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Writer with a Day Job: Inspiration & Exercises to Help You Craft a Writing Life Alongside Your Career
Don’t let the daily grind drain your creative energy!You can work full time and still have a productive writing life. Many writers waste time waiting for the day they can finally quit their day jobs and live the so-called writing dream. Don’t wait. You can do both â€" and your writing will be the better for it.Balancing a full-time job and a productive writing life is no easy feat! This book offers writers advice, skill-building techniques, prompts, and exercises in every chapter, and strategies on how to get and keep writing while also working the 9 to 5 grind.Readers will discover tips and exercises • Setting and protecting personal writing goals • Creating a schedule that complements their stamina • Getting creative before and after work - and on their lunch hour • Finding inspiration in the most unlikely of spots and at the most impromptu of times • Writing proficiently in multiple forms (long and short) so that they don't get bogged down writing one long project • Becoming an active participant in writing communities so they have a solid support system at the ready • Figuring out how (if at all) to share their writing life with co-workers, friends, and family membersYou’ll also get quick, practical tutorials to help you master scenes, point of view, characters, settings, dialogue, and more.Writer With a Day Job gives you the strategies and motivation you need to work 40 hours a week (or more!) and achieve writing success.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 9, 2011
47 people are currently reading
388 people want to read
About the author
Áine Greaney
11 books34 followersAn Irish-born author who lives north of Boston. Novels: The Big House and Dance Lessons. Also short stories, personal essays and features in such publications as the Boston Globe Magazine, Salon.com, The Literary Review, Creative Nonfiction, Natural Bridge, The Fish Anthology and other publications. Also a frequent public speaker and creative writing teacher at various schools, libraries and arts organizations in New England and beyond. "
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
March 10, 2017
Not much to say about this one. It's pretty disappointing. You pick it up, hoping for tips to help you learn how to fit writing into your already demanding life, only to be greeted with lots of generic and pretty obvious solutions (write on your lunch hour!) and extremely elementary exercises on setting, character, etc. I'm probably wrong, but it seems to me that anyone who actually wants to be a writer shouldn't need tips on how to journal. I mean, if you are interested in pursuing a writing career, shouldn't you have some affinity for it, and wouldn't that mean you had progressed beyond trying to describe a setting in an exercise straight out of a high school creative writing class? I'm probably being too critical, though.
I guess pretty much everybody picks this book up with unreal expectations. We all know, deep down, that there's no magical solution for trying to balance our dreams alongside our realities. It boils down to how bad you want it. Are you willing to give up free time? Family time? Other pursuits? Sleep? It's all about choices. Making those choices is the secret to making your dream come true. Personally, if you're talking about finding inspiration, I was much more motivated and fired up by what I read in The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. After reading that book, I felt able to take on the world! If this book didn't scratch your itch, you might want to give that one a try.
I guess pretty much everybody picks this book up with unreal expectations. We all know, deep down, that there's no magical solution for trying to balance our dreams alongside our realities. It boils down to how bad you want it. Are you willing to give up free time? Family time? Other pursuits? Sleep? It's all about choices. Making those choices is the secret to making your dream come true. Personally, if you're talking about finding inspiration, I was much more motivated and fired up by what I read in The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. After reading that book, I felt able to take on the world! If this book didn't scratch your itch, you might want to give that one a try.
December 29, 2011
This book was not what I expected.
Although it contained writing prompts and useful information about writing, revising, and finding support from other writers, these things can be found in almost any book about writing. That information is redundant here.
What I really wanted was for the author to focus more on the mindset and discipline required to balance writing with other forms of work. There were a few chapters that addressed this, but not enough to justify the title, which alone was the reason I bought this book - I figured it would help me figure out my own writing/career balance. This book really had a chance to inhabit a niche that isn't occupied by other books, but instead the information within it felt basic - simplistic, even.
Furthermore, it contained several typos, and the variety of designs and headings used to differentiate types of content within the book were jarring and distracting. I felt that the various page designs were at odds with each other. Taken in conjunction with the content, this book doesn't feel like it was thought through.
