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Would you rather

On our video show, we try to ask authors interesting questions to get inside their brains a little bit.
Recently I thought of this one but I’d like to share it with you and get your thoughts.

Would you rather make $100,000 a year as an author/writer but you hate your job, you hate what you’re writing about, you hate the long hours, you hate your boss, you hate going to work every day.
Or
Would you rather earn$30,000 a year as a writer, work more hours then you would have any other job, obviously make a lot less money, spend more time with your family but call the shots on every single decision and for the most part be jumping out of bed excited to go to work every day and love what you do?

It’s a false choice because sometimes you just have to go for the money. Life dictates things. But reality might live somewhere in between.
Remember though if you can do it for a while and love it at 30 grand, you might be able to turn that into 100,000 and more. But you probably can’t if you go the other route. And that hate has an effect.

What are your thoughts?

34 replies on “Would you rather”

Working freelance is lovely in theory. Everytime I get bogged down in a full time job, I am tempted to go back to freelancing. BUT I’ve been there – it’s not easy. You always have to be hustling. Sometimes being a writer is about experiences and sometimes (not always) you need to have money to have experiences….and it’s hard always having to be the one to turn down a dinners out/holidays, etc because you don’t know where your next pay cheque is coming from.

Dan, would love to have your thoughts on this piece I wrote: https://rinsebeforeuse.wordpress.com/2016/03/31/therapy-professional-help-for-relationship-issues-or-lack-thereof/

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I think I would take the less money option. When I have more money I end up spending it on stupid things like expensive Kate Spade purses, eyelash extensions, gel manicures ect. I was listening to the radio and whomever was talking said going without material things builds integrity or words to that effect. So I pick the satisfied person that earns 30 thousand. Having said that could I really go back? Back to doing my own nails and cutting out coupons?

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Money. Fo Sho.
I know, because that’s where I’m at right now.
Well, I am not making 100,000 a year at my day job, but I do make enough to pay the bills. AND I’m working my ‘day’ job with the expectation that one day I will be able to do what I love.
When you have a family you gotta think about those dolla dolla bills, y’all. If a writer really loves writing, they’ll find time to squeeze it in. It may be a slower road, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

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It’s a false choice because sometimes you just have to go for the money. Life dictates things. But reality might live somewhere in between… I think you answered your own muse.
That’s like saying, you’re drowning in the ocean, how long will you cling to a board while a dingy passes by.
Yet that dingy looks very different from on the the deck of an ocean liner.
(Or maybe I just need to get some Caffine.)

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Who makes $30,000? I’ve heard the average writer makes $2K-$10K/year, and that refers to those who go the traditional route. Those $10K advances have shrunk to around $1K for many authors these days, so if they average two books in a year, that would be $2K. Then that advance is often the only money they’ll ever make off each book, unless they become that one in a million like Andy Weir.

If you’re making $30,000, my hat’s off to you!

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What do YOU think? Let me hear from ya.