Nothing like a good dose of reality to shock the readership awake.

Quitting the security and sanctuary of a day job without having months of solid freelance work scheduled is daft. A great excuse for getting on the government dole perhaps but certainly not a wise life decision.

Kick-ass as usual Mark.

George

I may not be the best writer in the world but that doesn’t mean I can’t get better. Plus it is something I enjoy and I know it’s my own personal key to my own personal freedom. I look forward to the day when that transition comes.

Oh and I didn’t know that about Steven Seagal. I’ve only seen him in all those movies. Whenever I think of him I become wary of my arms… Please don’t break them!

An excellent response, and I am glad you are committed and moving forward. It is a big step going full-time, and it can be pretty frightening. The key is to be prepared, financially to plug any shortfall until you’re flying, and mentally for all that this career entails.

Thanks for your comments about my posts, that means a lot.

As a regular reader you know where I’m coming from with my posts. Anyone dipping in may think they’ve arrived at giveupwritingnow.com, but I just dislike all the happy clappy stuff that falsely paints writing as something anyone with half a brain can do, and thus sets many up for a journey into delusion and disappointment.

Writing can always remain a pleasant hobby, but when you go full-time it becomes a profession, requiring a professional attitude and genuine skill. You certainly read like you’ve got the wherewithal and the talent to win through. Good luck, Steve, you go for it.

Regards,

Mark

Thanks for the nice return comment.

When I “officially” went full-time on January 4 of this year, I decided that sinking or swimming would be my responsibility alone. If things haven’t been happening — and sometimes they haven’t — I know full well why: I haven’t done something, or haven’t done it properly.

I know one of full-time writer who makes (I believe) over $100,000 writinng ONLY for magazines. I know one copywriter who claims you can find — if you follow his plan — self-sufficieny in six months.

Basically stated, there are others who have done and are doing this and surviving and, as the old saying goes, if they can do it, so can I. And how does the other well-known maxim go? If you believe you can do it, you can; and if you believe you can’t, that’s true as well?

I didn’t dive into this prepared to throw in the towel when things got rough. Also, it’s a rarity (if ever) that I long for my “job” back. As Monica knows very well, I was anxious not only to get out of the job, BUT do what I love as well. When you get rid of something you don’t enjoy, you replace it with something that lights you up.

Maybe my grass was green getting a regular check and having taxes and medical taken care of, but my journey of weeding and working on the manicure of my “new” property will be fine.

I can do this.

Thanks again Mark. I always enjoy your posts.

Steve

I’ve not seen you comment before. Nice you should do so just to be negative. I completely agree that it is a personal choice whether to go full-time or not, and, talking about inanity, I find that comment pretty inane in its obviousness.

Yes, this is a perennial issue, and I was trying not to be hackneyed by suggesting a different mindset. Most writers yearn to go full-time and then can feel all angsty because it doesn’t happen. Such feelings can then start to infect pretty much everything you do, screwing up family time because you feel you should be at your desk writing. I would not presume to tell anyone not to go full time; I am saying that sometimes the idea of what may occur is vastly better than the reality, and thus you should count your current blessings and live in the present and not some fantasy future.

My intention on this blog is to offer a highly personal viewpoint based on a quarter century of professional involvement in acting and writing. I know what these pursuits can do to you, and I always strive to be honest about that. I won’t rose-tint that for anyone.

BTW, congratulations on posting my first openly negative comment. Keep ‘em coming.

Regards

Mark

Mark