Although it contained writing prompts and useful information about writing, revising, and finding support from other writers, these things can be found in almost any book about writing. That information is redundant here.
What I really wanted was for the author to focus more on the mindset and discipline required to balance writing with other forms of work. There were a few chapters that addressed this, but not enough to justify the title, which alone was the reason I bought this book - I figured it would help me figure out my own writing/career balance. This book really had a chance to inhabit a niche that isn't occupied by other books, but instead the information within it felt basic - simplistic, even.
Furthermore, it contained several typos, and the variety of designs and headings used to differentiate types of content within the book were jarring and distracting. I felt that the various page designs were at odds with each other. Taken in conjunction with the content, this book doesn't feel like it was thought through.
August 13, 2016
I guess I expected more from this book. It didn't really offer any new information from what is already available in blogs on the Internet or in other writing books. I'm still working and writing full time, but not doing it any differently because of reading this book. However, some of the exercises. although really having nothing to do with writing while holding down a day job, were interesting and helpful. If you're looking for some fun, basic writing information, you'll find it here. But, if you're looking for magical tips to help you write while working out of the home, this won't be all that useful.
January 20, 2016
I'm a sucker for writing books and this one caught my eye at the bookstore. While it had some decent points, it was mostly a disappointment.
I was expecting more time-management advice and plans, and less miscellaneous writing guides and technique exercises. Entire books have been written on dialogue, setting, characters, and squishing them into little ‘tutorials’ felt like space-filler. But the biggest problem to me was that this book suffered from a lack of copy-editing.
There are parenthesis that are never closed, extra quotation marks, and missing spaces between words. And in one sentence, a generic writer is referred to as both male and female. I don’t have a problem with the changing of gender pronouns when referring to a generic person, but please don’t switch pronouns in the same sentence! In fact, because of this awkward and strange pronoun shift mid-sentence, the writer is referred to in parentheses after the pronoun so that we know who the pronoun refers to. Here it is: ...Hollywood image of the writer locked up in her room...in which he (the writer) doesn’t shower and only leaves his desk...(p37). It’s just painful. These little annoyances add up to make me question the author’s competence, even though most of the mistakes are probably the editor’s or typesetter’s.
This was mostly a compilation of advice from other sources, with very little original work that was limited to the anecdotal. The best information I got out of this book were the original sources to go track down, like the 2010 series by The Guardian in which writers submitting their top ten rules for writing.
I was expecting more time-management advice and plans, and less miscellaneous writing guides and technique exercises. Entire books have been written on dialogue, setting, characters, and squishing them into little ‘tutorials’ felt like space-filler. But the biggest problem to me was that this book suffered from a lack of copy-editing.
There are parenthesis that are never closed, extra quotation marks, and missing spaces between words. And in one sentence, a generic writer is referred to as both male and female. I don’t have a problem with the changing of gender pronouns when referring to a generic person, but please don’t switch pronouns in the same sentence! In fact, because of this awkward and strange pronoun shift mid-sentence, the writer is referred to in parentheses after the pronoun so that we know who the pronoun refers to. Here it is: ...Hollywood image of the writer locked up in her room...in which he (the writer) doesn’t shower and only leaves his desk...(p37). It’s just painful. These little annoyances add up to make me question the author’s competence, even though most of the mistakes are probably the editor’s or typesetter’s.
This was mostly a compilation of advice from other sources, with very little original work that was limited to the anecdotal. The best information I got out of this book were the original sources to go track down, like the 2010 series by The Guardian in which writers submitting their top ten rules for writing.
November 12, 2013
Some of what's in here are basic exercises on, for example, dialogue, characterisation and redrafting. But if you strip out this stuff - not exactly padding but somewhat out of place in a book about fitting a writing career in with a straight life - you do still end up with an enjoyable, pragmatic and practical series of suggestions and approaches.
As others have noted, none of it's original, but then: What good advice ever is? A positive read, and one I'll return to whenever I need a reinforcement...
