Why I wont be giving up the day job.

So you're a published Author, so like, when are you going to stop working?
*Sigh*
My life has gone from "When are you going to have a baby?" to "When are you going to quit your day job?"
I know I often whinge and whine about time constraints, balancing my day job with my night time writing adventures all the while trying to and at best failing to be a wife, daughter, friend, sister and all round awesome person. And while I try and adopt the opinion that I have the same amount of hours in the day as what Beyonce has, it still changes little and I get stressed.



But here's the thing.
It's a good stress.
I love my day job and the people and organisation I work for. Yes, I can earn a living as a writer too and for that I am so bloody grateful for (truly) Sure the two worlds collide often, I'm tired, and whiny and overwhelmed and don't worry I am not going to go into the spiel of "And I wouldn't have it any other way." Because that's not completely true.
Being a kept housewife in the Hampton's would be a close second, but I digress…


The thing is I choose to do both.

I choose to not quit my day job and "live the dream" of writing full time. Ironically I complain about lacking balance in my busy life but the truth is having that day job provides me balance. I explain to people who ask the question "So when are you going to quit your day job?" I tell them that I think I will always work, always have the security of a day job, because for me, if I didn't have that day job I fear that writing would become an obsession, and then I wouldn't love it anymore.


I have to love what I do.
And in times when it's mid week and I am slumped at my desk of a night tired from the day and cursing the 4 hours sleep I survive on, it's those times I need to remind myself how lucky I am as I pound my forehead into the keyboard and ugly cry.

For one, there are many who don't have a job, who are unemployed or stuck in jobs they hate (Been there, done that) So I will never take for granted the fact I am lucky and appreciate that yes, I do still work, but it is something I don't take lightly.Secondly, I don't have to worry about how big the royalty cheques are and how I will drip feed it into a living, receiving them is a bonus no matter how big or small people are reading my work, paying money for it and this makes me happy.
And in another breath, why not have it all? Happiness is a state of mind but success is too, if I want the things I want in life I work for it, I don't want writing to be my job, I want it to be my life long love and sure in time my day time hours might reduce but I think I will always have my foot in the door. 

It also affords me to work at my own pace in what can be a crazy fast industry, the constant pressures to be creating and producing work is massive for Authors of our time. Even in times when I have crazy deadlines and long hours in the cave my commitment to the what I call the pesky day job breaks me from that reality and sets me into another world. The one that forces me to not wear pants with elastic waists and hair that doesn't look like small animal lives in it.


So the answer is no my dear friends  I am not quitting my day job just yet, and no to the house in the Hampton's…for now.