Don't give up your day job!
What may be meant as a put-down, coming from someone who doesn't believe you can write, is actually very healthy thinking. Unless you make a consistent solid bundle with your writing, I'd definitely advise you to keep your day job.
He's got a day job, too.After eight produced scripts, two dozen unproduced commissions and more stuff in the works, people sometimes ask me why I keep my day job ... couldn't I make a living with my screenwriting? The answer is "Yes, I could... but I don't want to." There are three major reasons for it:
Security and stability: As a family man this is absolutely key to me. I love my regular pay check - it gives me great piece of mind. Which brings me straight to point number two.The freedom to write: Knowing that I don't have to rely on X writing money to make it into my account by X date, means I don't have to think about the mortgage payments while I write.The luxury to choose: I've been able to turn down projects, many projects. As a full-time writer I'd have had to take jobs I wasn't interested in, simple because of the money ... and frankly, that isn't the most passionate reason to get involved in a project.
With this day job situation come two additional elements: One is the worry that you may not have enough time to write, the other is the worry that you won't be taken seriously. Both of these worries are, though, simply a matter of getting your head around them - which happens with time and experience:
The matter of time: The more you write the better you develop your writing muscle. I've learned to be very disciplined with my writing - when I decide it's time to write, I write. When I dedicate time to writing, I crack pages. Over the years I've come to realize that other colleagues of mine, full-time writers, are never faster than me. That doesn't make them lazy, it just makes me more disciplined - this, in fact, really is hugely important if you keep your day job. The producer won't care what you do - as long as you deliver on time. The matter of insecurity: Initially you may be worried that producers, directors or agents won't take you seriously if you reveal you have a day job and "only" write in your spare time. Get over it. The people you hopefully get to talk to are human (most of them, anyway) like you. They know you need to pay the rent. Be proud of who you are and where you are in life - and take your stories from there.
Honesty is powerful - so you have a day job - so what. You're a writer! You have stories you want to tell, need to tell! It's all about mindset. You're passionate, you're hungry - give me the damn commission and I'll deliver something brilliant, and on time, too!
He's got a day job, too.After eight produced scripts, two dozen unproduced commissions and more stuff in the works, people sometimes ask me why I keep my day job ... couldn't I make a living with my screenwriting? The answer is "Yes, I could... but I don't want to." There are three major reasons for it:Security and stability: As a family man this is absolutely key to me. I love my regular pay check - it gives me great piece of mind. Which brings me straight to point number two.The freedom to write: Knowing that I don't have to rely on X writing money to make it into my account by X date, means I don't have to think about the mortgage payments while I write.The luxury to choose: I've been able to turn down projects, many projects. As a full-time writer I'd have had to take jobs I wasn't interested in, simple because of the money ... and frankly, that isn't the most passionate reason to get involved in a project.
With this day job situation come two additional elements: One is the worry that you may not have enough time to write, the other is the worry that you won't be taken seriously. Both of these worries are, though, simply a matter of getting your head around them - which happens with time and experience:
The matter of time: The more you write the better you develop your writing muscle. I've learned to be very disciplined with my writing - when I decide it's time to write, I write. When I dedicate time to writing, I crack pages. Over the years I've come to realize that other colleagues of mine, full-time writers, are never faster than me. That doesn't make them lazy, it just makes me more disciplined - this, in fact, really is hugely important if you keep your day job. The producer won't care what you do - as long as you deliver on time. The matter of insecurity: Initially you may be worried that producers, directors or agents won't take you seriously if you reveal you have a day job and "only" write in your spare time. Get over it. The people you hopefully get to talk to are human (most of them, anyway) like you. They know you need to pay the rent. Be proud of who you are and where you are in life - and take your stories from there.
Honesty is powerful - so you have a day job - so what. You're a writer! You have stories you want to tell, need to tell! It's all about mindset. You're passionate, you're hungry - give me the damn commission and I'll deliver something brilliant, and on time, too!
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