Authors: What's Your Day Job?

[isaacsweeney]

I know not everyone here makes money with their writing. So, just curious to see what people do for money besides write. I'll start with me.

I am an adjunct instructor at Blue Ridge Community College, a part-time grant writer for an arboretum, and a freelance writer and editor. When people ask, I tell them I'm a writer.

What do you do?

[Daniel Arenson]

I'm a software developer.

Writing, however, is gradually becoming a "real" job to me.  It's been paying my monthly bills and buying the groceries.   

[John Hamilton]

I write, edit and design children's books for Abdo Publishing.  I'm also a professional photographer, shooting mostly landscapes and rodeos, lately.

[daringnovelist]

I teach graphic design students and other commercial art students about printing and technology -- in the lab.  I find regular classroom teaching tends to take my writing energy away, but lab teaching is great.  I have done many many other things in my time, though.

Camille

[WilliamEsmont]

Software developer.

[modwitch]

I analyze data (web analytics data mostly these days).  It's fun.  Really . 

[MCM]

I'm a screenwriter (and producer, to a lesser extent), though I seem to be spending more and more of my time developing and managing big honkin' websites. Not sure how that happened. I'm easily distracted, I guess.

When people ask, I say I'm a livewriter, and very few people admit to being confused.

[hppavmx704]

Wow, my day job, well I'm a communications officer (which is just a really fancy tittle for 911 dispatcher).  I just put in my application to become a cop.  One weekend a month and two weeks a year I am a soldier for the army (unless you count my year long tour about six months ago, then that would make me a proud vet).  I write whenever I have time, which between, the 10 hour shifts, the constant working out to stay in shape, the random letters from the army that tell me I must get ready for deployment, and taking care of two puppies, turns out to be about once or twice a week.

[harpwriter]

I am blessed to have one of those I-can't-believe-they're-paying-me-to-do-this! jobs.  I teach music lessons.  I currently have students on piano, harp, guitar, saxophone, clarinet, flute, trumpet, and trombone, and after 20+ years of doing it, I have not yet gotten bored or tired of listening to scales and beginners, but still enjoy virtually every minute! 

And fortunately, I can also now consider writing a real job, as it is depositing money each month.

[kcmay]

I'm a technical writer. I work from home. Yes, I DO have the best job ever.

[foreverjuly]

Day job? Ha!

[Victorine]

I manufacture craft rubber stamps.  My husband and I both do this in our home.  We ship out hundreds of packages each week to all over the world.  Hubby also has a part time job, contracted for a year, so that will end in September.

Vicki

[Learnmegood]

I know not everyone here makes money with their writing. So, just curious to see what people do for money besides write.

I make my millions by teaching 3rd grade math.

[SuzanneTyrpak]

I work for Frontier Airlines--counter and gate. You can call it a day job, if getting up at 3am is considered day (I call that night!) Also do Marketing, part-time, for a local science museum.

However, first and foremost, I'm a writer. Gave up a lucrative job in radio advertising over ten years ago to focus on writing. Writer is what I list on my passport and my tax form. 



 

[Daniel Arenson]

Day job? Ha!

Being an author is your day job!

[Judi Coltman]

I'm a former elementary school educator - reading and writing.  Now, I am a part time nanny to a 9 month old baby.  I do it for beer money.

[Julie Christensen]

Audiologist

[Free books for Kindle]

Manage a publishing and new media team.

[ldenglish]

Admin. Assistant for a private nonprofit child abuse prevention agency. I work 2 days a week. I now earn more from writing than from the day job, so I call myself an author.

[Thumper]

I play online, surfing Facebook and Kindleboards. I haven't figured out how to get paid for it, but dangit, I'm nearly a PRO at it!

[Victorine]

I play online, surfing Facebook and Kindleboards. I haven't figured out how to get paid for it, but dangit, I'm nearly a PRO at it!

Ha ha ha ha ha ha!  Love it!!

Vicki

[David 'Half-Orc' Dalglish]

I'm spoiled rotten. This is all I do.

[cblewgolf]

Wow...salesman doesn't really live up to some of the job descriptions here.
What if I said, National Sales Executive......

[Amyshojai]

Let's see, which hat should I wear?

I've been a freelance writer for (gak!) nearly 20 years now. I'm also a certified animal behavior consulant, and a consultant to the pet products industry (used to be a spokesperson for Purina for 10+ years). The current "regular" contracts include behavior articles for cats.About.com, a weekly newspaper column, weekly radio show (Pet Peeves), and twice monthly TV pet segment. Oh, and next week for the first time I'll be an expert witness in a dog bite case.

Oh, and Harpwriter--love your job! I was a music major in college, at one time taught HS choir and voice, and in spare moments (when not bow-wowing to dog whims or cat-demands) play piano and cello.

[Arkali]

I work for Frontier Airlines--counter and gate. You can call it a day job, if getting up at 3am is considered day (I call that night!)

In the military, they call that oh-dark-thirty.