Those of you who have been with me for a while now know that I'm no fan of my day job. By no means is it what I ever aspired to do in life. It's stifling, boring and extremely stressful, but let's not get into that today.
I know one good thing that came out of it though: it led me back to writing.
I never thought of writing in any other fashion except that it was my outlet, something of a second nature that I not only used to express myself, but also something I truly enjoyed.
I've always written... for as long as I can remember, but only in the last two years did I start thinking that maybe I wanted it to be a career instead of just a hobby. This was what I wanted to be when I "grew up".
A writer.
They always say you'll enjoy your job if you truly love what you do. And I truly love to write. And I wish more than anything that it could be my "day" job.
But you can love more than one thing. And this is what got me thinking.
Since I'm not cut out for my actual day job, what would I be if I couldn't make a living from writing? It's good to have more than one dream, even while you're still reaching for the one you want the most.
I must confess - I have lots of dreams. I'll share one with you today.
If I couldn't be a writer, I think I'd like to be a chef or a baker... something to do with food. That would probably be my second choice. I like to experiment and create things from scratch... and thank goodness most of them have been edible... so far.
I wouldn't give up writing though... I think I'll always have that, even in the background... just because I don't think I can live without it.
And, of course, now I'm curious about you ;)
What's your back up plan? What else do you love to do? What did you want to be when you grew up?
38 comments:
Well, I'm only 21 so I hardly feel 'grown up' but... I'm working on my backup plan - going to school to get a BA so I can go into publishing (I just can't get away from this world!). That's my backup plan. SOmething else I'd love to do though is be a music supervisor. I think that would be awesome!
I'll admit, I have no back up plan. THIS is my dream. I will write until... ya know?
When I was younger, I was preparing to interview with the FBI and was in flight school. Ugh, yeah - far cry from the housewife and mom of three I am now LOL! Special Agent. . .That would be what I would do - no doubt:)
Check out this link, if you get a chance, writing nut. It's a video of Howard Jacobson giving tips on writing. I think you'd enjoy it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00dslsw
I'm having major confidence issues about my writing at the moment, partially because I think my 'back-up plans' seem to have done an exit on me! Anyway, hope you enjoy clip.
In high school, I had considered photography as a career. That didn't happen, but I still enjoy looking at life through the lens and finding different perspectives in the images.
I haven't grown up yet.
I actually love what I do at my job, so no pressure to make big money as a writing. I guess that's kind of liberating.
If you were a chef you could write cookbooks!
I wanted to be a vet, but I changed my tune when I figured out it wasn't all cute and stuff.
And now?? I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. ;-) I need to come up with a plan! I'm not getting any younger!
~JD
I'm actually pretty happy with what I do now. Maybe be a jazz singer, but that would just scare people.
I’m lucky too. I enjoy what I do.
I love writing and I don't mind what I do but it takes too much brain energy away from writing some days. I think if I knew I would never be a successful writer, I would go back to school and try to get a job with the FBI or be a psychologist.
I suppose I should have a backup plan--I may have had one at some point, but I forgot to write it down, which kind of blows plan A (of being a writer). I suppose I probably paint better than I write, but, I doubt I could support myself with that either...
Ironically, my first major in college was journalism...but then I got all practical and became a teacher. I loved it with a passion for 16 years...the 17th year I still loved my kiddos, but I was very unhappy. My principal was abusive to many of our staff...there was always unrest in the district. The ditrict flip flopped around on programs...I wasn't having fun anymore and I promised I would not be one of those teachers who was there for a paycheck...so I "retired" at 40. My dream job now would be anything to do with the publishing industry...If we lived near a city, I'd like to work at a publishing company or a literary agency... The thought of getting behind an author or a book seems very exciting to me.
Hmm, I always wanted to be so many things when I was a kid. Though at 27, I still don't see myself as grown up. That being said, one of the things that always intrigued me was being a Medical Examiner. The human body is fascinating!
In my dreamworld, I write and make music full time, do some volunteer work on the side, travel frequently, and own a dog who I spend a significant amount of time with.
My backup plan? I'm living the backup plan. I went to college, got a degree, and work in law. I write and make music whenever I can squeeze in the time, and I have 4 cats because they require less maintenance. I try to travel as much as my vacation time from work allows.
The backup plan isn't so bad. I love my life. :)
Life got in the way of my dreams and it took a lot of excavating to remember my dream of writing. My other great love is history. History and English! The writing dream came back to me as I was clearing out some old papers and found all the ink I had put to paper. Very Nostalgic.
