Blogging is an opportunity for authors to connect with readers. Despite being writers, blogging is an entirely different style of writing and often stumps us. To help our authors blog consistently, thoughtfully and with purpose, Marketing for Romance Writers is announcing the 2018 Blog Challenge. Each week, authors use our writing prompt to create a meaningful blog post. We'll be posting every Friday... join us as often as possible.
Week 1: "What would I do if I couldn't be a writer"
This is a question that I need to answer soon since my personal life is currently facing upheaval. I love writing and I will continue to write, but the household bills will not wait for my books to become bestsellers. This is the first year since I became published, that I am looking to find a "real" job as my husband likes to say. I have four children who are growing out of their clothes faster than the seasons allow and they keep eating all of the food in the house! It's getting more difficult to stretch the dollars we have to allow me to stay at home to raise my kids and to write in the little free time that I can find.
Which brings me to this week's question.
In my heart, I know the answer because I've already done it.
I worked as a bookseller and Assistant Manager at Waldenbooks for 12 years. I started at one of the stores as a Seasonal Part-time Bookseller. I worked at the Day-by-Day Calendar stand that Walden's used to run, selling calendars from September to January. A few months later, I discovered one of the other Waldenbooks in my area was hiring, so I applied there. Thanks to my previous job and the high praise of my co-workers, I became a Part-time Bookseller in that store. It was challenging and exciting. I loved it! So much that I quit my other job working as a seamstress to become a Full-time Bookseller. It didn't take long before I was promoted to Assistant Manager. I knew then that this was the career (other than writing) that was perfectly suited to me. I learned so much about the publishing industry while working at this job which helped with my writing career. The Manager in my store and I got along famously and we had a marvelous crew of booksellers who have become like family to me (we still get together for coffee and other outings). It was my goal during those years that when my Manager eventually got promoted to District Manager (which was her goal), then I would become Manager of our little store and work there until retirement.
Sadly, my bookselling career was cut short as Borders, a sister company of Waldenbooks, went bankrupt. Within 2 years, all of the Waldens and Borders stores were closed and all of their wonderful employees were out of jobs.
I discovered a month before the bookstore closed that I was pregnant. After a lengthy conversation with my husband, we decided that I would become a stay-at-home mom, raising our 2 little boys and soon-to-be daughter while I pursued my writing career and he would continue to work to pay the bills. Later that year, my first book, The Witch and the Wolf, was published by The Wild Rose Press.
But, raising a growing family (we now have 4 children) and my husband's ill health has taken its toll on our finances and I don't have the time or support to write more books faster. I need to look elsewhere for money.
But, with no bookstore in my county (the nearest Barnes & Noble is an hour away), I'm not sure what kind of work I might enjoy that brings a decent paycheck home. I'm looking for suggestions if anyone has any. This is a situation that is both unexpected and daunting, but I know I will persevere. And no matter what happens, my readers will never need fear. I will continue to write. I've found the time to write while raising a busy family, and I will continue to squeeze time in with an outside job, too. Hopefully, my readers will be patient with me as I try to figure out what to do with my life.
Be sure to visit the posts for the MFRW's Blog Challenge!
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Happy Reading!
Tricia
Hadn't thought of bookseller. That is a perfect job for a reader. Worked a few days at B&N. They hired 100 people for the holiday season and started laying people off the day after they were hired. Thanks for sharing and good luck on your job hunt.
ReplyDeleteThat's too bad about B&N! Sounds like they had an inexperienced management overhiring.
DeleteBeing a mom of 4 isn't easy, I know I have 4 myself.
ReplyDeleteIt is very sad that a lot of the bookstores are closing. I understand that ebooks are popular, but there's still something about walking into an actual location. Do you possibly have any used or local bookstores in your area?
I know! It breaks my heart. The closest B&N is about 45 minutes away. Don't think that will stop me! But, I already asked and they're not hiring at the moment. :(
DeleteI hadn't thought about bookseller - that would be a great job!! I would end up spending my entire income on books though, so maybe it's a good thing I didn't think of this. BTW- the "Realjob" line is a major bone of contention between the hubs and me. He is pushing for me to move from my part time position to a full time position since our girls are grown. Meanwhile, I'm jumping up and down inside screaming - ARe you kidding me? When I finally will have quiet time to write?? But, I keep the dayjob because the sales aren't great.
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel! My plan had been to wait until my children are all in school, take a year of full-time writing, then look for a day job. But, life likes to throw plot twists. Btw, I took full advantage of my employee discount while I worked at the bookstore, believe you me! lol
DeleteTwo friends of mine opened a used bookstore in our town, but we quickly discovered that while our community was happy to donate their used books, they weren't so eager to buy them back! In addition, both owners suffered severe medical issues after they opened (one was in a car accident and the other had a family medical scare). Add to that two months' worth of ice and snow equaling no business, and the place went bankrupt six months after it opened. Just wrong time and wrong location.
ReplyDeleteOh, my heart goes out to your two friends! Sounds like they had terrible luck and misfortune.
DeleteI didn't think of being a bookseller. That's a perfect job for a reader and if I had had the job, I'd never work. I'd be in some unobserved area reading. Good luck hunting for a job.
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly what I thought when I first started. Turns out, there's a lot of work involved with running a bookstore! Who knew? But, I did get my pick of reading material during lunch breaks!
DeleteBookseller used to be a great job for an avid reader or writer, but sadly, book stores are now few and far between. However, you have years of retail experience that could help you find a job in another type of store. Good luck job hunting!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your words of encouragement! I'm keeping my hopes up!
DeleteThi is happening more and more these days. Good luck on whatever you find!
ReplyDeleteI see that, too. Tough times for many of us, I guess.
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