For the last seven years or so, I have worked a retail job in order to fund my writing efforts. Writing, as it stands, is an expensive occupation to get into: editing costs are high, art is expensive, and as far as time goes… well, let’s just say you will never have enough time.
Then there are submission costs occasionally (I usually avoid those unless they also include feedback, which is something I tend to find very useful), and back when I started writing, postage. Less of that these days.
Anyway, so I worked a retail job at a small game store to pay for my writing and living expenses. I have a Patreon account, but as much as it means to me (SO MUCH!), the actual dollars I make is small. About $30/month at time of writing… and while I live a frugal, low-cost lifestyle, even I can’t live on that.
Today I gave my notice at my job. I will be working retail no more… and I have very mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, the company treated me pretty well. On the other hand, they paid me quite poorly for the amount of time and effort I pumped into the business. And if you haven’t worked retail at a small business, ye gods you work your ass off most of the time.
My direct manager said that he knows people who make three to four times as much as he does, and do a fraction as much work. Like, actual work-work. Which isn’t to say that they’re not working… but it is to say retail takes a lot out of you. It took a lot out of me for seven years.
But, as of late March, no more. I’m moving on to a small office job, just being a gopher and data-entry guy, and I am looking forward to it so much. It’s terrifying, because change is terrifying and I have no idea if the new place will be a good culture (say what you will about my current job and the insane amount of work, the company culture is really solid… good people, every one of ‘em), but hopefully a positive step.
And more writing! Woo! That’s the biggest plus out of all of this. For the last couple years, the amount of energy that my job took out of me meant way less time and energy for creative work. And now I have way more time for that! Fingers crossed I can convert that into sales and results!
Hope everyone out there is staying safe and healthy!