As of right now, I'm a Journalism and Psychology major in college, not a freelance writer or anything like that. I hope to write and edit for various journals and magazines. I don't really have a backup plan other than that really...but you never know I just might find a second option tomorrow or the next day. :)
~TRA
http://xtheredangelx.blogspot.com
Then your day job has a silver lining! Like you, I've always written, but didn't take it seriously. Until a couple of years ago when I lost a little job I had while the kids were in school. I can't do nothing, so I took a course, started writing, and voila, I'm charging ahead. My hope for you is that writing will become your day job, and baking can become the hobby!
I've got lots and lots of interests and there are tons of careers that would interest me. Teaching (this is what I'm doing now), baking, computer animation, scientific research, graphic artist, marine biologist, horse rancher,...
That's funny. I always thought it would be neat to be a chef/baker too. Maybe it's a writer thing - we like the balance between creativity and having a plan (recipe).
Something working with animals. Maybe a zoo keeper. It's hard work for very little pay, but being that close to animals all day would be the only thing that could compare to writing.
I would be a tour guide for a major museum like The Metropolitan or the Louvre. That would be great ... walk around all day and look at art and artifacts and talk to people. Easy money.
Chekhov once said, "Medicine is my wife but writing is my mistress."
Reverse the gender words, and I guess that's me!
Thanks for your kind comments. I do hope you achieve all you set out to do. I retired early, now on my fifth career and enjoyed them all to varying degrees. Wanted to be an ice skater when very young, the only one I have never tried and a bit late now...
Hmm ... interesting question. Firstly, I have always wanted to do something with animals. My goal is to open a rescue center someday.
Secondly, I like to be a female James Bond. True. I think I'd make a jolly good spy :)
And thirdly, if I'm ever published, I'll be all of the above. Dreams are free right? :)
I'd love to be either a lawyer or an English teacher when I grow up. But since the Day Job isn't so bad, I'll stick to that and the Writing Dream for now! ;)
I have no plan except to do what I have to do in order to be able to write. That's its.
Right now I just started a day job that, while taking time out of my writing day, isn't too stressful and will help me to save up money for book tours. So it's cool, ya know? I can do it because it helps my writing ultimately. Whenever I have to do something I don't want to I just think of it in terms of how it's helping me write.
It's cool that you think of your day job that way too, that it led you back to writing. Good for you.
Jai
I remember ih high school someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I said that I just wanted to be brilliant. Now I am grown up and I have a long way to go.
I've been blessed a few times. My dream to own a bookstore came true and now to write. I don't like working for only money, I like more intangible rewards.
What a great post!
I've tired everything. I've owned a business. I've taken up painting. I went back to school to get a degree in English Lit. And now? Now I'm writing. And I love it!!! Just love it.
We must be twins! Writing and baking! I write and sell books. (not very many but who's counting) I make cookies and sell them (cookies sell MUCH easier and faster than books)
I work in childcare, which is something I never intended to do. Still, I enjoy it most of the time and the kids are great. I need to discipline myself and write more instead of just thinking about what would be great in the story....
Good luck!
Nice post! You know what? If you're creative (which obviously you are) you wouldn't have a problem with cooking and baking as these are creative crafts. RE: Your job: If you ask around, most people would tell you they don't love what they do. Most of us work to pay the bills :( Writing was an outlet for me at first. Then I discovered I really enjoyed it. I love the Arts and Humanities so I wouldn't mind working in a museum, art gallery, or concert hall ;)
I loved what I studied: Romance Languages & Italian Literature...too bad I'm not working on my field :(
I have no back up plan. I turned to art for a while but now that I'm back to writing, I'm not giving up. I love it too much.
I'm sorry you don't like your job. I hope your writing dreams come true. In the meantime, keep cooking and baking.
I love cooking, but I don't think I'd want to do it for a living. If not teaching or writing, I don't know what I'd do. I'm enjoying the mothering thing but it doesn't pay very well money-wise.
I frankly speaking have no backup plan. As I teach Creative Writing, I probably would be a teacher.
Please add the Helping Hand Award to your sidebar and pass it on.
Yup I always thought I'd write at some point. When I found I had trouble looking for a job I didn't want anyway, I decided it was time to finally really try it. I haven't looked back. I'm fortunate to be able to do that and I know it.
Hmm, all other careers pale compared to writing. I don't know, I'm sure I can do a lot of other things, but writing's the only one that really fits.
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