World, Writing, Wealth discussion

Not that long ago, people were lifetime engineers, teachers, hustlers and so on. Not anymore though. It became popular to pursue a second career somewhere towards the middle.. Hi-tech dudes become kindergarten teachers, billionaires - presidents, entertainers - politicians, politicians - entertainers and so on.
Can writing be viewed as such?

Depends. For me, writing is my career now. But that would be my day-job writing. Writing novels is definitely a second job but, depending on how my book does, it could become my dayjob.

Well, now that I am retired for good after working 43 years of my life (I am 62), my favorite hobby, writing novels, has effectively become my second career (an unpaid one, though). And I love it!

I am now 75, and I concede that writing is one of the things I do to fill in time and maintain interest. If you don't have some interest, you die. In fairness, while I make a profit from my literary affairs, it is little better than pocket money, but I don't really care. I am offering my books, and while I would like to see them read, I have to live with the small sales.

Really depends on what you put into it. I think writing can be a second career, but it can be your primary career if you give it everything you have. Unlike other careers (where the parameters are set, hours are set, etc.) you have to manage your own time with writing, develop your own skills, and assess your own work. That can be a big challenge for people, which is why they might want to treat it as a hobby, rather than a job.

So, like I said, depends on the person. o.o

And what do YOU think?

Now it's about third career - I've recently obtained a license for public transportation - buses and taxis and now drive a bus on top of being a lawyer. Turned proletarian once again :)
And frankly, I like it more, although as a lawyer I charge more for an hour than I make as a driver for a day. Yeah, i imagine some would say it's infantile and/or eccentric, but it's not something I'd worry about :)
What about you - have you ever had coveted, realized/unrealized career desires?

That's cool, Nik. What made you choose that particular job? I actually wanted to be a writer when I was young, but I discovered I didn't have the talent for it, so I've remained a reader.

The reality for creative talents, whether it's writers, actors, artists, musicians, is that somewhere in the top 5-10% make millions; about 20%-30% below that can make a career from their talent if they're willing to work in other areas - some writers also ghostwrite, some serious musicians might write film scores or commercial jingles, some actors might read audiobooks.
Everyone below that usually has to have a day job, at least initially, and often permanently.

Two things - first, I just like to drive for hours, second - I saw an interview with a retired head of our police 👮‍♂️ investigations department, who after retirement from the force turned cab driver - not to be bored at home, as financially he’d be well off. With cab you are servicing someone particular, with a bus - 🚌 you service the public. I have some free time, so far I like it, not saying I’ll switch there completely, but I’d give it a try 😎

J. wrote: "The reality for creative talents, whether it's writers, actors, artists, musicians, is that somewhere in the top 5-10% make millions; about 20%-30% below that can make a career from their talent if..."

Where do you get those figures from?

In Oz, only the top 4% make the average wage and 70% only make $4k per year. And that's just commercially published authors - not indie authors also.

Writing is my second career but it doesn't pay well (so far).

I kind of get J's point, though things might not be the same in NZ as they are in the US. You saw it during covid - a lot of actors, whose series were shut down were doing commercials and voice overs that could still be produced, and a lot of them make money doing audio books (though I wonder if with AI that will dry up) - if you are Lee Child or JK Rowling or Stephen King whose books don't just sell a lot but whose books are picked up for TV or movies, you make tons.
The options to branch out into related areas might not be available to people in NZ, I don't know about that.

This is a good question. I think the answer is of course yes. Will it be hard? Yes. Will it be lucrative, probably not. But does that mean you cannot make a living? No. I am a non-writer. but I do photography. I have not made a dime, but it does not mean I am not trying to do so. I think you have to define a second career and the goals of such. I also think it takes talent and luck. It is easier than ever to publish, but much harder to be heard because it is so easy to publish. There is so much out there. Yet you can write and keep writing.

You can use group's photo gallery to showcase your work, Papa

Thanks

A year later, writing is still my second career, but as I wind towards the end of my legal career, writing will become my first career.

Then again, I've been toying with the idea of becoming a part time lecturer.

Good luck with all the new and old endeavors, Adrian!