I see that Deb does some of the job listings and Jodee does others. Who is Jodee?

And thank you Jodee. Today I got another job thanks to you guys.

Kim > You sound my age, no offense intended.

It’s so much fun to see the different common responses people get.

I forgot to mention that one of my best friends does like to read my new(er) blog for writers (when she thinks of it), though she’s one of my few good friends who isn’t actually a writer…

I love this question! I used to be a reporter for People magazine, which started as a college internship and turned into a full-time gig afterward…and I LOVED telling people! It really validated the lifelong, “But how are you going to make any money?” question I got, even though, ironically, I was hardly making anything. When our bureau closed in February, I became full-time freelance. That’s when the blank stares started

Since I registered as a business, built a website and developed steady clients (thanks in large part to this blog!), however, the blank stares have turned to awe, like I’m rubbing elbows and clicking martinis with celebrities every day. Not so. But wonderful anyway, even if my fiance and family never read a word of what I write, unless it’s my fiction. Thanks for the great discussion!

I usually get positive reactions like “oh my god, that is sooooo cool.” Some of my friends still think I live the “artist’s lifestyle” by sleeping all day and typing with a pot of coffee on the desk and a cigarette dangling from my lips. They’re surprised that I actually work during the day.

I’ve been freelancing for seven years, and people still don’t understand what I do. Relatives ask when I’ll have a book published, or why am I not writing a book? Other people think that I should be able to fit an entire career into an hour or so a day. When I say I can’t do something for them because I have an interview scheduled, a couple have actually said, ‘Oh, where are you applying?’ I then explain (again) that I’m interviewing someone for an article, and I already have a job.

I have regular gigs, steady income, and I’m still asked ‘So what else have you done? Have you written for anything I’ve heard of?’

My husband is supportive, but he doesn’t read my stuff anymore. He sure likes when the checks come in, though!

I spent several years in the newspaper industry, and some friends and relatives seem surprised to hear what I do now (going on two years). Some are curious — or at least pretend to be — and ask questions. Mostly, though, when they hear I work from home, they are envious.

The few blank stares are mostly from strangers who don’t give half a hoot. Maybe I should say I write about sex, like Hayli said, and see what happens.

Totally O/T: It’s such a PLEASURE to visit this site and not get bogged down by posters’ bad grammar, misspellings and typos. I don’t try to see them in other types of forums, but I can’t help it! It’s an occupational hazard.

A handful of close friends and my boyfriend read my blog regularly. One of those friends reads practically everything I get published. My mother reads some, the ones I bring to her attention. As does my boyfriend.

But on the whole, considering the amount I write and the amount of people who are close to me, not many of them are “fans.” But that’s ok. I tell them general things like, “Hey, I got published in a European magazine!” and even if they don’t read it, they cheer me on.

Good friends.

When I wrote fiction I was sheepish when I’d tell people I was a writer, because I made virtually no money at it. It was almost like I was playing pretend.

When I worked for a small local newspaper, I felt insecure because people seemed to think I would be writing for something they’d heard of.

When I started freelancing, I made no money, wrote (rarely) for obscure papers, and felt like I was putting people on when I told them I’m a writer.

Now, people’s expectations are right up there with my own hopes. Now, the publications I write for sometimes even outdo their exotic ideas of what an amazing thing that being a “freelance writer” could be. But I’m still waiting for the money to catch up!

What I hate most is that people think I don’t work hard. That pisses me off. Like my ex (he’s not the only one) but he’d come home from work and say things like, “Oh, I work so hard all day — you’re so lucky” or people will say, “You don’t understand what it’s like to work all day” and nod their heads sadly at me.

I HATE that. I work double hard and I work under the constant pressure of no real job security, health benefits, or 4O1Ks. Technically most people don’t have 100% job security but I think it applies to freelancers more than others.

When I first started writing I was talking to someone who knew an author and he was also asking me a lot of questions about writing and genres.

It was a good job I had read up on my stuff and had just started a writing course. However, I felt like, oh gosh, what’s he going to ask me next… and most of all would I know the answer?

My parents, on the other hand, LOVE it and TOTOALLY GET what I do. My mom wants me to write and write and write! My grandmother was a published author of over 15 children’s books and recently died. My mom wants me to follow in her footsteps. Although blogs and content writing are much different than children’s books, it still makes her feel good.

I find it interesting that many of you have people ask how much you make. I would never dream of asking anyone how much money they make at any job.

I haven’t run into anyone yet who has given me the impression that they think I’m not really working. I do know a lot of moms who would love to have the talent to do what I do so they could have the same kind of set up – being home and having a very flexible schedule. I always feel a little guilty when I tell other moms how good I have it,

“What does “freelance” mean?”

and

“Why’d you quit your REAL job? Did you have a baby or something?”

Then they want to know how much money I make. After I tell them, they usually give up on the “real job” thing.

Others want to know what I do about health insurance. Some also ask if I have to pay taxes.

Some only hear the working from home part and automatically assume I’m available to take care of their kids after school or during the summer, or accept their packages when the UPS guy comes, or let their dogs out, or any number of other things I’d never in a million years ask someone I barely know to do.

My in-laws were very angry when my husband borrowed money to get internet (we had to pay 2 years in advance). They told him that he was being an idiot to believe that I could earn money by writing. And they were angry with me for making him go into debt. I paid that debt off in one month of working online! They still don´t think I earn, though. Frequently, my FIL will comment to my husband that he thinks I´m not looking after my children because I “just sit around playing on the computer”.

since I´m Canadian, I write in English, so no one here reads my work or blogs. My family in Canada doesn´t either. It would be nice to have someone to critique articles now and then, but I do ok.

My husband originally said he would believe when he saw the money, and now he is 100% behind me. He even quit his day job as a teacher (which he hated), so he can look after our sons while I work in the morning. At night, he is a musician, something he loves, but wasn´t able to focus on when he was the sole breadwinner.

My family are fine with it and say don’t work too hard. Yet, one or two of my partner’s family find it hard to believe I’ve actually been published… just because they can’t do it themselves

I think that’s what it is really, the people who can’t write can’t believe a person can actually make an income from it.

I need to be discreet about my writing when I’m at my day job. I work at a small-town library and I write erotica. I think people sense my reticence to talk about my work and they’re fascinated, and dying to know about my writing. Usually one of my co-workers announces that I’m a writer to a mutual acquaintance. When asked what I write, I’m vague. I say fiction. When asked if I’m published, I say yes. I can just TELL that people are dying to ask more. I say that I keep it separate from my day job.

Luckily I’ve had some very lucrative work writing stories for emerging readers, and I’ve had a news article published, so I can redirect the conversation there.

None of my offline friends read my work, ever. Since I think some of them would really enjoy certain stories or novels, it hurts my feelings a little. But I remember when I first started writing in 1999 with a big, sprawling, terrible fantasy novel, my good friends who all read fantasy wouldn’t take the time to read it. I just chalk it up to “one of those things.”

People who read my work first and contact me online might become internet friends. But people I meet in the flesh never want to read my stuff.