Comments on: 6 Authors Who Never Quit Their Day Jobs

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 18:16:35 +0000

Don’t forget the poet Philip Larkin – he worked as a librarian through his entire career.

By: Fred

Fred — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 20:51:46 +0000

Most of the great Chinese writers were bureaucrats of one sort or another–many aspired to so that work, in fact.

By: Paul Barnaby

Paul Barnaby — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 20:49:09 +0000

Surely the most famous case of all is Sir Walter Scott who never quit either of his day jobs (Clerk to the Court of Session in Edinburgh, Deputy-Sheriff of Selkirkshire) despite being the best-selling writer of his day.

By: Holly

Holly — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 15:24:49 +0000

British author Magnus Mills (The Restraint of Beasts) is/was a bus driver. Not sure if he’s still doing that.

By: Dawn Akemi

Dawn Akemi — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 21:25:47 +0000

What a great list! I remember reading in Julia Cameron’s seminal book, The Artist’s Way, that the day-job is vital for filling the well and grist for the mill. She admonished to be careful what you wish for in your desire to live off of writing alone. Thank you for the inspiration!

By: Andrew David Doyle

Andrew David Doyle — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 18:03:15 +0000

The reality that one job compliments the other is indeed true, it does when you meet fascinating people who stimulate one’s learning.

I find that although I am nailed to the pc for long periods, the writing aspects releases a new stream of consciousness.

I am envious if you earn enough pennies to retire and just write…that is of course the ultimate dream and goal.

A.D.Doyle

By: Mark Friedman

Mark Friedman — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 15:07:47 +0000

How about Bram Stoker? He was a famous Theatre Producers assistant to Sir Henry Irving in the 1885

By: Dr.Ratnesh kumar

Dr.Ratnesh kumar — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 09:16:41 +0000

Very inspiring real life stories. Certifies the old proverb,”where there is a will there is way”. This also explains that there is some in born instinct that forces you to act differantly.

By: Richard McDonough

Richard McDonough — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 03:29:13 +0000

This whole notion of full time writer is modern and includes a small minority of writers in our time, many fewer in the past. This is not something to give space to, frankly.

By: Richard Johnson

Richard Johnson — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 18:35:11 +0000

You forgot Bram Stoker, who wrote six or seven novels (Including Dracula) while working as Business Manager for Henry Irving (The Jack Nicholson of his time) right up until Irving died, while they were on tour.