Where do I find the motivation to pursue writing when everyone says a writer does not earn much?

Hi Joey!

I don't know exactly what you're planning to write about, but I believe you could try to think of your part-time jobs not as something between you and your dream of becoming a writer. On the contrary, it could serve a source of real-life experiences and inspiration for better writing!

Try to start with small plans with regards to writing, but make this something constant in your life, and then grow it over time. Set an achievable target for how much you should write every day or week, and stick to it. The motivation to pursue your dream will need to come from within, so every time you are tired from work and yet you manage to find the force to write some paragraphs, that's a small win. Think of becoming a writer as accumulating thousands of small wins.

The fact that you are already aware that it might not be easy to conciliate part-time jobs with your dream of writing is a great thing. You're less likely to give up when facing the adversities that will come. The difference between success and failure is that those who achieved success have always tried one more time... Whatever your final objective is, just be prepared to adapt and contour roadblocks. If you don't give up, one way or the other you will get there!

All the best in your endeavor!

Kind rgds,

Rodrigo

PS: I started working full-time during the day when I was 16 and never stopped since then (I'm 34 now). I really needed the money. In parallel with that, I studied for more than 10 years during the evenings. It wasn't soft routine and I've gone through many moments in which you just think about giving up. Lot's of things went wrong or in an unexpected direction. But in the end, I graduated in Management and in Engineering and still grew considerably in my career. ;)

There are three issues to address with your question. But first, some background.

I've supported myself as a writer for decades. I managed this by working in multiple areas of writing. I've written animation, TV, film, comics, graphic novels, videogames, mobile games, and non-fiction educational books. Yes, it's difficult. It's difficult to break into any of those fields. Earning a living this way tends to be a cycle of feast and famine. There are good years and terrible years, but I've always managed to survive.

There are plenty of professional writers, especially novelists, who have had good writing careers while holding down day jobs. They find the time to write. No, they MAKE the time to write.

To get back to the three issues in your question:

MOTIVATION: I'm going to be blunt with you, Joey. If you're worried about having sufficient motivation to write, then you're not destined to be a writer. A writer HAS to write. A writer is DRIVEN to write. Someone who is truly a writer can't be stopped from writing. If you don't have that passion and that drive, forget about being a writer.

MONEY: If you're only looking at writing as a way to make money, find another career. Maybe that wasn't how you meant it, but being driven to write isn't about making money. It's about having something to say and a unique way to say it. If money is your main concern, seek out a career that will provide you with economic stability. Someone who only writes for money is a hack.

GOAL: You didn't indicate what type of writing you wanted to do. I listed the many types of writing that I've done. Are you thinking purely about novels? Are you considering other areas of writing? What about journalism or marketing? If you still think you want to be a writer after what I've said above, then you need to decide what type of writing you want to pursue, do your research, and learn everything you can about that type of writing. Not only the creative end, but the business end. You need to understand the business to succeed, but you need to write what you're driven to write, not what you think the market wants.

And one final thing, stop listening to what "everybody says...." Because everybody doesn't say that.

If this is your dream, I say go for it. What I question is why are you hanging around people who don't know what the writing life is all about and who want to crush your dreams because they don't think it's a legit job when there is more than just writing a novel when it comes to writing