The Green Stuff

At my favorite newsstand, I scan the publications. The September issue of Writer’s Digest is hot off the press, and I flip it open to page 34. There it is: “Off the Dole” (my essay that talks about financial tips for freelance writers).

Except I don’t have $5.99 in my wallet to buy a copy of the magazine.

Doesn’t matter because WD is a lovely publication and a complimentary copy is in the mail. But man, when it comes to freelance writing, the money stuff is tough, tough, tough. Last week another writer I know said she had $0.82 in her business account. “I have at least $1.82,” I told Ron later.

I stand by the tips in the article (although I cringed at the last one because I’m behind in my income goals – BUT the year is not over yet). Here are a few other thoughts on money stuff:

• To help with income, a lot of writers get a part time job editing, fact checking, working on websites, teaching, or even keeping a part-time job that has nothing to do with writing. I do a number of “on the side” projects to help make ends meet.

• There’s also the whole single/married thing. Could I have taken this leap without the steady income of my spouse? I’d probably would've have kept a part-time job in the legal field, but I still would've jumped. When it comes to household income and spouses supporting each other’s career goals (whether it’s a writing career or graduate school or starting an investment business), there are a lot of options. It boils down to personal decisions to work out. Thankfully, my spouse has been compassionate and encouraging.

• Cutting expenses stinks. There are days I go nuts over the fact that my husband and I have one car. And I have my “moments” when I see others living in a neighborhood I’d love to move to or buying furniture or clothes (or anything, really) without blinking an eye. Yeah, I could make myself crazy thinking, “If I went back to my former career, we could have this and have that, we could go here and go there, etc.”

But you know what? The job satisfaction is so worth it. I wouldn’t trade it and I know my career will continue to build up over time.

So, there are a few random thoughts on the taboo subject of money. (I’ve been dreading this post. Funny how I feel way more comfortable blogging about my miscarriage, Christianity, and emotional meltdowns than I do about dollars and cents.)