Just checking in

I discontinued this blog back in 2009 since it served its purpose and I have enough to do already, but I happened to come across it today so I thought I'd post an update.

It is now about three-and-a-half years since I quit my day job. I am still supporting myself writing. I'm not exactly J.K. Rowling over here, as I often say when people are impressed by that, but I still have a roof over my head and food in the fridge.

I'm not going to lie--this is a hard way to make a living. You have to hustle constantly for work, and if you don't feel like working one day and have a deadline, you're stuck. It is not especially lucrative. However, I am doing what I love and have the flexibility to take off in the middle of the day whenever I want to balance out working until midnight.

If you are thinking about quitting your day job to write full time, my advice is: pay off your bills, get some savings in the bank, and make sure you have a plan and clients lined up before you do it. I also think it would be way easier if you have a spouse with a "real" job with benefits and a steady paycheck in case you have some lean times. In our case, my husband is doing the same thing I am so there have been some extremely lean times. However, we've made it this far, and I'm sure it will get better.

Thanks for reading!

Last post

Dear readers, I'm so sorry to leave you hanging. I was very busy during the month of November with NaNoWriMo and work, plus I developed tendonitis in my elbows--so the thought of adding any more writing to my daily load was distasteful at best. I have decided to discontinue this blog, since I accomplished my goal of leaving my day job. I will still post from time to time on my writing blog, Jennifer Gets Bloggy. If you have any questions or have a topic you would like to see me discuss there, please let me know!

Don't forget to visit my website and online content sites in the links on the side of the page. Thank you for your support during my journey!

Wednesday

Today I finished the piece for LEG and started gathering together the research I'd done for the one for Pacific Coast Journal and thinking about it. That's pretty much it!

Earnings: $75

Tuesday

Not a big day, but I did some work. I looked for more story ideas for thehorse.com and wrote the one they accepted yesterday. I started on a piece for LEG. Applied for a bunch of jobs on oDesk and Elance.

Earnings: $75

Monday

Today, I wrote my review for The Cassandra Cookbook by Shawn James for Apex Reviews. I also pitched some ideas to thehorse.com, they picked one and I started the research. I finished MM&M, which I already counted the income for, and sent it off. Oh, and last night I sent another query. Not a big money day, but I crossed a couple things off my list, which always makes me happy!

Earnings: $20
Payments: $364

How am I doing?

This was my worst week yet, so I really need to take up the slack next week!

Week of 10/19-10/25 Earnings: $530 Payments: $815

Wednesday through Sunday

Ouch, I have not been getting much done! I'm trying to get through my second pass at MM&M and did a little research. I taught two dance classes and DJed a dance. Oh, and worked on the e-book. Not a lucrative week. I resolve to do better, starting tomorrow! My horseysitting stint is done, which should help my productivity.

Earnings: $200
Payments: $750