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HOW TO MAKE YOUR 8-TO-5 JOB WORK FOR YOUR WRITING
By JoAnna Haugen
Everywhere we turn, established writers advise us against
quitting our full-time jobs. Nothing is secure in the world
of writing, they say. With eight to ten hours of our day
sucked up by a job, though, how can we ever expect to seriously
pursue a writing career?
Working an eight-to-five job doesn’t have to hold you back
from your writing dream. Here are seven ways to get the most
out of your day job:
1. Absorb the company gossip. You don’t have to participate
in the trash talk, but hang out around the proverbial water
cooler and take notes on the love triangles and department
scandals. Real life can be stranger than fiction, and juicy
gossip is no exception. Use the stories you hear to spark
interesting twists in your fiction.
2. Write when you can. Build your portfolio by writing
articles or employee profiles for the company newsletter or
magazine. Let your supervisor know about your interest in writing;
chances are he or she will be able to utilize your skills and
interests in some way.
3. Use break time wisely. Instead of chatting with your
colleagues during your work breaks, use the time to get small
writing tasks done. This is an ideal time to conduct phone
interviews for articles, flesh out scenes or write shorter
pieces via pen and paper.
4. Note interesting characters. You know that 30-something
mom of four who flirts with the 20-year-old skateboard-wielding
copy room boy? Or how about the sleazy guy in marketing with
the handlebar mustache who tries to play footsie with all the
women in the boardroom? Note distinguishing characteristics that
define the unusual folks in your office and pull from them to
build intriguing characters once you’ve arrived home.
5. Listen. If you have a job that allows you to plug into music,
opt instead to listen to audio books. Ditto for when you drive to
and from work. What better way to keep up on the latest published
works than by “reading” while working and sitting in commuter
traffic? If your drive isn’t long enough to warrant sticking in
an audio book, listen to National Public Radio for the latest
news. Think about how you can use this information to pitch timely
localized or related articles to magazines.
6. Become an expert. Regardless of what you do at work, you
can turn your expertise into a story. Strive to learn the latest
news as it relates to your business sector then use what you’ve
learned to write for industry-related publications. Basic
information that you pick up on the job can also make for
fascinating pieces on specialty blogs or in general interest
publications. Ask yourself what the public would like to know
about your business and shape your stories accordingly.
7. Network. Introduce yourself to others when you have the
opportunity. Join industry networking groups, and foster
relationships that you can carry into your writing life. Don’t
be afraid to share with people that you are a writer. You might
be surprised to discover that some of your colleagues have side
businesses and are looking for writers with whom to collaborate.
BIO:
JoAnna Haugen built her freelance writing career while working
full-time in Corporate America. She writes the travel blog
http://www.kaleidoscopicwandering.com>Kaleidoscopic Wandering
and is a ghost blogger and copywriter for a number of clients.
Her work has appeared in more than 25 print and online publications,
including Cheer Biz News, Dance Teacher Magazine, Matador Network and
College Outlook.
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