to bail when you’re meeting someone else. Plus, you get some social time, too!
6. Find a writer’s group. I am part of two all-women writing groups that I absolutely adore. Prior to COVID, one of the groups met monthly to share work. Getting feedback in realtime, as well as hearing what other people are working on, always leaves me feeling inspired. Now, we still meet on Zoom occasionally to check-in. The other group is more panel and event focused, while just as valuable. Surrounding yourself with what you care about, and with people who care about the same things, is a great way to stay on track.
7. Take breaks. We can’t be on all the time (as much as I try to tell myself I should be). Self-care and actually living your life is equally important. I often find that productivity flows so much better after I take a bit of time off. Suddenly, “the grind” feels like less of a grind and I find myself actually wanting to write.
8. But do make time. Start distinguishing what is important and what you can skip out on. You don’t have to go to every social engagement. You don’t have to say yes to helping your friend move. Sometimes, it is okay to say no and carve out a whole day for your writing. I think your true friends will always understand and support you as you strive to make a career doing what you love.