As others have noted, none of it's original, but then: What good advice ever is? A positive read, and one I'll return to whenever I need a reinforcement...
March 22, 2015
I didn't expect this book to be particularly groundbreaking, as I judged the book by its inside design elements. I had also picked it up at my local library, so I was not upset by the value since I had nothing invested.
This book serves its purpose well enough as a skim-worthy intro to a topic plaguing many writers. I skipped entire chapters and found a few bits that were relevant to my own challenges. I suspect others may do the same.
This book serves its purpose well enough as a skim-worthy intro to a topic plaguing many writers. I skipped entire chapters and found a few bits that were relevant to my own challenges. I suspect others may do the same.
February 26, 2023
This book should be titled Non Fiction Writer with a day job! Sponsored by Journaling.
This author only has advice for non fiction writers and since that's not my bag I cant tell you if that's any good.
The basic writing advice though? Worthless.
No useful writing advice is presented in this book that isn't obvious to anyone with a basic understanding of how to tackle a big product. Which since this book is aimed at adults with day jobs seems a bit strange. She asks like being a writer is a provocative career or hobby you will be judged for? Instead of advising how to break down novels into bite sized bits like most authors recommend 100-200 words a day since most people can squeeze them in any schedule. She acts like you will have to sacrifice chores, family time, any degree of decorum and sociability in order to be a writer with a day job.
This author spends 3 count them 3 chapters gushing and evangelizing journal writing. She claims that journal writers are always better writers and oh shock of all shocks. She's a life long journaler. Who would have guessed. She provides no alternatives to practice writing if writing a journal isn't your thing. She stretched out writing or planning while traveling into 2 separate chapters. This book could be cut down or expanded upon she mentions writers have trouble finishing books but offers no advice on that? Among many other dropped ideas.
I found only one writing exercise worth while and its not even the best. Most of them are generic school assignments you've groaned through before and hoped were dead already.
The only reason it gets two stars is because it was an easy read and I enjoyed laughing at her strange outlandish perceptions of the world.
This author only has advice for non fiction writers and since that's not my bag I cant tell you if that's any good.
The basic writing advice though? Worthless.
No useful writing advice is presented in this book that isn't obvious to anyone with a basic understanding of how to tackle a big product. Which since this book is aimed at adults with day jobs seems a bit strange. She asks like being a writer is a provocative career or hobby you will be judged for? Instead of advising how to break down novels into bite sized bits like most authors recommend 100-200 words a day since most people can squeeze them in any schedule. She acts like you will have to sacrifice chores, family time, any degree of decorum and sociability in order to be a writer with a day job.
This author spends 3 count them 3 chapters gushing and evangelizing journal writing. She claims that journal writers are always better writers and oh shock of all shocks. She's a life long journaler. Who would have guessed. She provides no alternatives to practice writing if writing a journal isn't your thing. She stretched out writing or planning while traveling into 2 separate chapters. This book could be cut down or expanded upon she mentions writers have trouble finishing books but offers no advice on that? Among many other dropped ideas.
I found only one writing exercise worth while and its not even the best. Most of them are generic school assignments you've groaned through before and hoped were dead already.
The only reason it gets two stars is because it was an easy read and I enjoyed laughing at her strange outlandish perceptions of the world.
May 15, 2016
Not a bad book overall, but geez, employ a copyeditor before you send this out into the world! It's ridiculous. There were SO MANY typos in this book. From words that were plural when they shouldn't have been to referring to a character in an example passage by the wrong name (the passage talked about Nora, then suddenly in the author's commentary we were talking about Sally, who made an appearance ages ago!), this book was so riddled with typos. Look, I can excuse maybe one or two typos because mistakes happen. However, I can think of five typos from this thing off the top of my head right now! No, I'm not going to go look them up and list them—they've taken up enough of my time as it is.
Would have been four stars if not for the obvious lack of a copyeditor/proofreader person.
Would have been four stars if not for the obvious lack of a copyeditor/proofreader person.
