Want to Write Full Time?…3 Questions You Need to Answer

Whether pounding out the Great American Novel or traveling the world to report on the people and the happenings of the day or redefining the classic Hollywood blockbuster, all writers dream of quitting their day jobs to write full time. If you're pondering this dream, make sure your eyes are wide open before turning in your two weeks notice.

How much money do you need?

Yes, the image of the starving artist might be romantic, but how many of us really want to starve for our art? If you're going to quit you full-time job, make sure you have enough money to live for a year. Average your monthly bills for the last six months to a year. See what you can change, such as exchanging a $20 movie night to a $3 rental and a bowl of microwave popcorn. Realize that you will automatically reduce or eliminate expenses like gas and transportation costs or dry cleaning when you work from home, but things like health insurance premiums go up when you have to buy a private policy.

Research what freelance writers charge in your area and set your prices accordingly. "Getting Paid…How Much is Enough," published here in April, can get you started. Don't feel bad if it looks like a part-time job might help make the transition to full-time writer smoother. Everybody has to pay the bills and it won't be forever.


Are you a salesman?

The biggest challenge for a writer is selling himself and his work. Whether you're a novelist, poet or freelancer, you have to convince someone to pay you to write. The first step to making a sale is making contact. A market search will help you decide whom to contact and when.

The second step is to learn how to pitch everything from an article idea to a book proposal. "First Impressions…The Article Memo" offers a technique for pitching magazine article ideas, while "Promoting Your Book…Whose Responsibility is It?" looks at book marketing.


The third step is to stay organized. Sites like WritersMarket.com, WordHustler.com and Duotrope'sDigest.com all have features to help you keep track of your market contacts and your submissions so you don't flood one market while neglecting another.

How do you feel about diversity?

Writing and publishing a novel or producing a screenplay can take years so you must be able to make money with your writing in various ways.

The most obvious way to make money writing is in the magazine and newspaper market. This market has the advantage of being large. There are literally thousands of periodicals published daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly. The editors seek a variety of topics. If you can think it up, chances are there is a magazine or newspaper that will print it.

Another way to use your writing is in publicity or public relations for businesses or organizations. Typical uses for a freelancer are for press releases, brochures, newsletters and marketing plans. You may be able to use your contacts from your former job to secure these kinds of assignments.

Speech writing, tutoring, editing, and grant writing (for yourself or others) are other ways that a writer can make money with his writing, while working on his masterpiece.


Writing full time is not like taking a long, happy vacation. Juggling assignments so the bills will get paid takes skill, determination and discipline. It is a job and it isn't always easy. Are you up for the challenge?


ED. NOTE: Thank you to Cec Murphey for suggesting this topic.