tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post4991565071210602749..comments2024-02-17T09:53:06.168+00:00Comments on Notes from the Slushpile: Living the Dream: quitting the day job to write full timeCandy Gourlayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-29154380487280941342011-10-03T08:54:51.235+01:002011-10-03T08:54:51.235+01:00the clown is neither me, nor Sarwat!!
Should I tel...the clown is neither me, nor Sarwat!!<br />Should I tell?Teri Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13641477543947472370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-9826470876098331142011-10-01T10:52:11.285+01:002011-10-01T10:52:11.285+01:00Great post, Teri. Is the clown you?Great post, Teri. Is the clown you?Addy Farmerhttp://www.addyfarmer.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-46657950657844176372011-09-30T17:07:52.403+01:002011-09-30T17:07:52.403+01:00Oh sorry Terie ... it's Sarwat Chadda isn'...Oh sorry Terie ... it's Sarwat Chadda isn't it?Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-43860316339340064582011-09-29T14:47:07.945+01:002011-09-29T14:47:07.945+01:00I can't wait to jack in the day job. I only w...I can't wait to jack in the day job. I only work part time and it's still an imposition. When I think of all the well-conceived projects - ideas for novels and TV scripts - that I have in my head but have no time to execute, I seethe. Can't. Blinkin'. Wait.The Horrormoanal Womanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09378575852495681381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-52358718944084154922011-09-29T12:10:22.895+01:002011-09-29T12:10:22.895+01:00I'm a bit disappointed that nobody has had a g...I'm a bit disappointed that nobody has had a go at identifying the clown!Teri Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13641477543947472370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-49393192996817399452011-09-29T09:51:06.818+01:002011-09-29T09:51:06.818+01:00Thanks, everyone, for the comments.
I like Candy&#...Thanks, everyone, for the comments.<br />I like Candy's 'I love Mondays' T-shirt: but wearing same may annoy those around us!<br />And certainly as I said, this option best isn't for everyone. I'm still struggling to adjust to a schedule, particularly tricky when you have a day when writing is best left while you mull things over, because I feel I should be writing every day.<br />And yes, Julie, polishing ducks is very attractive on those sorts of day...Teri Terryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13641477543947472370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-30818345676630777762011-09-29T03:00:05.388+01:002011-09-29T03:00:05.388+01:00Thanks for a great post. I just left my day job 2 ...Thanks for a great post. I just left my day job 2 1/2 weeks ago. I'm really happy to see that it takes some time to settle into the writing life. I'm currently trying to figure out the best writing schedule for me. Isn't it interesting that housework becomes fun when it's a form of procrastination?Julie D-Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16456775712912495617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-81243890179644305932011-09-28T15:58:22.302+01:002011-09-28T15:58:22.302+01:00Yes, I recognise much of this. Especially the anxi...Yes, I recognise much of this. Especially the anxiety but alos the not hating Mondays.Gill Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00632631163777155215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-80152421457554238442011-09-28T15:15:28.874+01:002011-09-28T15:15:28.874+01:00Great post Teri and congrats on taking the plunge....Great post Teri and congrats on taking the plunge. I agree that you have to have a schedule and treat it like a full time job (showing up at your computer, albeit in your jim jams, at the same time each day) and put in some butt to chair time. When I've taken leaves of absences from my day job I've gotten tons of writing done (maybe that's b/c I have the deadline of going back to work). I agree that deadlines help.Jan Markleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08317561950719847803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-59997982850403428262011-09-28T15:06:01.517+01:002011-09-28T15:06:01.517+01:00I didn't jump. I was 'pushed'. But I h...I didn't jump. I was 'pushed'. But I have no regrets.Malaikanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-80057185276341526082011-09-28T14:03:23.542+01:002011-09-28T14:03:23.542+01:00I agree with Tommy about the best part of writing ...I agree with Tommy about the best part of writing f/t - having control of your time. But like you I have to do a list of what I want to do for the day to make it more motivational and in control, or I am lost what to do. Think it comes from having worked f/t before, having things ready to do.Julie Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10370540030678282595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-68062931925009775242011-09-28T13:11:11.751+01:002011-09-28T13:11:11.751+01:00A great post and some insightful comments. I'm...A great post and some insightful comments. I'm back at work (teaching 3 days a week in a secondary school) after a year's sabbatical. When I told a friend I hadn't seen in awhile that my book was being published this year he said, "See what happens when you have plenty of time on your hands?" I told him, truthfully, that I wrote the book when I had no time--when I was working, had children at home, other commitments. Full-time writing may be the ultimate goal for all of us (it certaily is for me!) but we have to make good use of whatever time we have...Jane McLoughlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11560284790806029134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-14909469550963995252011-09-28T13:01:56.964+01:002011-09-28T13:01:56.964+01:00Can I put the opposing view? I would actually hate...Can I put the opposing view? I would actually hate to give up my day job because it imposes structure on my life. It makes me get up, it makes me go somewhere and it pays me money. Unlike Sarwat, I get far more encouragement in my day job than I do from people in publishing, who often want to focus on the negative ahead of the positive (N.B. Not talking about writing friends here, who are very supportive)<br /><br />I find I get much more writing done when I have to work it around my daily schedule, rather than having that blank canvas effect. Also, having a day job means I have to stay current with the market and spend my time with actual people rather than virtual ones.<br /><br />Perhaps it depends on where you work and what your temperament is, but I think you can find self-worth in all parts of your life without hitching everything to a dream.Nick Crosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02571077124165351007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-26411627396674877332011-09-28T12:34:39.216+01:002011-09-28T12:34:39.216+01:00'I love Mondays' is a t-shirt waiting to h...'I love Mondays' is a t-shirt waiting to happen. Terrific post, and good luck to all who have made the leap.Candy Gourlayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-84449898820272388162011-09-28T12:29:01.745+01:002011-09-28T12:29:01.745+01:00A great read, Teri. It's such a dream for me, ...A great read, Teri. It's such a dream for me, but I'm so scared of taking it even with hubby working. *sigh*Debbie Edwardshttp://debrajedwards.jimdo.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-70592114730174741742011-09-28T12:27:32.737+01:002011-09-28T12:27:32.737+01:00Great, thanks for that Teri and everyone who contr...Great, thanks for that Teri and everyone who contributed. I've been a full-time writer for nearly two months now and am still adjusting, so it is great to hear other experiences and advice.<br /><br />The final word from Sarwat is brilliant. I may print that and pin it to the wall above my desk as a timely reminder.Dave Cousinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07910281490764974261noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-5550846089269804192011-09-28T12:05:11.947+01:002011-09-28T12:05:11.947+01:00Thanks for this. While I'm not a full-time at ...Thanks for this. While I'm not a full-time at home writer, I feel more inspired now to try to grab a few moments and take advantage of them. Stepping away from TwitFaceetc. as we speak.Laura Atkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04738561919010280761noreply@blogger.com