December 1, 2014
I agree with many of the reviewers below in that they wish the author included more tips on writing while working. She included some handy tips and some most working writers have already figured out. That said, I did find the 20 interviews she included at the end fun to read.
I also found her writing tips and exercises a great refresher. These types of novels are inspiring to me whether they teach me a lot or not. :)
I also found her writing tips and exercises a great refresher. These types of novels are inspiring to me whether they teach me a lot or not. :)
January 20, 2020
From the classic ELEMENTS OF STYLE to STEIN ON WRITING to Stephen King's ON WRITING to E.M Forster's ASPECTS OF THE NOVEL (which are lectures on the novel, rather than a book on writing advice), I've read many a book on writing. So, how does WRITER WITH A DAY JOB compare?
Other than keeping an eye on how to squeeze writing time in-between work hours, the book is straightforward in its writing advice. Some of the advice is good, none of it is bad. The best advice concerns rewrites, giving and receiving feedback, and resources for things like writer's groups and writing retreats, complete with websites. It also covers topics like slander (i.e. why you should be careful plopping down identifiable people in your writing) and includes short interviews in the back with successful authors who either had day jobs or still have them.
Like a day job, unfortunately, the writing tends to be bland. Oh, Greaney follows the rules of writing: it's just that her writing is businesslike with little room for fun. And when we get fun [like in comparing finishing a bag of bite-size Twix bars to how writing works: in "daily, bite-sized nibbles" (197)], the wording and imagery..isn't brilliant. The other writing books I've read have made me want to go out and read (or re-read) more books by the author: this one doesn't. Still, it offers up nuggets that, not matter how obvious, still need to be heard (one I read was in the interviews in the back, where one author stated that most "writing time" is spent thinking about writing, not actually putting down words on a page. For those of you who write, I hope you realize how liberating a statement this is). Greaney also includes writing exercises at the end of each chapter (most of which I skipped), which will help some people with some aspects of writing, but feels too much like homework for a book written for people who already have enough work to do.
Since its focus is on finding time to write while working full-time, one shouldn't expect to read it if you want to know how to vastly improve your writing, despite the writing advice it includes. In that case, THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE, ON WRITING, and STEIN ON WRITING will serve you better. Worth checking out for working writers, but I wouldn't make this your only writing book.
Other than keeping an eye on how to squeeze writing time in-between work hours, the book is straightforward in its writing advice. Some of the advice is good, none of it is bad. The best advice concerns rewrites, giving and receiving feedback, and resources for things like writer's groups and writing retreats, complete with websites. It also covers topics like slander (i.e. why you should be careful plopping down identifiable people in your writing) and includes short interviews in the back with successful authors who either had day jobs or still have them.
Like a day job, unfortunately, the writing tends to be bland. Oh, Greaney follows the rules of writing: it's just that her writing is businesslike with little room for fun. And when we get fun [like in comparing finishing a bag of bite-size Twix bars to how writing works: in "daily, bite-sized nibbles" (197)], the wording and imagery..isn't brilliant. The other writing books I've read have made me want to go out and read (or re-read) more books by the author: this one doesn't. Still, it offers up nuggets that, not matter how obvious, still need to be heard (one I read was in the interviews in the back, where one author stated that most "writing time" is spent thinking about writing, not actually putting down words on a page. For those of you who write, I hope you realize how liberating a statement this is). Greaney also includes writing exercises at the end of each chapter (most of which I skipped), which will help some people with some aspects of writing, but feels too much like homework for a book written for people who already have enough work to do.
Since its focus is on finding time to write while working full-time, one shouldn't expect to read it if you want to know how to vastly improve your writing, despite the writing advice it includes. In that case, THE ELEMENTS OF STYLE, ON WRITING, and STEIN ON WRITING will serve you better. Worth checking out for working writers, but I wouldn't make this your only writing book.
September 14, 2017
More like 2.25 - 2.5 stars.
