Q&A - Income Streams

Cobbling together a writer's life

Photo by Tanya Nevidoma on Unsplash

This question was emailed to me from a subscriber. I’ve edited so it’s a bit more general—although I think others relate to the specificity of this. So many are in this place of trying to lash together work/career with writing at its centre.

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Question: I’ve seen your Q&A prompt on the Unschool, and it made me think to reach out with a bigger burning question.

I have a Master’s degree in publishing where I focused mainly on editorial, and ultimately completed a joint editorial and marketing internship. From there, I pivoted toward document production for heavy industry corporate, and have been job hopping in that capacity for nearly a decade.

Simultaneously, I’ve regularly done freelance editing on the side, mostly formatting academic theses, English language editing of scientific manuscripts, and formatting references for journal papers.

However, my heart truly does lie with publishing and the creative/artistic, and I now would want nothing more than to leave the 9 to 5 corporate life behind and work either in publishing with my own writing projects on the side, or else to freelance write and edit outright. I’m just genuinely unsure how to go about this after having done the corporate thing for so many years now combined with 2 maternity leaves!

After several years of thinking about it but not acting on it, inspired a ton by your writing and your stories of when your kids were young, I’ve allowed myself to steal time away while working from home some days and started my own Substack last month. I want to keep this momentum going and channel this energy into establishing freelancing gigs, if only I knew how to create a plan to land freelance editing work (my ideal would be copyediting/proofreading for nonfiction and memoir).

Apologies for the essay, as I know my question is multi-layered/not straightforward.

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Answer — or ‘mullings’ —

Yes, a multi-layered question. But it reflects the reality of artist-making-a-living.

My own income streams are distributaries! And tributaries. All are writing-connected. It’s taken decades to bring this together, years of writing in multiple genres and forms for all ages, years of intense teaching and workshop-facilitating, freelance editing, book reviewing, etc.

And having children doesn’t make it easier. Not that I’d change a thing about that.

Some ideas—

We live in a world that is much changed thanks to computers and social media, and now AI. One of our Unschoolers here was doing regular work as a ghost-writer. But in the past year the company that she worked for, which connected people with stories to tell with writers who could do just that, decided to turn this work over to AI. This is a terrifying reality. There was human-connection between story-holder and writer—and that is now gone.

The more “human” we can be, the better. In both our writing and in our approach; it’s our only defense against AI. It’s what AI isn’t.

I’ve re-read your question to ascertain what you’d most like to focus on.

So I’ll start with your words close to the end of your question. It’s telling that it is close to the end… after you’ve gathered your thoughts. To have such mulling in your “career journal” points to possible direction. Which leads me to a—

Side-note: Something to think about might be to use the idea of a process journal for this part of your writing life—that is, a journal dedicated to developing the “career” piece, using the same principles of observing strengths, areas on which to work, goals… Note what you most want to work on—and we know you have more than one possibility here, so list in order of significance (as you are thinking, at this point in time). If doing in a hard-copy notebook, leave a page for each. If digital, same. Space to think in ink.

Copyediting/proofreading for nonfiction and memoir

This is your “ideal.” I feel like a miserable messenger here… but AI is doing (has already done?!) damage to this. One can even “edit like a human” using AI. Yes, there’s a button to click for that.

I like to think there are things that humans can do that AI can’t—fiction and memoir, in particular. But on budget lines for many businesses and even individuals, I suspect that copy-editing/proofing will be turned over to machine, and substantive editing—for now—will continue to be the human piece. Some businesses may still want a human eye over-seeing this level of writing process, though. How knowledgeable are you of AI capacities? To add to what you can offer?

It’s the nature of the writing in question: fiction? memoir? nonfiction? corporate? That’s when your words about “creative/artistic” stand out.

Cold Calls

In my experience, it’s always taken 2-3 years to establish a new piece to my writing life/income streams. Knowing this has made it easier to go on through early months of “new.” I give it time.

Often, it seems, others need to see your name enough to gain a sense that you’re around, and have been around, and are not going to disappear. (Maybe this last more than anything!)

As you know (you’ve been here awhile), I struggle with the promo thing. I’d rather be writing. So perhaps for others who are more open to self-promotion, it’s more like 1-2 years. Again, something I’ve come to accept. And again, Time.

But the urge to be able to write and have freedom from the crazy work-world is a powerful motivator. And people need to know you’re out there, willing to do what you can do, and willing to learn beyond that to meet their needs, too.

