Work and Writing

Last updated on July 26, 2026

I officially completed my Ph.D in May, meaning I’m far from joining the “long-term unemployed” statistically. The problem is that I have been unemployed off and on since leaving my undergraduate program at the end of 1990. Writing is an on-going project, certainly, but actual jobs have come and gone. Now, I worry that the cycle of jobs might not even repeat. What if, instead of a job for a year or two, there’s nothing?

Yes, writing is a job. I know that, logically, but I would like a bit more security. I want some fiscal stability. I want to know I have a paycheck and a way to support my interests.

If I sell my writing, then I won’t worry so much, but I am tense.

To treat writing like a job means I have to tell myself something will sell. That means I have to motivate myself every day to treat writing like a job — but one for which I am not yet getting paid. It is exhausting.

Had I landed a teaching post, I would write and teach. That was the plan with the Ph.D — security plus some time to write during summers. Now, I have lots of time to write, I suppose.

The key is to focus and build some confidence. To be honest, confidence in writing is not confidence in my social networking or sales abilities. That’s why I would definitely do better with an agent. For now, I need to keep at the writing until I locate an agent.

Being social would help my career, no matter what I did. But, that’s not who I am.