This caught my eye a few years back, but I never picked it up. Then, I needed a topic for my writers' group and the phrase "Writer with a Day Job" came to mind... So I picked up the book and used it as a guide for a facilitated discussion.
It's alright as far as writing books go. I was a bit of a fan of the "writing tutorials" that were scattered throughout the book. As far as "with a day job" goes ~ I'd say it mostly came down to time management and identifying what's truly important to you (and striving for it). Not really anything overly revolutionary ~ just tips collated into one handy to use guide.
I hoped that I'd get more from the interviews with writers at the end, but I felt let down. Far too many focused on the writers trying to focus now that they're no longer wage-slaves or on the challenges of writing around having spawned. Neither of which is applicable to me beyond the aforementioned 'time management skills'
While I'm at it ~ the number of typos, errors, and type-setting mistakes was beyond disappointing for a writing guide from Writer's Digest. It was quite distracting.
This caught my eye a few years back, but I never picked it up. Then, I needed a topic for my writers' group and the phrase "Writer with a Day Job" came to mind... So I picked up the book and used it as a guide for a facilitated discussion.
It's alright as far as writing books go. I was a bit of a fan of the "writing tutorials" that were scattered throughout the book. As far as "with a day job" goes ~ I'd say it mostly came down to time management and identifying what's truly important to you (and striving for it). Not really anything overly revolutionary ~ just tips collated into one handy to use guide.
I hoped that I'd get more from the interviews with writers at the end, but I felt let down. Far too many focused on the writers trying to focus now that they're no longer wage-slaves or on the challenges of writing around having spawned. Neither of which is applicable to me beyond the aforementioned 'time management skills'
While I'm at it ~ the number of typos, errors, and type-setting mistakes was beyond disappointing for a writing guide from Writer's Digest. It was quite distracting.
March 19, 2023
Inspirational read
As a writer with a day job, it’s easy to come up with endless excuses about how I don’t have time for writing, why I can’t write today, why I haven’t produced much lately. This book nips all my excuses. It’s packed with useful ideas of how to fit in writing, even just 10 minutes at a time, into your busy day. Reading about other writers with a day job and family duties is so inspirational! In short, if you really want to and need to write, you can find time.
I also find the tutorials helpful. Some of the offered writing prompts are useful and interesting.
As a writer with a day job, it’s easy to come up with endless excuses about how I don’t have time for writing, why I can’t write today, why I haven’t produced much lately. This book nips all my excuses. It’s packed with useful ideas of how to fit in writing, even just 10 minutes at a time, into your busy day. Reading about other writers with a day job and family duties is so inspirational! In short, if you really want to and need to write, you can find time.
I also find the tutorials helpful. Some of the offered writing prompts are useful and interesting.
September 14, 2020
The writing exercises were fun, but there’s nothing in here that’s not found in your run of the mill book on writing. I was hoping for more tips on time management and working writing into that versus the exercises. The author is also of the opinion you should edit as you write and I strongly disagree, so half her tips really aren’t entirely useful in my case.
March 6, 2021
I guess I should have understood from "Inspiration & Exercises" in the subtitle that this book would mostly be filled with writing prompts. I was expecting something else--inspiring success stories, for example. Exercises on carving out time for writing alongside a day job. I read through the early materials but abandoned the book about halfway through the writing exercises section.
July 19, 2023
It’s a really useful book filled with practical tips and advice on how to fit in writing time in your schedule, publication, and, I think most important, questions on what you really want to get out writing. Highly recommend for anyone who is struggling to juggle their writing with their busy lives.
4/5!
4/5!
June 10, 2021
This is a very good how to book. A little old...I've been reading it off an on for a bit. I finally finished it up. Some of the data in it is out dated, but it's a good beginning book on how to have a day job and write. I would recommend it for the beginners.
December 8, 2020
Great resource for a professional writing during their downtime. I found it equal parts inspirational, practical, and freeing. There is no one way to be a writer - what you can do is enough!
