My colleague/co-editor/conspirator Nicole Baute and I have been talking a lot lately about alternative jobs to finance writing… ones that we would conceivably consider, ones that make our blood boil. Magician? Pizza delivery lady? GRIZZLED DINER WAITRESS? (This last one is what I’m leaning towards, for when I return to Canada…)
Interestingly, though Nicole did highlight several manual labour famous writer day jobs in a blog post (and since reading it I have often thought about Alice Munro toiling in the tobacco fields), I’d never actually considered field work an option for myself— but why not?
I worked as a landscaper that summer at the golf course. And of course there was that time I fought for my life as I systematically assassinated 22 other children for love and money.
This Aaron Leaf fellow (the dude writer linked to above) makes a compelling case for working with one’s hands to mentally/financially fund a writing career. And, actually, it sounds like his co-workers at this audio gear schlepping gig made up one of the most vibrant artistic communities I’ve ever heard of. Bonus: Sounds like there is a notable lack of pretentiousness amongst said literary labourers when they’re lugging stuff in the cold hard dawn.
Brianna Goldberg 