Full Timers

J. A. Young · Post by **J. A. Young** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 8:37 am

I'm just curious to know if any of our writers are writing full time. Especially Gypsy or Celeste. I've been treating this like a side project for the past year, but I work elsewhere fulltime and I'm considering making some changes to make more time for writing.

It's always tricky to depend on sales, but I guess I'm just looking for feedback from other writers who have been making it work. Thanks for any stories/input. --JA

Celeste Stewart · Post by **Celeste Stewart** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 11:20 am

Hi,
I try to commit to about about 3-4 hours a day writing for CC and am rewarded with a nice income for my efforts. I ended up quiting my part-time marketing job because with a baby in the house I only have so many hours available and CC was by far more profitable for me. Plus I love it.

J. A. Young · Post by **J. A. Young** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 11:33 am

Well, it has been a very good year. It's certainly made me sit up and take notice--my husband too. Right now I just have a limited amount of time to devote to it--and since I love it, I need to consider some other options so I can spend more time doing it. Thanks for the reply. --JA

catnipp333 · Post by **catnipp333** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 2:40 pm

JA,

I have only been here since November, but I am doing it fulltime and LOVING IT!!! My name is not on that "top 10 list" (YET), but will be soon I HOPE!!

GOOD LUCK!!!

Catnipp333

Word Gypsy · Post by **Word Gypsy** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 7:18 pm

JA,
Hi! I have always wanted to write for a living and decided to make it happen last year. I had a job working 4 days a week, but found that I didn't have enough time to write as much as I wanted, especially with 4 kids. If you want to make it work for you, I suggest that you set it up while you still have that steady income. I searched for writing gigs and lined up several. Then, I strove to earn a monthly income that was comparable to what I had been earning at my "real" job. Once I was able to do that for several months, I gave notice. So yes, I write full time.The trick is to have a variety of outlets for your writing to help you ride out the down cycles. Some days I put in 2 hours and some days more. It depends on how the spirit moves me. Good luck! Gypsy

Celeste Stewart · Post by **Celeste Stewart** » Thu Jan 25, 2007 8:32 pm

Isn't it cool that we consider 2 to 4 hours a day working full time?

I love that I stumbled on this website. I feel very fortunate to be here and have made some great relationships.

J. A. Young · Post by **J. A. Young** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 4:43 am

Wonderful advice!

Thanks. It's very inspiring to know that people (moms with 4 kids!) are doing it. I'm not looking for overnight transformations, but it's a worthy goal that finally seems attainable.

Besides, 2, 3--even 5 hours of writing hardly feels like the drudgery of any other job when you like what you're doing. Not just that--I can't believe how many other interests it opens up and how much you learn. I mean, I could be happy writing about plant histories everyday for the next year. If someone would have told me that I would become a poisonous plant expert and landscaping enthusiast two years ago I would scarcely believe it.

What the heck. I may drop my office gig altogether--write part time and head out with a landscaping crew part time. I mean, when I look back over the articles I wrote just over the last year--Roman Pleasure Gardens, Hacienda Gardens; I'm really swinging on the hammock in my mind when I'm writing stuff like that. Even the more mundane pieces have been good challenges in their way.

Well, thanks again for sharing your advice. I really hope we have another great year filled with good articles and good income. --JA

Ed · Post by Ed » Fri Jan 26, 2007 5:43 am

You realize you gals are really the writing "dream come true"? It's really admirable!

Ed

topdycke · Post by **topdycke** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 9:43 am

Hiya,

I too write full-time and it is indeed a dream job and my passion. I not only write articles online, but I cold-call and market myself outside of the internet. If your serious about making writing your profession, I recommend you seek various venues. I love making my own hours and I usually spend at least 6 hours a day on writing. I'm currently buidling a website for more exposure. I think CC is great and as I've said before, I am so darn glad I stumbled on it.

T

Word Gypsy · Post by **Word Gypsy** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 3:12 pm

Hello again! Celeste, you are so right! It is way cool to refer to a few hours as full time. I must admit there are days when the topics are hot and the two hours winds into 4 or 5 hours, but they fly by quickly. My eldest daughter referred me to this site and I hemmed and hawed for months before I finally tried it. Do look for other venues though, because they are out there. I latched onto a really nice gig with a realtor writing home descriptions for multi-millionaire homes. I get to drool over these places looking at the pics and write ups on them and I get paid nice bucks to do it. It is as Ed says,"dream come true." Happy writing! Gypsy

Celeste Stewart · Post by **Celeste Stewart** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 9:52 pm

I love JA's idea of joining a landscape crew part-time as a result of her newfound passion for landscaping. So few people are willing to really pursue their dreams. Shoot, I want to be swinging in a hammock in my mind too.

TheWriteKind · Post by **TheWriteKind** » Fri Jan 26, 2007 10:21 pm

Im not writing full time, I do have an IRL job too, but I do devote quite a bit of time to my writing. I sometimes make more writing than I do in my real job---lol. I used to write for my IRL job, as a reporter for a small town newspaper. The money sucked big time and I can make double the money i was making there workign only a couple hours a day freelancing.

i have quite a few sites (similar to this and some different) where I write for, as well as some other gigs that are pretty hot. I could do this full time, but right now, Im enjoying what Im doing and like that writing is my 'off time'...

Sarah81 · Post by **Sarah81** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 2:35 pm

Yep - this is my day job. But I'm also a full time student.

I've always loved writing, so this works out really well for me. I set my own hours, I get paid to do something that I love and, oh yeah, I don't have to get up and go somewhere to work *smiles*

Right now, this works because I don't have to rely on my own income to survive. (I'm here with my parents until I'm done with school.) Maybe by the time I graduate this could be my full time gig. Hey, I can dream can't I?