Day Jobs

I know a lot of authors. Most of them have day jobs. Okay, all of them do except for three. Either that information tells you that I'm a loser with my social skills because I don't know a lot of authors, or else the writing biz just isn't all that lucrative. Sure, you may be right on both accounts, but actually, the answer is behind door #2 . . . writing is not a huge money maker.

I've held a lot of jobs in my day, from receptionist to day care provider to fast food afficionado at Arthur's Beef-n-Burger. Don't bother looking it up. It's defunct. Turns out, though, that I'm in pretty good company. Even big name authors held their share of day jobs, and if you're as nosey as I am, you're probably wondering who and what. Don't panic. I'm here to scratch that itch.

Steven King was a janitor at a high school.

Harper Lee was a reservation clerk for Eastern Airlines in New York City.

F. Scott Fitzgerald worked at an advertising agency writing slogans for trolley placards.

Jack London was an oyster pirate. Don't ask me what that is. Do what most savvy techsters do and Wikipedia it.

Charles Dickens labeled jars in a shoe polish factory.

William Faulkner served as a mailman at the University of Mississippi.

Ken Kesey, the dude who wrote One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, worked as a janitor in a mental hospital. I know, right?

Kurt Vonnegut was a used car salesman for Saab.

So you see, hitting the big time by selling a million copies does not necessarily make you a millionaire . . . but that won't stop a real writer from writing.