Reach out with a clear and succinct message. Let others know what you’ve done, and what you can do. It takes time to put together a thorough list of anyone you’ve ever worked for and with, and it’s tough with maternity leaves and such resume/CV breaks. But have you kept in touch with any contacts since your degree time? I used to counsel my students to stay in touch with each other. The real value in any program is the people, the connections made, the friendships.

I had to emphasize “thorough list.” Often, with such initial notes, I’ll ask people to please spread the word, and I’ll also give them an out—let them know I’ll remove their name permanently from the list, if they ask. You want this list to be comprehensive; you have no idea who needs what, or who they know. Let go of your preconceived ideas on this. Contact everyone. (Which will motivate you to be succinct—don’t waste anyone’s time.)

I think we’re all hungry for connection. So even if connections have lapsed, consider reaching out. Some people—most, I hope—will understand what it is to have children, and the time and energy that goes in to this significant piece of life. Share where you’re at, and what you’re hoping to do.

Since covid, some publishing companies have opened to working from home, which has created more options. To begin relationship-building—if you want to return to the editing or marketing piece. And to reach out to companies—not necessarily publishing—who might be able to use your writing skills.

And reach out more than once. In that journal, list responses, and when you might need to be in touch with someone, and all those stray thoughts of who you should add to the list and what to do about exhanges and questions… I find that when I begin an income stream, my brain has to take on a new set of habits, and there’s an adjustment period.

Warm and professional

We live in a world of crickets—no one responds to anything anymore. So be the outlier here, and respond to others. The human warmth of sharing you’re a mom can be tempered with a professional edge; I do think the combining of these two—warmth and professionalism—goes far. Demonstrating that you communicate (wow!) sets you apart from the pack.

In our email, when you first sent along your question, I suggested that you access the Quill & Quire job board. This is Canadian, yes, but American readers might have some equivalent. Again use your career journal to note intentions, tasks completed, and results, and review frequently. Learn how this business-thing can work either with or against your creative needs. This is key to your personal burn-out knowledge—do you understand how you burn-out? You need to know this, or know that a loved one knows the signs and will alert you. That journal will give you this insight.

Are you best doing a bit of “business” each day? Or dedicating a day or two of the week to it? Is it best done first thing in the morning? Or should that time be reserved for writing?

If you feel you need a real “burst” to get the business piece on track, and generate income, can you dedicate an amount of time—a week, a month, more—to this, and set aside your own writing? Or does that sort of time wear down your creativity—in which case, can you dedicate even a half hour (15 minutes) per day to your own writing? Life is hectic with little ones. Days can pass in a blur.

Multi-tasking

Again, this is about knowing yourself.

It’s difficult to make a living as an artist without some degree of capacity for multi-tasking. Since having three children, I’ve long been at a point where I CAN only multi-task. Staying focused on one thing isn’t easy for me.

So each day is spent with a portion of time on my current novel as well as working daily on The Unschool, as well as doing promotional pieces for my new novel just released. In addition to that I might be working on a picturebook or re-writing one, working on a paper for a course I’m taking (which is related to the novel as well as one particular picturebook), possiby a book review… On a day spent entirely focused on the novel, my brain is not fit to drive a vehicle at the end of the day!

But if you struggle to multi-task, then consider dividing your week into days assigned to certain areas. Over the course of the week, things will get done.

The need for “cold hard cash” —

Artists, for the most part, tend not to make a lot of money. We’re not the billionaires. But we can make enough to live an interesting life, with people we love. And have family and food and good books.

There may be times when you have to pick up some sort of non-writing-related work. I know I’ve had to in the past. So be it.

In the comments we could list such. (The current election here in Canada reminds me that, for some writers, elections are sources of funds. My musician son gets some cash-injection doing event work—setting up festivals and such—which might mean a week or two of 14-16 hour days to fill his bank account for a bit. Or “extra” work on film sites. Selling old books online… Other ways??)

OR you might want to focus on writing or editing of various forms, and create that as a business, along with a website and presence as needed.

This decision—the nature of an earning piece aside from any creative writing—is a point of choice. There are only so many hours in the day.

Perseverance… or is it persistence…?

An online definition: Perseverance and persistence are related but have subtle differences. Persistence is about continuing an action or course of action, while perseverance is about overcoming challenges and hardships to achieve a desired outcome. Essentially, persistence focuses on doing something repeatedly, while perseverance focuses on enduring difficulties while doing it.

I’m hoping others will weigh in on this, too. Each path is so different. Each holds elements of choice and chance.