November 21, 2021
This was an easy read with lots of nice prompts and interesting lists. Nothing too groundbreaking, but I appreciate the direct and positive tone.
January 25, 2016
A short and easy read, that has good implementable advice on how to be a more efficient writer and still hold a day job. It's not a full-on "inspiration" writing book or a pure craft book, it's more of a hybrid of the two. For those needing a little bit of an inspiration book, but would still like some new, real implementable tools, this is a good book to add to your arsenal of writing tools (my personal favorite is Self-Editing For Fiction Authors).
There were a few things worth noting that I was not impressed with. First, there are quite a few noticeable typos and misspellings. These are all very noticeable, but the book is such a brisk read it's easy to move on from these (and most of them do appear toward the end of the book). Also, there's a lot of "writing exercises" that just feel like filler to me. I'm too busy writing and working to bother taking on additional assignments just for the sake of it. Lastly, the interviews tacked on at the end are pointless. Everyone is asked the same questions (never with a follow up) and they all basically offer the same answers. And on top of that, what good nuggets are in there already appear in the book as examples for points the author makes. Another thing that bothered me about the interviews was that none of the authors were identified as independent authors, which seems odd since that will likely be how the majority of the readers of this book will elect to publish their work.
Overall, despite the flaws, it's still a book worth checking out if you're an author looking for something new that you can actually use to rev up your writing routine.
There were a few things worth noting that I was not impressed with. First, there are quite a few noticeable typos and misspellings. These are all very noticeable, but the book is such a brisk read it's easy to move on from these (and most of them do appear toward the end of the book). Also, there's a lot of "writing exercises" that just feel like filler to me. I'm too busy writing and working to bother taking on additional assignments just for the sake of it. Lastly, the interviews tacked on at the end are pointless. Everyone is asked the same questions (never with a follow up) and they all basically offer the same answers. And on top of that, what good nuggets are in there already appear in the book as examples for points the author makes. Another thing that bothered me about the interviews was that none of the authors were identified as independent authors, which seems odd since that will likely be how the majority of the readers of this book will elect to publish their work.
Overall, despite the flaws, it's still a book worth checking out if you're an author looking for something new that you can actually use to rev up your writing routine.
November 3, 2012
This book is exactly what I needed. I stumbled upon it, but it quickly became a must-buy. Aine hit the perfect tone (for me) of practical information and motivation to put the book down and start writing! Aine provides a wealth of different models for fitting writing into a very busy schedule, and inspired me to make a firmer commitment to myself as a writer. Within a week of reading the first couple chapters, I found myself writing a brief memoir piece literally while waiting at the meat counter in the grocery store. My journal was handy, I had the mindset to be looking for the nooks and crannies of my life which could be filled with writing, and I was ready to go.
I have not done all of the writing prompts, but Ido like how she split them into short prompts and longer writing tutorials such as "creating memorable characters" or "writing great settings. " For me, that is an added bonus of the book rather than the reason I bought it. I love that it is helping me write more on the many topics I've wanted to write but have felt like I just don't have time. The prompts I have looked at have produced better writing from me than other random prompts from writing books. I've scheduled time to do the longer tutorials and look forward to trying them as well.
The book's ideas also transfer well to accomplishing any creative endeavor within a busy life where your endeavor is not your day job.
A great read and right on target for writing inspiration. I highly recommend it.
I have not done all of the writing prompts, but Ido like how she split them into short prompts and longer writing tutorials such as "creating memorable characters" or "writing great settings. " For me, that is an added bonus of the book rather than the reason I bought it. I love that it is helping me write more on the many topics I've wanted to write but have felt like I just don't have time. The prompts I have looked at have produced better writing from me than other random prompts from writing books. I've scheduled time to do the longer tutorials and look forward to trying them as well.
The book's ideas also transfer well to accomplishing any creative endeavor within a busy life where your endeavor is not your day job.
A great read and right on target for writing inspiration. I highly recommend it.
