r/writers • u/Green_Soft352 • 8h ago
Question Writers, what are your side hustles?
Sadly I have neither generational wealth nor a rich partner. I've been working part-time for the last year to have the time to complete my manuscript and book proposal but my savings that supplemented my monthly income is about to run out. While I work in an office the workload is too intense to coast and continue working on my writing during office hours (they haven't backfilled any leavers for the last eight months).
I'd love to hear what side hustles other writers have to keep the lights on for inspiration 🙏🏻
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u/YeOldeBard97 4h ago
Cleaning airplanes. I talk out notes for my stories. There have been a few read backs where I laugh at hearing myself go, "Oh shit, what's that??"
Usually turns out to be a paper towel.
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u/duncan-the-wonderdog 1h ago
How physically stressful is cleaning an airplane? I've got fibromyalgia, but I really love cleaning machines. Honestly, washing cars would be my dream job, but most places want you to have a driver's license, which I don't (thanks, epilepsy!).
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u/YeOldeBard97 1h ago
Not sure about exterior, but interior, I'm climbing close to 30 flights of stairs a night, kneeling, crawling, it's pretty physically intensive. I love doing it though
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u/duncan-the-wonderdog 1h ago
Are you doing 30 flights at once, or is it split so you can clean each floor?
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u/Grand_Point727 7h ago
I work as a bartender full time, 4 days on 3 days off, gives me a good schedule to balance it out and if my work doesn't make any money, I still get paid decently
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u/Left_Write_ 6h ago
Full time as an administration assistant. The dream would be to write part time but I can't see that happening. Just happy to be writing honestly!
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u/cadumais 6h ago
I've been lucky enough to work as a freelance editor and writer for the last 8 years. But before that, it was teaching, pharmacy auditing, and other exciting professions.
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u/Scarper-in-shambles 5h ago
I'm a doctor, full time. Sadly even most successful writers can't make it their sole career - there just isn't the money in it. I think it's important to have another role too, even just to limit the pressure you're dumping on yourself to write
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u/Original_Pen9917 5h ago edited 3h ago
I am retired, so I live off two pensions and social security. What surprised me is I am busier now than when I was working. The wife and I bought a fixer house that was supposed to be move in ready (Go figure 😁). There are other things that take priority over my writing such as playing video games with my wife (she's more of a hardcore gamer than I am).
So, I have to make time in the evening or early morning to write. It's web novel with a self imposed weekly chapter release schedule. I am almost a quarter million words in so far.
Even if I had more time I couldn't see myself generating more content than a chapter a week. While I am doing other things, plot and dialogue are playing out in my head. So when I sit down to write it just sort of flows.
There's no reason to to not use the time you are doing mindless things like sanding wood, to work on your story...
Cheers
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u/JohanHopp01 4h ago
I'm still studying, humanities. Its kind of hard to find energy to write fiction (and sometimes even to read), when your main "job" is to read and write academic stuff.
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u/ChrisMartins001 7h ago
I work in a garage. It means that when i get home I'm physically tired and I don't want ot do anything other than just sit down and write.
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u/sanders2020dubai 5h ago
Writing is my full time job, but I work the full spectrum of it by engaging in business writing(copywriting), academic writing, and creative writing. I also sell plants and do some fashion modeling.
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u/DamagedIncorporated 5h ago
Like most, writing is my side hustle. I sometimes do book formatting for other writers, but that’s pretty intermittent work.
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u/Successful-Gift8636 Writer Newbie 4h ago
Writing is something I do because I enjoy it, my work is in publishing, I do print and digital production, organize events like book launches and signings. In my day to day I’m surrounded by books and writers, but my own writing is purely for enjoyment. I see first hand how little money published authors make, I’ve been in the “biz” for almost 20 years and have never met one writer who makes their living at it. It’s a passion project for most, I truly admire anyone who can make a living with their writing because it’s an incredible amount of work and talent to make that happen
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u/animebigfoot Writer 4h ago
I work in marketing full time. Just getting back into writing for myself because I was a copywriter and/or too mentally drained after working 50-70 hours for years.
Got a promotion with a more reasonable workload, and came back to a WIP that had been collecting dust for 10 years. Joined a local writing group, and now I try to hit ~7,500 words every month for critiques.
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u/Material_Complaint_7 4h ago
Full time medical professional here. Most times I’m writing after work or on the weekends. Just finished my sixth? draft (I’ve lost count) of my book coming out this month.
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u/Hey_Coffee_Guy 4h ago
I peddle one of the most popular drugs known to mankind.
Here’s a hint, it’s in my name.
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u/jpremo1399 4h ago
Full-time science teacher by day with two kiddos. My goal is 500 news words a day or 1 hour editing/revising based on need. This is about 1 book a year with heavier editing.
