Comments on: The Day Job: Friend Or Foe? http://www.litdrift.com/2009/10/17/the-day-job-friend-or-foe/ Storytelling in the 21st Century Sat, 31 Jul 2010 22:04:22 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Emily St. John Mandel http://www.litdrift.com/2009/10/17/the-day-job-friend-or-foe/comment-page-1/#comment-748 Emily St. John Mandel Sun, 29 Nov 2009 04:46:52 +0000 http://www.litdrift.com/?p=2312#comment-748 I know I'm late to this, but thanks very much for linking to my article. I think you're absolutely right -- your day job is what you make of it. I like your doctor/writer metaphor; the idea that artists shouldn't expect to make a living from their work has always been troubling to me. Especially when so many other people make their livings from our work. As for the end of the essay that you quoted there -- I have a lot of hope, and a lot of ambition, but I think I don't allow myself to think too seriously about my chances of getting to quit my day job someday, simply because I'm at the beginning of my writing career and I know it'll likely be a while before I can write full time, if I ever can at all. So I've been trying to make the day job/writing balance work, and trying not to torture myself with thoughts of what freedom from day jobs might feel like. I know I’m late to this, but thanks very much for linking to my article. I think you’re absolutely right — your day job is what you make of it. I like your doctor/writer metaphor; the idea that artists shouldn’t expect to make a living from their work has always been troubling to me. Especially when so many other people make their livings from our work.

As for the end of the essay that you quoted there — I have a lot of hope, and a lot of ambition, but I think I don’t allow myself to think too seriously about my chances of getting to quit my day job someday, simply because I’m at the beginning of my writing career and I know it’ll likely be a while before I can write full time, if I ever can at all. So I’ve been trying to make the day job/writing balance work, and trying not to torture myself with thoughts of what freedom from day jobs might feel like.

]]> By: Ahna Kristarr http://www.litdrift.com/2009/10/17/the-day-job-friend-or-foe/comment-page-1/#comment-660 Ahna Kristarr Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:52:50 +0000 http://www.litdrift.com/?p=2312#comment-660 I find myself in this very situation. Great post I find myself in this very situation. Great post

]]> By: Crista http://www.litdrift.com/2009/10/17/the-day-job-friend-or-foe/comment-page-1/#comment-394 Crista Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:44:11 +0000 http://www.litdrift.com/?p=2312#comment-394 As a doctor who writes, I can't tell you how many puzzled looks I get when I tell people I'd prefer to write than practice medicine. In this case, though, writing is my second job. It doesn't pay enough yet for me to quit my day job, especially considering all my student loans from med school, but telling stories keeps me sane and makes it possible for me to get and go to work every morning. As a doctor who writes, I can’t tell you how many puzzled looks I get when I tell people I’d prefer to write than practice medicine. In this case, though, writing is my second job. It doesn’t pay enough yet for me to quit my day job, especially considering all my student loans from med school, but telling stories keeps me sane and makes it possible for me to get and go to work every morning.

]]> By: Julie http://www.litdrift.com/2009/10/17/the-day-job-friend-or-foe/comment-page-1/#comment-388 Julie Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:26:51 +0000 http://www.litdrift.com/?p=2312#comment-388 Excellent post. In some ways, writers/artists have to be more driven than people in most any other profession. We have to work the full-time job, perform open heart surgery when we get home, and fight the nagging voice inside that's telling us we aren't good enough. It's a challenge that only a crazy person would take on. Or, you know, a writer. Excellent post. In some ways, writers/artists have to be more driven than people in most any other profession. We have to work the full-time job, perform open heart surgery when we get home, and fight the nagging voice inside that’s telling us we aren’t good enough. It’s a challenge that only a crazy person would take on. Or, you know, a writer.

]]> By: Heather S. Ingemar http://www.litdrift.com/2009/10/17/the-day-job-friend-or-foe/comment-page-1/#comment-378 Heather S. Ingemar Sat, 17 Oct 2009 18:17:47 +0000 http://www.litdrift.com/?p=2312#comment-378 I love the analogy between doctors and artists. Nice post! I love the analogy between doctors and artists.

Nice post!

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