1. CatnipCupid

    CatnipCupid Member

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    How many of you lovely people....

    Discussion in 'General Writing' started by CatnipCupid, Apr 22, 2013.

    ...make your living, or part of your living, from writing? How did you come about it?
     
  2. EdFromNY

    EdFromNY Hope to improve with age Supporter Contributor

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    As the lawyers say, the question has been asked and answered.
     
  3. CatnipCupid

    CatnipCupid Member

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    And now I'm asking. I am new here, and, frankly, don't have the time to pour through every damn thread.
     
  4. MHJr92

    MHJr92 New Member

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    I make my living from writing.

    Writing sales invoices.
     
  5. CatnipCupid

    CatnipCupid Member

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    Oh, I'm envious of you. What is a typical day like for you, if you don't mind me, or is it my asking?
     
  6. psychotick

    psychotick Contributor Contributor

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    Hi,

    I make a small income from my writing, not enough to live on but enough to keep the cats in catfood and pay a few bills. As to how it came about I wrote a book and then published it, and then I wrote another etc.

    Cheers, Greg.
     
  7. NigeTheHat

    NigeTheHat Contributor Contributor

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    I make all my living from writing, but it's advertising rather than fiction. It started when my boss at the time told me I had to write adverts for a load of products, so I bought a book and copywriting and did.
     
  8. erebh

    erebh Banned Contributor

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    I wish...

    but I doubt MJH's sales invoices are full of prose and flowery desrciption...
     
  9. thewordsmith

    thewordsmith Contributor Contributor

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    I do copywriting to pay the bills but, as erebh pointed out, that's not strictly creative prose to pique the imagination or tug at the heartstrings. Currently, what I make from creative writing is not exactly what someone might plan their retirement around!
     
  10. Anthony Martin

    Anthony Martin Active Member

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    Technical writing, some freelance work (mindless blogs that pay college loans) ... my income is entirely from writing though not creative writing at the moment.
     
  11. CatnipCupid

    CatnipCupid Member

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    It doesn't need to be creative writing, in fact I was hoping to read about the non creative variety. I have college loans as well from my BS in Library. You'll never guess why I chose library instead of English. Are you ready? College algebra. The library only needed basic math. Once I was about to complete my degree the English department dropped the algebra because they didn't see how it would be necessary. Isn't that a hoot?
     
  12. idle

    idle Active Member

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  13. CatnipCupid

    CatnipCupid Member

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    Thanks idle.
     
  14. Xatron

    Xatron New Member

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    I ghostwrite and translate part-time for now. The pay is by no means enough to make a living, but it pays some bills and my vacation.
     
  15. CatnipCupid

    CatnipCupid Member

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    Good for you! I'm proud of all of you.
     
  16. Logik

    Logik Member

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    I'm actually a multi-billionare author. Fact.
     
  17. Gallowglass

    Gallowglass Contributor Contributor

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    I've recently started sending short stories in to paid competitions. So far I've won a couple hundred quid, nothing major. Also I proof-read other people's writing for 11p per page, but only essays and advertisements and the like. And only if they can pay me in cash. I'm a tight b*****d, I want my money ;)
     
  18. CatnipCupid

    CatnipCupid Member

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    If you would've said a multi millionaire I may have bought it.
     
  19. CatnipCupid

    CatnipCupid Member

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    I don't blame you about being paid in cash, GG. Where do you find out about the paid contests?
     
  20. Mckk

    Mckk Member Supporter Contributor

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    I did not understand this post... what? When I think "library", I'm thinking of well, libraries - places where you go to borrow books. And when I think of "algebra", I'm thinking of maths in school like x + y = m2 or whatever it was. a(4+5) = 45. That's algebra. What's algebra doing in an English dept? And BS is usually short for "bullsh*t" :rolleyes:

    As you can see, based on all of that, I am rather confuzzled...

    And what on earth is "a hoot"? I'm guessing "a laugh"...
     
  21. CatnipCupid

    CatnipCupid Member

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    You're so cute. :)

    I guess University wants students to have a well-rounded education, but algebra? Come on! And, yes, BS does stand for bull sh!t. I see that now.
     
  22. Anthony Martin

    Anthony Martin Active Member

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    The most streamlined way, in my opinion, is to follow all the various literary magazines on Twitter--they usually make announcements about open submissions, contests and the like. Of course, there are the popular (in the U.S. at least) annuals like Carve Magazine, Glimmer Train, Missouri Review, etc. Most literary magazines do some kind of competition.
     
  23. CatnipCupid

    CatnipCupid Member

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    Thank you, Anthony.
     

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