When the aspiring writers have left the building...

[Nesacat]

My workplace is one of those where everyone is like family and we go on trips and out for meals. I guess it makes sense since we work at least 12 hours a day and probably see each other more than we see our families.

Other than groceries and book stores I only leave home late at night or in a storm when everything is shut or no one is out and about.

 

[Steve Jordan]

I work as a graphic artist and web designer, and I'm doing that from home as a freelancer just for the summer. (And no, I'm not looking forward to the fall!)

When I'm not lurking around here, I spend a lot of time hanging out at Mobileread, a site dedicated to discussing and promoting e-books (which is how I sell my novels). I know, not much love for e-books around here, but there it is.

 

[ShannonMRush]

I'm new here, happy to have found an aspiring writers forum.

I also work from home, as a photographer and a virtual content creator.

 

[Mary Hoffman]

I love working from home but it has its pitfalls. Like writing this post instead of my novel. But it's so nearly finsihed and I'vre been at it solidly for so long inclusing all weekend, so my motivation is a bit weak today.

I like working with people but not for them. I have had jobs in offices but since I am task-oriented reather than time-oriented I used to get everything done by lunchtime and then be bored. I work best in short intense bursts. And the cameraderie comes from people in my writers' group.

Mary

 

[jackokent]

Since joining chronicles I've found it really hard to:

A) work at home ... because of Chronicles just sort of being there on my computer

and

B) to write anything ... also because of Chronicles just sort of being there on my computer.

I am perfectly able to work at home any time in theory but in practice I get very little done as I get distracted by this site.

I think Chronicles should come with a health warning

 

[HoopyFrood]

That it should!

I guess I technically work at home, seeing as I do all my university work/essays/reading at home (and as of September, in my new home in Exeter!!) However, as Jacko says, when I'm supposed to be working/writing/reading, the Chrons always beckons. Methinks I'll have to slap a time limit on my chronning soon, when the second year officially starts!

 

[jackokent]

That it should!

I Methinks I'll have to slap a time limit on my chronning soon, when the second year officially starts!

I tried that. It doesn't work

 

[WriterDoug]

I am astonished that so many of you have or had the luxury (if one may call it that) to work from home; I always figured this was an uncommon thing for people to do!

What am I doing when I am not active on this forum? I wish there was much to say, but sadly you could sum it up on the back of a packet of matches. Eat, sleep, look for work, write/ read, and online gaming late at night.

I am currently in the process of becoming certified to teach English (at the highschool level for now, but I would love to teach creative writing at the university level once I have my Master's in English Education completed) in the state I reside. I guess one could say I'll be working a lot from home if you count grading papers and devising a creative curriculum!

Cheers,
WD

 

[dustinzgirl]

I am astonished that so many of you have or had the luxury (if one may call it that) to work from home; I always figured this was an uncommon thing for people to do!

What am I doing when I am not active on this forum? I wish there was much to say, but sadly you could sum it up on the back of a packet of matches. Eat, sleep, look for work, write/ read, and online gaming late at night.

I am currently in the process of becoming certified to teach English (at the highschool level for now, but I would love to teach creative writing at the university level once I have my Master's in English Education completed) in the state I reside. I guess one could say I'll be working a lot from home if you count grading papers and devising a creative curriculum!

Cheers,
WD

You can teach high school online also and work from home that way. There is also a need for writing assignments and tutorials online for kids, I've seen those projects a lot at guru.com and elance.com I just never take them because I'm not a teacher. There are some benefits to freelancing, I make my own hours, I can yell at everyone in my office without getting fired, and my cafeteria is always stocked with my favorite foods, LOL! Course, the down side is that everyone says "Here, go do this since your not doing anything IMPORTANT" What, like paying the bills?

 

[Interference]

I work in my head and write on a laptop. Unfortunately, I also work at work, because if I didn't they wouldn't pay me and I wouldn't have a laptop.

Happily, though, my place of gainful employment doesn't tax me too seriously and, except at certain times of the year, I can usually put in my Chron time there. This week, with the manager and secretary both on holiday, I've been getting work done on a story I thought of last week.

Mostly, though, I write at home at the weekends, sometimes in the evenings after work and at times I would otherwise consider Wasted Time - on trains, bank holidays, while ill.

Last year I very nearly quit my job, sold my house, bought a flat and turned to writing full time. Then I got a pay rise. Bastards!