February 27, 2015
Of the increasingly available collection of how-to writing books that WD now publishes, I found "Writer with a Day Job" to be a practical, if not generally common sense guide. The purported focus of this book was addressed with some clever tips, and as per usual with most of these books a liberal sprinkling of exercises and affirmations are available.
What surprised me most about this book is the lack of editing; the book contains a large number of misspellings, converged words (two words not spaced, or incorrectly formatted), and similar mistakes. The author emphasizes the critical nature of honing one's editorial eye in later chapters, and yet, the final product would have benefited from a line edit. Whether or not this was WD's format/typesetting or the author I don't want to speculate.
Either way, a "working" writer stands to benefit from this book if they are unable to separate their waking responsibilities with their writing ambitions. Yet, possession of common sense and strict personal scheduling can do the same, one would hope...
What surprised me most about this book is the lack of editing; the book contains a large number of misspellings, converged words (two words not spaced, or incorrectly formatted), and similar mistakes. The author emphasizes the critical nature of honing one's editorial eye in later chapters, and yet, the final product would have benefited from a line edit. Whether or not this was WD's format/typesetting or the author I don't want to speculate.
Either way, a "working" writer stands to benefit from this book if they are unable to separate their waking responsibilities with their writing ambitions. Yet, possession of common sense and strict personal scheduling can do the same, one would hope...
October 6, 2015
If you have a day job and are struggling to find time to write, this is the book for you. It contains both very useful tips and ideas for carving time for your writing into your overcrowded schedule and interesting writing tips (especially for fiction writers).
There are five sections, dedicated to getting started, making a habit of writing everyday in the morning and/or in the evening (or whenever you have time), insert writing in your working day, editing and revising your work, plus one final section which contains interviews to many authors who succesfully balance writing and a job.
You don't have to read it from the beginning to the end, if you feel you don't need to. It's a manual you should keep on the shelf right above your writing desk. This way you'll be able to read the chapter or the paragraph you need at a certain stage of the writing process, or find the right writing exercise to revive your prose, or just find a reminder that "you can do it!".
There are five sections, dedicated to getting started, making a habit of writing everyday in the morning and/or in the evening (or whenever you have time), insert writing in your working day, editing and revising your work, plus one final section which contains interviews to many authors who succesfully balance writing and a job.
You don't have to read it from the beginning to the end, if you feel you don't need to. It's a manual you should keep on the shelf right above your writing desk. This way you'll be able to read the chapter or the paragraph you need at a certain stage of the writing process, or find the right writing exercise to revive your prose, or just find a reminder that "you can do it!".
May 24, 2012
I'm struggling a little with this book. There was some some very good stuff in here but much of it seemed like common sense. Perhaps I've read many of these suggestions in other places and that's why they feel familiar. I was impressed that there is actually a list of places to find online wrtiter's groups. Several books I've read have simply said "Use Google to find online writer's groups". The extra effort was appreciated.
Some of the technology suggestions fell flat. OneNote and Evernote have both been able to synchronize documents among multiple devices with backup online, mostly for free, for years but no mention was made of either tool. Both Microsoft and Google offerings (Office Live and Google Docs) got simply a brief mention.
All in all good book, good read, not sure I would pick it up for a second read.
Some of the technology suggestions fell flat. OneNote and Evernote have both been able to synchronize documents among multiple devices with backup online, mostly for free, for years but no mention was made of either tool. Both Microsoft and Google offerings (Office Live and Google Docs) got simply a brief mention.
All in all good book, good read, not sure I would pick it up for a second read.
May 12, 2014
When I flipped through the chapters before buying it, I thought that it would have enough depth and information about being a writer with a day job. However, each chapter felt like it had just skimmed on the surface and it left me wanting more. The discipline development was useful but I found myself wanting more of that versus basic information about other stuff like editing, writing exercises, etc. I guess what I really wanted was insight on how to muster strength to get through the day when trying to achieve a semi working work/life/write balance.
It did, however, revealed some information that I really didn't know about on writer's retreat and how to incorporate them in your life. I liked the writer's voice throughout the book which I felt added a personal touch to the novel.
