Why I Love My Job as a Free Lance Writer and Novelist

I'm a free lance writer and a novelist! It still astonishes me when people actually want to read what I write.

I have always enjoyed writing. Some of my positions and businesses made use of my writing skills but this is the first time I have done nothing but writing. No answering the phones, no greeting customers, no telemarketing, no face to face sales unless I choose to sell my books at a book fair and no making sure the office is clean before the customers arrive.

I am in control, (well sometimes my characters are, but that's another story).

I control the hours I work, the assignments I accept, what I wear, where I work, when I eat, and the twists and turns of my plots.

I work best without distractions, so whenever I plan to work I make sure my phone's ringer is off. If anyone comes to the door, I ignore it. The dogs are fed and walked before I begin.

On the other hand, I can goof off and call it 'seeking inspiration'. Nobody can tell me that sitting on the back deck with a cup of tea on a beautiful day or watching a good movie on a rainy afternoon isn't helping me get over that creative block.

I can do the wash, weed the garden, take a nap, pet the dogs, prepare meals, and visit my favorite neighbor whenever I want.

My novel plots and characters enthrall me. It's like entering a whole other world and time as I develop settings and cliff hangers.

For me, this is a dream job; for some it can be a nightmare. You must love research, and be dedicated, well organized, thick skinned, decisive, and ambitious. At times, you will work for practically nothing, you may feel unappreciated, and you may submit articles or novels with nothing being accepted for publication. You must be willing to work long hours with little or no compensation.

You must enjoy long hours of isolation. Human interaction can be found online in writer's forums and social sites but these sites can be addicting. You need to know when to break away and actually write. I try to spend no more than two hours a day on those sites and, if I am involved in a novel, I may not visit them for weeks at a time.

If you are not passionate about writing and if you are unwilling to swallow your pride to accept criticism in an effort to improve your writing, you will not make it. While you must believe in yourself and your talent, you must also have to humility to know there is always room for improvement.

If you are like me and are obsessive about writing, you may find this to be one of the most rewarding professions you can have.