As the pandemic rages on and I continue to work my job from home, I’ve come to the stark realization that I’m sure a few of you have hit during these strange and unusual times.
I really hate my job.
Okay, so maybe I don’t “hate” it, but I can honestly say that I’m considerably unhappy with it.
I’ve worked for the State of Florida as a programmer in some capacity for the past 9 or so years. I recently moved to a new department around a year ago, and while the work is interesting and the people are nice, I keep finding myself more and more dissatisfied with what I’m doing. I just feel burnt out and apathetic, which isn’t how anyone should feel while working.
In the past few years, I’ve entertained the idea that one day I would be a novelist. That I’d spend my days at home, writing in the morning and taking care of the house and spending time with my family in the afternoon.
I haven’t given up on that dream, I search for it every day. (Waiting to hear back from agents is the WORST)
But writing, editing, getting representation for, and publishing a novel is a very long and difficult process. I want it, really bad, but I know that if I want a career in writing, I need to diversify myself and my skills and expand out into a more traditional writing role until my books (hopefully) take off.
I’ve toyed with the idea of being a freelance writer in the past year or so.
The idea sounds exciting. The opportunity to work for myself and set my own hours and workload. It would also give me the ability to plot my own course for advancement.
Working for a static government entity for so long has it’s downsides, the biggest one for me is the nature of government all but forbids work based advancement.
I can bust my butt all year long, make huge advancements on projects, and be a team hero.
None of that matters though, because positions are static and pay rate is locked behind laws and policies. It makes it very hard for me to show up every day and give 110% when upper management barely knows who I am and would rather suck up and open positions above me in the name of saving budget.
But writing would allow me to be in control of that aspect of my career.
If I want to earn more money and take on bigger, more important jobs, I can do that! I can decide how much to push myself and directly see where that work pays off. I choose the clients and the projects that interest me or that pay in the range I want to get paid at. The only thing holding me back would be me.
I’m a very goal driven person, I like having a future road map planned, something to push forward with and to work towards. I like things with real world payoffs, not just “getting it done”
So I’ve decided that I’m going to work towards that starting today.
Short Term
For my short term plan, I’m going to read everything I can about copy writing, content writing, technical writing, etc.
I’m going to apply for every freelance gig I can get my hands on.
My goal is to make over $500 with purely writing by the end of this year.
That doesn’t sound like much I know, but it will help push me and keep me motivated as I learn the ropes of the trade and slowly build my name and portfolio.
Long Term
This one is a biggie, and I honestly hope I’m not setting myself up for unrealistic expectations but…
Come this time next year, I want to be able to quit my current job and begin writing full time.
I know. That’s a big goal!
But it’s honestly what I want to do, and even if I don’t make it exactly, I’ll still have good progress towards it regardless. It might take longer than that, but I want something close enough in the future to keep me pushing and motivated.
So that’s the plan. I’m gonna keep busting my butt every day to make it happen and I’ll be updating you all along the way.
As always, thanks for reading and I’ll see you next time!
John Dulak 