Here’s What I Would Do If There Were No Money In Writing

Spoiler alert: I’d still be writing

My freelance business took a nosedive last year.

Based on the stories I’ve read online, I wasn’t the only one. AI made a big hash out of people’s content priorities, and there was a lot of post-Covid budget cutting going on. Things are improving now, especially as folks realise ChatGPT isn’t the wizard it was projected to be. But the experience got me thinking about possible forks in the road — and what I’d do if someday, theoretically, I had to earn my living doing something other than freelance writing.

One thing’s for sure — writing will always be a priority. No matter what job I take, I’ll want enough time to hone my fiction voice and create solopreneurship content that helps people. On the other hand, I have an irrepressible taste for international travel and single-origin coffee, so a certain dollar threshold also needs to be hit.

How, therefore, does one make both happen?

Here’s what I’d do.

1. Choose a job that creatively challenges me

I used to think the best jobs for writers were routine ones that let you “reserve” your creativity for the writing.

But I find that if you’re regularly brain-dead in one arena, it spills over to others too. I always felt drained after my dull, formulaic freelance assignments even though I technically wasn’t expending much brainpower on them, which made it much harder to write fiction after. The goal is to keep the creative juices activated so that I can reliably do some writing every day, even on the tough days. Plus? Chances are I’ll enjoy the challenging jobs better. Problem solving mode, baby!

2. Have clear money thresholds

At some point along any career trajectory, it’s always money wealth versus time wealth.

I’d have clear boundaries for how much I want to make from my job so that I can meet my needs (basic, savings and comfort) and have time left over for my writing. And yes, the comfort part matters here. Could I get even more writing time by having a spartan lifestyle? Sure. But I don’t want to. I do much better when my life includes travel, good food and the flexibility to buy a nice outfit or piece of decor whenever I like. So whatever I work on, I’ll put in enough time and effort

3. Set aside a sacred writing time

Two, actually.

One block of time for my literary fiction. Fiction will always be my leading love, and I’d want to give it at least 2 hours every day even with another job.

Another block for my content creation — on Medium or any other platform I might take up. I can’t do too much of this at a stretch, but an hour a day is non-negotiable.

4. Have solid transition routines

My brain doesn’t always do well with transitions.

If I’m to be moving from work mode to writing mode and vice versa on a daily basis, I need solid transition routines so that the context switch doesn’t jar and my brain is prepped for whatever is to come.

I don’t know exactly what this would look like for a non-writing job, but I’d imagine a good ten minutes to walk about, shake off, make a coffee, maybe read some material relevant to whatever type of task I’ll be taking up. A little extra time up front, a way more productive session to follow.

5. Look for passive writing income opportunities

Let’s be honest, everyone likes money.

I’d write even if I never made a dime off it, but payment would certainly sweeten the deal. And if freelance writing no longer exists, well, I’d find other ways.

Medium, of course, is a no-brainer. I’d also look for ways to monetise a newsletter or make money off social media content. Maybe create a digital product. Or I’d do something unconventional, like write people’s love letters for them. (Hey, it was a legit thing in the olden days.)

The point being — something as valuable as a way with words will always have market value. It’s just a matter of where to harvest those values.

6. Do weekly reviews

Ideally I should be doing these even now (lol), but with a non-writing job they’ll be crucial.

Every weekend I’d sit down, assess what I’ve done and study the patterns to see whether I’m getting what I need out of my work as well as my writing. Am I meeting the necessary goals in both arenas? Am I sacrificing too much of one for the other? How close am I to the time/money wealth balance I was gunning for? What does my mental health look like at the end of the day?

I’ve been stuck in negative patterns too long to want to risk any problems becoming chronic. If something feels off, I’ll address it right away.

7. Double down on mental wellness

Since mid-2018, writing has been my primary activity. Taking up a non-writing job would involve a heavy context switch, and I don’t know how exactly my brain would respond to that — especially in the early days when, presumably, I’d be learning the ropes around the skills that the new job would entail.

I can’t skip the hard part. But I can make it easier on myself by investing in a high baseline level of stability and emotional regulation. I’d make sure I’m

• Doing my journalling
• Getting in my exercise and healthy eating
• Checking in with myself about my moods and emotions
• Maintaining my slow mornings
• Giving myself permission to rest whenever I need it
• Having downtime activities during which to reflect, ideate or simply be

The calmer and more mentally anchored I am, the better I’ll be able to weather bumps.

Anything could happen, and I’m cool with that

Even if this particular AI boom doesn’t obliterate writers, the next one might. Or the one after that. The universe of possibilities is constantly expanding and there’s really no certainty in any career anymore.

Rather than be scared, though, I like to see the flip side — which is that my universe of possibilities could expand too. Someday I might voluntarily opt for other careers — fashion design, for instance, or opening a restaurant. I might get a lucky break on social media, start coaching — heck, I might even win the lottery and retire in a Himalayan log cabin. And that’s okay. Because I know that no matter what, I’ll make sure writing always has a place in my day, even if the texture of that place evolves over the years. Will it be easy? The opposite, in fact — it’ll mean longer workdays and greater potential for stress and burnout. But with the right systems, routines and wellness practices, I know I can make it work.

Because writing isn’t just a career path or a passion project to me. It’s who I am. It’s who I’ve always been.

And you don’t negotiate with things like that.