 

[Piyi]

LOL. I don't leave my house except to buy groceries and I think it's great I hate having to go out and deal with the world and that's one thing I hated about having to work at a workplace too - the politics. I loved having people to interact with and talk to but when they started acting like "people", it drives me nuts

I only wish I can do that. I'm more antisocial myself; I prefer staying at home than going out with other people. Like if people at work/school invite me to a party, I initially get this sinking feeling and immediately try to come up with ideas on how to get out of it. I actually liked going to school, and interacting with people in school, and I can even deal with work on a part time basis... but I'm dreading the time when I'll have to work full time--I know I am not going to like that! My boyfriend's agreed that I can work part-time though, after I get my loans paid off (he's also a loner like me, though not as bad as me). So... hopefully, ~five years after I'm done with school, I can spend more time doing the things I want instead of working! I can't wait!

 

[Interference]

but I'm dreading the time when I'll have to work full time--I know I am not going to like that!

I was just like you when I was your age - or when you're my age or if I'm not already, but you are.

Point is, I didn't think I'd be able to handle full-time work because of terminal shyness, but the fact is you get to know one or two, get to like some of them and they're the ones you stick around with most. I currently manage a staff of 20 and feel fine with each of them because I like most of them. Which is what makes me a bad manager, I suppose. Anyway, change of subject ...

I came to the conclusion, relatively recently, that with strangers I'm fine if I have a role to play. If I don't know what my character is, I freeze like a frozen jellyfish. So in a large group, if I have a camera in my hand or notes to read from, I can do just fine. I can teach, I can publicly speak, but I can't introduce myself to people at parties, which is why I never go to parties and get really embarrassed when I'm invited - the person might actually like me to be there, after all.

I don't know if writing and self-esteem issues are that closely linked (I know plenty of people with low self esteem who never wrote a word in their lives, but probably have some other release valve) but with writing being such a solitary passtime, and Fitzgerald and Hemingway notwithstanding, it must appeal greatly to people who only like getting really close to vast castlists of people in their imaginations.

I suppose, just to stay on-topic, a lot of aspiring writers just don't leave the building in the first place?

 

[Anne Lyle]

I don't know if writing and self-esteem issues are that closely linked (I know plenty of people with low self esteem who never wrote a word in their lives, but probably have some other release valve) but with writing being such a solitary passtime, and Fitzgerald and Hemingway notwithstanding, it must appeal greatly to people who only like getting really close to vast castlists of people in their imaginations.

I don't have problems with self-esteem, but I agree with Jane Austen: "I do not want people to be agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them..."

Anyway, when I'm not here (and I only found the place yesterday!), I'm in the office working on my day job (web developer on a major genomics project), or hanging out with writer friends here in Cambridge, or maybe browsing Forward Motion (a website for writers), or of course writing my novel. Sometimes I do my writing out in the garden, talking to the chickens...

If I'm really stuck I may actually do some housework, but that's pretty low on my list of priorities

 

[KSeriphyn]

Answering the original question...

I play around Red Bubble, been doing bookcover work and writing.

 

[quidscribis]

I work from home, mostly making sure my hubby is fed, clothed, and watered, although I do the occasional writing and editing as well. And I rarely go out except for grocery shopping. We're firmly dedicated to the art of being housebound.

 

[Green]

I'm a chemical process modeller. Which basically means I sit in front of my computer, just like everyone else these days

 

[Commonmind]

Wow, quite a revival. I guess I could almost answer my own question here, since I took a hiatus from both the Chrons and writing itself. I hit a bit of a roadblock with my current project, both myself and my partner found ourselves a bit overwhelmed by the reality of real life and lost touch with our characters and story. He with a medical condition, and myself with the stresses of parenting. I'm glad to say that I'm back in the saddle, as the old adage goes, and have been getting to work on finishing our book. It's nice to see your faces again, old and new.

 

[ragnarblackmane]

Sadly, depression has taken its toll on my creativity. Luckily, I feel a bit better right now.

 

[WriterDoug]

I have also slammed into a wall with writing my horror-comedy novella. Something about it turns me off, though I absolutely adore the concept--

Commonmind is in Florida? I generally look at what people write for their "Location" out of curiosity, so I wonder how I missed that one for so long! Mind if I ask whereabouts in this land of low employment opportunities and sky-high property taxes you are living?



Cheers,
WD

 

[Commonmind]

Daytona Beach, for the last seven years.