I sold a few books, made a little money. One year might have even made a living wage, but then I hit a dry spell with my writing. I was still writing, but not selling. And so, with the kids older and needing more and college expenses looming, I started doing temporary secretarial work. I found it very difficult to work all day, come home and do chores, kid activities, etc. and still find time to write. But with temporary work, I could quit for a while whenever the need to write started tearing a hole in my heart. And I would. Of course, my husband was working and so we weren’t totally dependent on my income. It was a big help, but we had learned to do without a lot of the things the Jones’ had early in our married life in order for me to stay home with the kids. So we got by on his income and the farm income and my part time income.

Then because my need to write is so strong I took this bear of a part-time job that allowed me to work from home but kept the middle part of the day free for me to write. Worked early in the morning and late into the evenings. I hated it, but I didn’t quit until I had sold two books and socked away enough money in the bank to equal a whole year’s salary and health insurance payments. Then I gave up part-time work. I read once that sometimes you have to just do a free fall and take a leap of faith. But the thing you newbie writers might need to remember is that I’d been writing for years and years before I was brave enough to take that leap. I have a lot of self-discipline for working at home. But what helps me most is that I have to write. If I don’t, that hole starts tearing open in my heart.

2) I enjoy working a day job and trying to challenge myself every day to work dilligently on the hours available after my day job, spending time with the hubby, and taking a walk.

3) Working a job is so very important to a writer. Even if I could afford to quit a job, I would at least get a part time job. My dream is a coffee shop. There are so many interesting people who walk in and so many interesting conversations that become stories on the big white screen at home.

4) Lastly, free time is my enemy. I’m a procrastinator without a deadline. I must work so I feel the pressure of an unfinished novel sitting on my shoulders.

(And one more thing…If you write for money, you are in the wrong market. You write because you enjoy it.)

The lack of commute time and effort will free up writing time and family time, and my novelist income can make up the benefits shortfall from quitting my job.

I may think about part-time work close to home, but I would like to leave the full-time, work at an office life behind.

To me, that is what quitting the day job means.