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I'm not sure where to start responding to these comments but I will. There is much to think about. I will be back
posted by
Azur
on November 14, 2005 at 12:41 PM
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I once prayed to God in Eugene, OR for direction - flipped a coin twice and wound up in Whittier, CA with a wonderful job taking care of 7 Golden Retrievers as a result. My "advice" is to "call it heads" and let the "source of all evil" land wherever it "May" ... I shake the die on a
Prosperous freedom from the 9 to 5 "ball-and-chain."
posted by
cmoe
on November 14, 2005 at 9:26 AM
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>:-} tough call... I'm dragging my feet on this one, not been able to keep
up with my reading... Hate to say it but the stability of the 'regular' job and its accompanying paycheck have their draw. If you go the independent route and it all falls apart financially, what would you 'plan b' call for? May help to consider this.
posted by
wiserabbit
on November 14, 2005 at 4:50 AM
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MayB
I would definitely choose the stability of a regular paycheck. Then, I would spend a little time in the evening and weekends working on the side project that is the dream.
posted by
Joe_Love
on November 13, 2005 at 8:35 PM
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I've discovered that life comes down to finances. I've reached the bottom of the barrel and its not a nice place to be. Now I'm trying to get myself back on deck again and its not easy. So, while I would optimistically chose the writer's life, I guess I would always be thinking if I could manage financially. In then end, it is up to you. Go with your gut feeling - it never fails.
posted by
Ca88andra
on November 12, 2005 at 11:47 PM
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MayB-Follow your heart. Good luck to you.
posted by
Aria4
on November 12, 2005 at 7:46 PM
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MayB,
I kinda sounds to me that you have already made your desision but are still doubting it. Totally normal. (In fact, I'm sort of going through a similar situation right now) but maybe you should keep the job and write on the side for now. See where it pans out for you. At least you have the steady paycheck to rely on and then you can see where your writing leads you.
posted by
SpitFire70
on November 12, 2005 at 7:06 PM
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Well, I would say a family
needs one stable source of income. I am that source in my family, and that's why I have not finished any of my books. I plan on retiring early, but who knows if I will get the chance. My husband hasn't made much money in two years since he's started his own company. He's working on it, and someday he will. Basically I'm supporting his dream now, and maybe someday he will be able to support mine. We'll see what's in the cards I guess. Good luck with whatever decision you make
posted by
Flumpystalls3000
on November 12, 2005 at 6:38 PM
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I don't know
what your financial commitments are but I will say this. Following your dream now may be ruined by financial pressure before you've even begun. I don't believe the starving artist in the garret bit. Far more suffered depression and starvation than made it. Many made it only after they'd died. I believe that security is important for us to allow ourselves to write. If you do choose security now it does not mean the dream will fade - I think it will bring it into even sharper focus and be more achievable.
posted by
malcolm
on November 12, 2005 at 3:18 PM
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MayB, depends in part on size and nature of your financial obligations and
whether the frills in the job include medical insur, and if that's important to you. I have this dialogue with my offsprings all the time.
Thanks for visiting my Observatory Blog. ARGUS
posted by
ARGUS
on November 12, 2005 at 2:49 PM
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MayB
Aha, you are at the evil crosssroad. Can I stay true to my art, or should I take the pragmatic path for "security"? But you are so far beyond the very young who are trying to decide whether to be a writer or get a "real job", that I think it's a no-brainer. Be the best writer you can be. If you can make money from it, and keep your head above water, however "insecure" this path might be, then do it. Don't go back!
posted by
Hemlocker
on November 12, 2005 at 1:38 PM
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Mayb
It takes someone of a different breed to venture out and work on a commision only tpe of job. I have worked in my field for over twenty years, and is is strictly commision. I can tell you that I would never go to a job that paid by the hour, they can't pay me enough.
You earn what you are worth, you write your own paycheck. There are thrills and chills with a job like this. Not many people are willing to put the faith in themselves that is required to work at a job that pays that way. I personally like the feeling of "not knowing" what you will make. For me, it beats the usual, every week is the same amount paycheck.
You certainly have the talent to go out on your own.
posted by
TIMMYTALES
on November 12, 2005 at 1:23 PM
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Boy, MayB....That's a tough one....You're making me think hard....
I can tell you what my late father would have said, not that that matters. He would have told you to go with the job in the city where there is steady income and then he would tell you to find time to write on the side. But he was always so sensible and wise. Then again, it's sometimes wonderful to take a juicy risk. I will not advise you, but I wish you great luck...
posted by
MedusaNextDoor
on November 12, 2005 at 1:21 PM
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It's not an easy decision...there are plusses and minuses to both options. I think about rejoining the work force now and then...but after 13 years on my own...I'm not sure I could go back to that world.
posted by
Julia.
on November 12, 2005 at 1:15 PM
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Avant-garde, I think it helps to have a clear goal if you take such a risk
The other factor that you and me have in common is that we have young families to care for and so we have to be careful about not introducing unneccessary stresses which impair our ability there.
For some years I worked part-time and did my own thing part-time.
posted by
Azur
on November 12, 2005 at 1:03 PM
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Tapsel-T, I agree but then it's me and my decision ;-)
posted by
Azur
on November 12, 2005 at 12:59 PM
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Dave Cryer. It's a good thing I'm not looking to bloggers for an answer
As you say one of the biggest considerations is to take the path which will carry the least regrets
posted by
Azur
on November 12, 2005 at 12:58 PM
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Tapsie, it will indeed.
posted by
_dave_says_ack_
on November 12, 2005 at 11:57 AM
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MayB, it will be very interesting to see what you choose to do.
posted by
TAPS.
on November 12, 2005 at 9:00 AM
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It's a tough one. Faced with the same decision, I'd go it alone. My feeling is with the adage that you'll regret more what you haven't done than what you have done. I'd go it alone as a writer, try to make it. If the old job offer was to fade and the writing was to fail, I'd just do something else. But at least I would have given the writing my best shot. I'm not you, however, so I'll watch this space.
posted by
_dave_says_ack_
on November 12, 2005 at 6:48 AM
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May
We are more alike than you know. I'm in the same predicament, although my writing careeer is a little less clear. I've been doing EMS for 10 years and I am burned out. I had no family when I started, and now I have three boys under 5. I would love to stick around home now, earning money doing this and that. Keep us updated.
posted by
avant-garde
on November 12, 2005 at 2:53 AM
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BlancheDubois, I agree and that's why it's a tough one to call
posted by
Azur
on November 12, 2005 at 2:17 AM
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MayB
I'm usually good for at least one big one
posted by
mysteria
on November 11, 2005 at 9:28 PM
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Mayb,
What a geat dilemma to have! Whatever you choose, I'll be reading to see how it comes out. (Okay, so this is your life and not fiction, but still, it's a dilemma I would love to have).
posted by
Blanche.
on November 11, 2005 at 8:02 PM
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Mysteria, you've been waiting
to use that pic haven't you ;-)?
posted by
Azur
on November 11, 2005 at 7:52 PM
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Oh Dear! (((MayB)))
posted by
mysteria
on November 11, 2005 at 7:50 PM
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