Is Making What You Love a Job, Really a Good Idea?

If you are like me and you come from a place where jobs are scarce, then you know you are going to end up doing a lot of jobs.
 
When I graduated the art college, it was during what they called a recession. As usual, my timing is impeccable!
 
From the time I graduated, most jobs I took, I ended up leaving not because I quit or wasn’t good at it, but because the business went under or had to downsize. Needless to say, life was a struggle and you had to think on your feet and be flexible!
 
So, I went from job to job, doing whatever came along including some jobs I thought would be great.
 
One of these jobs was being a kayak instructor and tour guide. 
 
I grew up on the ocean and was in the water more than I was out as a child. I had great respect and also a great love of the water. ANY kind of water. I l managed to get myself a little kayak I personally adapted to both ocean and river and I was out every chance I got!
 
Getting the training and the job seemed like a dream job after all I was doing what I loved!
 
Every day I came, gave instruction to folks so they could safely hit the water and every night wash down the boats. I waved as others paddled off into the sunrise or sunset while I went back and did it all over again. The only time I got on the water was when I was guiding and then, of course, you had much more on your mind than deciding where you were going to paddle.
 
I treated each person as an individual no matter how routine it became and was really good at it. On weekends sometimes if there was a booking, I went out on tours to take up the rear and keep the stragglers safe.
 
The thing is, it WAS something I loved, but by the end of that summer, I never wanted to see another kayak and it stayed that way for years!
 
So now I have been thinking about writing online and frankly, I cannot bring myself to do it. I am quite content to do almost any job, lord knows I have skills and experience, however I have no desire whatsoever to take my love of writing into a copywriter or editor job. Nope, no interest at all because I learned the hard way that doing something you love for profit, depending on what it is, can take something you love and make it something you no longer care about.
 
I know some people who write, and write well, and are great at writing for profit, however I know myself and it isn’t for me.
 
Writing IS a full-time job especially if you are an Indie writer (Independent publisher also) and even when working, I put in at least 2 hours a day, when not working elsewhere I can put in 3- 5 hours a day. It is a job and it is work and it is time consuming, however as I wrote in another earlier blog, if you truly love and believe in what your doing, then you will find a way to do it. Some folks give up their day job to work full time on the Indie writing however not all of us can do that right away.
 
I suggest if you are an Indie writer, to think carefully if you are considering writing for profit via other companies. Writing articles are one thing. You are doing it when you have time, however putting yourself in a position where you are on heavy deadlines for low profit so you can say you’re a writer, don’t do it to yourself!
 
You ARE a writer. Like being an artist (which every artist will agree!), you were born that way. You don’t need to prove anything about it to anyone. Just keep on writing, keep on slugging away and eventually, if you are systematic about it, I am sure you will start to see some success for all your hard work.
 
You, like me, likely have many skills and don’t need to work as a writer to make a living. When I was younger, I worked to raise my son and support my habit of painting. Well, now my son is grown and my habit is writing and producing books so I have a new habit to support. So be it.
 
Keep on keeping on. It will all work out in the end. And if it doesn’t, so what? It is all about the journey anyhow. Might as well have one where you find ways to fulfill yourself in more ways than just your belly!