What is your day job?

[Willow79]

I've worked full time more or less all of my adult life. Regardless I have still managed to get some short stories published and wrote the first draft of a novel last year. But it took me 5 years to even do that.

My job takes up a lot of emotional and mental energy and it's 9-5 with quite a bit of overtime since lockdown. So I am thinking about going part time so thay I can focus on writing more. I am finally at a point where I could make that work financially for a year or 2 although I would feel the difference I'm sure.

I am interested to hear about what other people do and how the type of job (part/full time) works for them and their writing routine.

FT academic. I wrote my first novel on maternity leave, and I write around work, early in the morning or at night. Work is pressured but flexible.

I work FT in a demanding 9-5 in the public sector. It has plenty of responsibility and is mentally/ emotionally a lot too - but I find writing helps me switch off from it. I write for 2 hours a night after my kids go to bed. I wrote 5 books last year, and I’m on track to write at least 6 this year. I’m with a publisher but I’m branching out into self publishing this year which is why I’ve increased my output.

Willow, it's great to hear you might have a bit more time to write soon.

It took me 5 years to write my novel (hoping to self publish later this year). I wrote it whilst having 2 young dc (under 5) plus an older dc. I am trying to work on book 2 but again it is taking me a long time mainly because I am not writing very much! Still have a pre-schooler and hoping to start a low key business to keep the option of writing open (fortunate current circumstances allow this).

JBFletcher That is inspiring - working full-time plus writing 5 books in one year! Can I ask in which genre you write?

@Daphnesmate04 crime. My books will never win any Golden Daggers or any kind of awards, but they do okay.

@Daphnesmate04 and 5 was a typo sorry, I wrote 4 books last year!