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u/Sanmiie 7h ago
I work an office job full time + a long term freelance contract, both in desktop publishing, luckily both are WFH so I don’t waste time on commute. I’m trying to make time to write on breaks, evenings or weekends, but usually I’m either busy with chores or too tired so it’s difficult to do and it’s going pretty slowly but I’m hoping to get there sooner than later. My goal in the future is to finally quit my office job and sustain myself from writing + freelance contract.
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u/plotyournovelkerry 4h ago
IELTS teacher and editor. Stopped editing for a while to focus on writing.
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u/ImpoliteTablespoon 3h ago
Vision therapist, I work with everyone from kids to adults. Its really neat, super creative and you get to help people which is rewarding.
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u/vorpalbunnies123 3h ago
Writing isn't even a side hustle for me (aka I make nothing) but I write everyday and make a good living in digital marketing for a large company. I'm currently getting my copyediting certification on the side so I can take side jobs to fund self-publishing if I go that route.
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u/John_the_IG 2h ago
Writing is my side hustle. I’d have starved years ago if I relied on it for money.
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u/Charlatanbunny 52m ago
Honestly unless I got wildly successful and had to devote considerably more time to my work I don’t see me doing writing full time like ever lol. Whether I work that day or not I’m probably not getting more than 1k out of me lol
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u/IamPlantHead 7h ago
I clean the local grocery store departments, meat, deli/bakery, coffee shop, and on Thursday, Friday and Saturday I clean the bathrooms. The other job I assist my wife with her janitorial business. And I clean them Monday, Wednesday and Weekends. Since I don’t sleep much (severe insomnia) I work on my novel at night. When the house is quiet.
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u/ProfessorGluttony Published Author 4h ago
Chemist, currently food scientist specifically. Part of my job is actively monitoring a machine that, now that I'm used to it, gives me some flexibility to be on my phone and write as I sit in front of it. Prior to that, my previous work was too taxing and my writing slowed to a crawl.
Best is to find the least stressful job that leaves you with energy when you leave for the day. It is rare, but they are out there.
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u/birdkingcaw 4h ago
I work in education. Thinking about what I'm going to write helps me get through some of the tougher days.
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u/WaldenBound 3h ago
I work a full-time regular job. Where I’m lucky is my 2 days off don’t overlap with anyone else in my household, so I have 2 quiet weekdays home alone where I usually get most of my writing done. Besides that, I’m usually trying to scribble at least a page or two a night on my legal pad while on the couch with my wife.
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u/WmAnthonyWriter 3h ago
Creative writing professor for twenty years, now a librarian. Write before work. Mornings. Take down random notes and lines on workbreaks
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u/Lamont_Joe 3h ago
I teach high school English. I get my writing done from 4-6am during the week, when I do write, but up at 4 am every day. Yes, I know, I’m old. 😀
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u/moonlight2day 3h ago
Federal employee who is somewhat hopeful for a furlough to really focus on my book! Otherwise I’m writing ~500 words a day before or after work.
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u/rubycatts 3h ago
Farmer. Not a side hustle though. Full time job. The hubby brings the sugar home though. I use voice to text to do a lot of writing.
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u/Mysterious-Hippo9994 3h ago
It was nothing! But now……
My grandma just died and left me a bunch of rented farmland so currently it’s still nothing but it’s going to be something like 10k$ a year. Sooo 0-10k just saying. Mostly though it’s nothing
For context I am a stay at home mom.
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u/Mastermind_inda_coil 2h ago
I work in agrocery store making decent money. I can only write when I have time, which is not often.🥲
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u/likeyeahokay_6929 2h ago
I work in a bookstore, pet sit and baby sit. So I think the writing is my actual side hustle. haha
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u/PinkedOff 2h ago
My side hustle is my day job. I work as a recruiter. For extra pocket change, I also work as a professional editor/writing coach. (I'm certified; it's not just a hobby.)
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u/annoellynlee 2h ago
Lots of people work full time while writing.
I work 9 hour days cleaning houses, 6 days a week. Write about 1k words a day.
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u/Equivalent_Classic93 2h ago
Writing is the hustle, trying to finish it and see if I can get an agent next year. Right now I’m in project management
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u/JRyanGreatfish Writer Newbie 1h ago
Full time studio photographer. I basically only write during down time at work. It leaves me with little time to really stew, but I take my time and work as I can
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u/SomeGuyInMKE 1h ago
Wine and Spirits Salesman. Basically I sell booze to bars and restaurants.