But because it was very basic, I don't see myself revisiting the book.
It did, however, revealed some information that I really didn't know about on writer's retreat and how to incorporate them in your life. I liked the writer's voice throughout the book which I felt added a personal touch to the novel.
But because it was very basic, I don't see myself revisiting the book.
September 21, 2016
This book certainly wins a prize for having a straight-forward title! It's both a how-to manual and a pep talk for writers (fiction and non-fiction) whose "other life" maybe doesn't leave them with as much free time to create, type, and edit as they would prefer to have. Not just theory mind you -- the many interviews with successful writers who have had (or now have) other jobs and responsibilities to deal with (like family) are both inspiring and heartening. Not so much a complaint as a curiosity: For a book that is mostly about time management, I'm not certain what all the sections on more general writing how-to pointers fit in. Not that the sections on creating characters, spicing up dialogue, and so forth were not useful (they were!), they just maybe felt like they belonged in another book on their own.
September 1, 2016
There were some super-helpful nuggets for me in this book, such as:
~ Be grateful for your day job!
~ It IS possible to fit writing into your daily routine
~ Self-doubt is normal; allow yourself to write (your first draft) badly.
However, I'm not sure there was a whole book-worth of material here, and I skipped over the writing exercises as they seemed more aimed at unleashing creativity in those who suspect they want to write, rather than those of us with too many ideas and to little time.
But if you're looking for a nudge to get started, or even just to let go of your belief that it's impossible to hold down a day job and complete a novel or large writing project, this book is well worth a look.
~ Be grateful for your day job!
~ It IS possible to fit writing into your daily routine
~ Self-doubt is normal; allow yourself to write (your first draft) badly.
However, I'm not sure there was a whole book-worth of material here, and I skipped over the writing exercises as they seemed more aimed at unleashing creativity in those who suspect they want to write, rather than those of us with too many ideas and to little time.
But if you're looking for a nudge to get started, or even just to let go of your belief that it's impossible to hold down a day job and complete a novel or large writing project, this book is well worth a look.
September 28, 2015
I enjoyed it, though the title is a bit misleading. It's actually a book that gives a variety of writing help, not just ideas for combining a writing life with a "regular" job (which it does quite well, I might add). If you want just information on how to do the latter, you may want to skip some of the pages that don't pertain to that. Ms. Greaney also gives examples and interviews of how people have managed to be quite successful as writers despite working elsewhere. Overall, I think it's a very good resource.
September 2015: Read through it again, this time completing many of the exercises.
September 2015: Read through it again, this time completing many of the exercises.
August 25, 2012
A very helpful book for writers who are struggling to find that ever-present and elusive balance between writing and working a full-time job to support oneself and one's family. The author's exercises and suggestions are wonderful, and will actually give you something to work with--someplace to start--instead of just throwing up your hands in the air and guilt-tripping yourself for another day gone by when the writing just didn't happen.
Definitely well worth checking out and reading for any writer with a day job.
Definitely well worth checking out and reading for any writer with a day job.
March 8, 2015
This is a very good book that I would heartily recommend to someone who is starting out writing while holding down a day job, but I wish it contained more on how to manage writing while holding down a day job.
I almost wish that it had been divided into two books: One that contained the excellent exercises and writing tips, and one that had the information on how to make a writing life while working, expanding on the information already in there.
Don't skip the interviews in the back of the book. There's good information there from writers who hold down a day job.
I almost wish that it had been divided into two books: One that contained the excellent exercises and writing tips, and one that had the information on how to make a writing life while working, expanding on the information already in there.
Don't skip the interviews in the back of the book. There's good information there from writers who hold down a day job.
December 10, 2014
There was a lot of information in this book about balancing writing with a day-job which I thought was relevant to any creative pursuit. The "how to write" parts were not that inspired, but the balancing info was great and the interviews with writers were interesting. I felt a little betrayed though that most of the writers that were interviewed don't actually have day jobs anymore, they are now full-time writers.
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