by K. Z. Murphy

Created on: May 11, 2011

Like any other occupation, there are both good and bad aspects to being a stay-at-home writer.  I'll tell you what I see as the bad ones first, so I can end on a more upbeat note.

Writing from home doesn't pay very much.  It's very hard to scratch a few dollars from writing.  The best way is to write for several markets or websites that pay reasonably.  That way they start to add up.  After a while you can also make some passive income from older online articles.

Because the pay is low, you have to write a lot.  "A lot" should be in capitals and underlined.  So you have to spend a great deal of time every day writing, evenings and weekends, too.  Sometimes you can write about things you're interested in, but you also have to take assignments that pay well.

You have to squeeze in writing whenever you can, because there are a lot of distractions at home.  There's always something going on.  The plumber is coming, the kids need a ride to the football game, and there are a million jobs to do.  To use my time more efficiently, I do some mental writing while I'm busy with other things.

The long hours of sitting are not really good for you, and it's hard to work in any exercise, with writing and everything else you have to do.

Now the good part about being a stay-at-home writer is that you get to write.  Most stay-at-home writers would rather write than eat a Thanksgiving dinner.  We'd rather write than be crowned King of Moneyland.  Writers are not really happy doing anything else, and it's a great plus in life to do work that you love.

Also, even though the hours are long, you can set your own schedule.  If someone gives you tickets to a baseball game, you can go.  You can just make up those hours later,  by writing until three in the morning.

When you're a stay-at-home writer, you work for yourself.  There's no boss breathing down your neck and no outside stress.  There's only the pressure you put on yourself to get more work done.  There's also no driving to work in a blinding snowstorm.

Being a stay-at-home writer takes motivation and self-discipline as well as a love of writing.  It takes a long-term commitment to improve your skills and establish yourself in your career.   If you have those things, I would say that the good of stay-at-home writing far outweighs the bad.

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