Is this a good idea??????

Question

When I grow up i want to be a writer. But i don't think i can just be a writer. Because doesn't it all depend on when you get a book out there or a contract? So i was thinking on getting another job that is kinda like a side job but not, like being a teacher or a veternairy assistant. Being a teacher i'll have christmas, spring, and summer break to work on it and after i get home from work of course. But in reality writing will be my main profession. I just want to know if this is a good idea or should i plan something else.

Yes I'm going to college.

Answer 1

Being a teacher is a full time job.  Basically, you get so much time off because all you do is grading after work hours.  Consider it in lieu of overtime.  You need to do four years of College (in the US) or go to University (in the US and Canada).

A V.A. will also be full time but you will have evenings and weekends.  

If you want to be a writer, do it full time and make money...??  Well, let me put it this way: have you ever heard of the 'starving artist'?  

Writing is an art.

Answer 2

being an editor might be better - and being a tech writer would pay you more.   and still let you be a writer.

but it should all depend on how you enjoy spending your time.

Answer 3

Choose another profession, but write like you're a full time writer, too. Unless you get really lucky, it will take that kind of dedication. Stephen King, Mercedes Lackey, and a vast other assortment of authors I can name that now make their living strictly from their books held another job, and still wrote 35-40 hours a week.

If you don't want to do that, good luck on being that 1 in a million writer that strikes it rich some how. Actors, writers, etc that do the best, tend to treat it like a job.

Answer 4

Yes, you should plan on having another career at first -- not only will it pay the bills, which it is very hard to do as a writer, but it may also give you some good subjects to write about.  At the same time, you'll have to be disciplined about writing onthe side, because it can be hard to do anything around another full-time job.  Also, you should take writing-related classes in school to have a good sense of the fundamentals.  In any case, pick something that really interests you as a "side job" because it will take up a lot of your time and will either energize you if you like it or may drain you of energy and confidence if you don't.  

FYI, some writing gigs are more lucrative than others, but are very difficult to get (e.g., screenwriting and tv writing is good money if you can get hired, but there are thousands of wanna-be screenwriters without jobs at any given time).  I mention this because it might also be worthwhile to take a screenwritign class or two to see if you can (and if you want to) get into the business of writing material for other people for lots of money....

Answer 5

I am/was a teacher and let me tell you it isn't as easy as everyone thinks. It is a very time consuming profession. You are right that you will have a lot of time off...officially speaking but as I have already said it is more time consuming than most people think. I'm currently taking a break from teaching because the time demands were getting in the way of my family.

I used to get to work an hour early and stay 2 to 3 hours late and still bring work home. I worked on the weekends and on holidays to either try to catch up or get ahead. It was rough and my family suffered because of it. It also isn't just doing work for the classroom itself; it is also workshops that you have to attend in order to keep up your certification and most of those are during the summer and some weekends.

I would talk to a variety of teachers before you pick teaching as your major. Perhaps high school would be different but elementary school was overwhelmingly time consuming.

Answer 6

First of all, being a teacher is not a side job. It brings with it massive and huge responsibilities.

It might appear to you that you'll get time during the breaks, but I honestly don't think so. The christmas and spring breaks are quite short to be able to catch up on your writing. Summer break is the only time.

If you are planning to take up writing that seriously, then I don't think you should rely on only one month.

Answer 7

thats an awesome plan! u have my full suport!

Answer 8

Being a teacher would be an excelent profession if you would like to be a writer; however, you must remeber that you will actually have a busy schedule being a teacher as well, after school even. My grandmother was a novelist and instead of choosing to be a full time teacher, she was a substitute teacher instead. This way your job wont be as demanding, but still bring in a good living while you are writing.  

Answer 9

well, it isn't different than what many people do, such as Barack Obama, and many other politicians. i would not give up on your dream of becoming a writer, but would use your idea of having it as a side job, in order to adequately support yourself.

Answer 10

do watu want to dream of doin! i dream of makin my manga anime idea to come true! practice makes perfect! also pray to god an accept jesus into ur life ok! h**l make ur dream cometrue!!1

Answer 11

In my opinion, writing isn't a bad profession at all.  But yes, your income does depend on how well your book can sell.  Perhaps you should look into related fields, such as journalism.  If you decide to have a side job instead, make sure that it is something that you would like to study in college.  Just because teachers have christmas, spring, and summer off doesn't necessarily mean it's a job you should take.  Not to mention teachers also have to grade papers, sometimes over breaks (but that depends on the grade).  But if you really do love to write, then I would suggest you go for it, but make sure you have a safety-net in case it doesn't work out.  You should also research more on what kind of writer you want to be- it's more than just writing a book.  Check out the link below.

Answer 12

If you want to be a writer i say go for it if you become good it will all come in time!

Answer 13

Yeah I think the teaching job would be good. Because its steady, you get a lot of time off, and you get to change peoples lives.

Maybe your writing will improve too.

Answer 14

Yes! It's a very risky career, a few people can make a living off of it but most who try fail. Sad but true. I would go the teacher route because summer is a great long stretch where you can devote nearly all of your time solely to writing, but you can still make a living being a teacher for the other 9 months out of the year

Answer 15

I think it is wonderful to be a writer.  But doing so as your main profession won't work right away, unless you are independently wealthy to begin with.  It takes quite a while for a budding writer to be successful.  The field is very competitive, and it requires a certain skill that not everyone possesses.  You have to be prepared to receive many rejection slips before your work is accepted. You have to be able to "slant" your material to the publication for which you write.  There are other considerations, too numerous to mention here.  I am definitely not trying to discourage you, but I would suggest that you view your dream as a sideline to begin with.  You will need another source of income, but there is no reason why you can't write during your spare time.  The more you write, the better you will become.  In the meantime, be patient.  Even famous and established writers have suffered the pang of rejection, time and time again.  But one day you will break the barrier, and when you get your best-seller published, I will be in line at your book signing.  Good luck!  

Answer 16

I'm a teacher.  Vacation time is the wrong reason to become a teacher.  The work is very hard, and it's never about you.

I suggest writing freelance articles for the newspaper.  It will help you get experience and lead you in the direction you wish to go.  Some people take years to write a book, then getting published takes time too.  A vet asst.  has nothing to do with being a writer.  You would be going in two directions.  Why make things harder on yourself.  Try to find a job that allows you time to write.

Answer 17

you should do it if you really think it's the right place for you, in this kind of a job you can always upgrade your self

Answer 18

that's awesome! good luck!

Answer 19

Isaac Asimov, Robert Helinlein, Arthur C. Clark were all educators and became famous as writers. Not bad company to be in.

Good luck.  

Answer 20

omg, this is weird because this is what i want to do too.  well, i want to be a teacher becasue they get a lot of days off like u said, and u get benefits from the govt.

   i was planning on being a teacher as a back up plan, so if for any case i dont make it too far with writing, i'd still have a stable job.  and also, being a teacher, and writing is not bad since  teacher has a lot of free time.  ur not going to spend 27/7 on the computer writing, and u dont make money until u publish ur work.  so y not have a different job at the mean time, while still being able to write.