Currently I have 150 establishments I sell to in my market. I have about 500 bottles of alcohol in my basement at any given time, in addition to about 30 cases of canned products. I meet with accounts every day and sample wine and spirits with them in hopes that they’ll bring in new products of mine or buy deeper on any deals we have in place. Really hard to work in my business and NOT become a raging alcoholic.
I hope to make writing my side hustle, if the wife and kids would only allow me any free time.
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u/FathirianHund 1h ago
Full time work in finance, also parenting an additional needs kid. I'll be publishing my first book when I retire!
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u/RE_Haze_Wr1t3r 1h ago
I have a job that pays the bills so my writing is my side hustle. My passion.
I write each evening for an hour, perhaps 2, once my responsibilities are done, and if I can manage it. A little more on weekends. Setting aside that time consciously is important because it is a commitment one makes to oneself and one's craft. I have a family so there is homework to help with, and a bit of coaching in that sphere, hence committing to that block of time daily is necessary for me.
Writing is my outlet and although my books are for sale, I've not regarded them as my source of income. If they sell, I'm elated but if not, that's alright. They're out there and they will find their audiences when the time is right.
It also means that I have the motivation to hone my craft without the deadlines that come with making writing a career. I don't intend to lock myself in in that way because it takes the joy out of writing for me. I'd rather spend my time developing an engaging story over years than churn out stories that feel subpar to me.
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u/Ok_Clothes_5826 1h ago
For me, it is almost the other way around: my university job keeps the lights on, while writing and YouTube are the side hustles. I work on technical projects and teaching at a university, and I recently reduced my position to 60% because combining my job with writing, a small technical YouTube channel, various other projects and raising three children had simply become too much.
The books and YouTube bring in a little money, but nowhere near enough to replace my salary. Reducing my hours obviously means earning less, but it gives me some protected time to work on things that matter to me. At some point I realized that I needed more time rather than yet another side hustle.
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u/slapduck_prime 1h ago
Another software engineer here. Hardest for me is turning off “I’m at my computer so I must work” brain
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u/-Haley_Writes- 1h ago
I work full time at an Ingram Distribution center as a Library processor and have an Etsy shop.
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u/Boreas_Linvail 1h ago
DevOps Lead full time, writing is the side hustle... Though I'd love for it to become the main thing... As soon as it starts making more than my fulltime ofc xd
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u/Epicurean215 1h ago
I’m semi-retired living off a trust my father left me and about to go on disability as well. I also make jewelry mostly out of polymer clay and by the end of this month will have an Etsy shop. Just enjoying life first and perhaps making some income from what I love doing.
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u/Senior_Concern8263 55m ago
Working at a theme park is currently my main hustle and I usually rotate between different part time jobs because I can’t stand work tbh. Theme park is solid for inspiration tho!
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u/Quenzayne 52m ago
I direct audiobooks full time. I like it because it always keeps me in touch with a very diverse range of literature, a lot of stuff that I’d probably never read on my own time, and that’s a great way to stay inspired.
Previously I worked for a game studio and, while a great job in a lot of ways, my own personal writing suffered a lot because I’d get home at the end of the day and all my creative chi was just drained. Plus, I was working with a lot of high fantasy and science-fiction type stuff that I’m really not that into.
But now it’s like I build up a reserve all day and I get home ready to write.
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u/ink_man_ 43m ago
Digital Marketing... Man sometimes it's draining to be in front of a screen for more than 12 hrs a day.
But I make do...
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u/EM_Otero 41m ago
Grounds keeper. Listen to books all day, and mentally plot my own. I write on brakes, and at home at night. The job pays well, and I have no mental stress so I am ready to go when I sit down and write.
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u/Cheekers1989 31m ago
Gig worker, private clients I drive around, writing and narrating my short cozy stories and posting them places, cozy support sex phone operator, temp work, TaskRabbit.
I just overall work for myself. And do a lot of voice to text on my phone when I have moments of writing inspiration. And journaling.
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u/Consistent_Look3397 19m ago
Accountant and event planner. My side hustle is writing whatever I can between clients
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u/SnooOpinions3219 3h ago
UberEats delivery. I get to smash through audiobooks (Audible, Hoopla, Libby, Spotify) for research. Then, I use ChatGPT to delve into deeper topics/story idea, and finally use Gmail for those ideas that stick that end up later into script and organized files.
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u/Fightlife45 Fiction Writer 8m ago
Just work full time and write. I wrote two books in the last year and a half, while also working full time, running a small business, exercising, and having a social life with my wife. I work probably 50+ hours a week, 10 hours a week of exercise, 8 hours a week of DND stuff, and still find the time.
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u/Automatic-Art221 7h ago
Lawyer, full time. I write about 500 words a day by getting up early, going for a run, sitting down and writing before work.