Golden Deer Pub Community Forums

So this is entertaining and I can't imagine why I would be mad about this. /sarcasm

So my sister is going through college for her accounting. She's at the portion of her schooling where she's almost done and is starting to look for internships. This accounting thing in her life is relatively new, maybe 4-5 years old, that she's picked up. Not even particularly her *dream* but it will bring in the money she hopes. Now that she's looking for internships, most are unpaid, but she doesn't think she can keep a steady job while going through them and is thinking of saving up money and quitting our job.

This is a perfectly acceptable conversation and life plan and receives many nods from the family and lots of promises to do what we can to help her as much as we can.

I, on the other hand, have talked about being a published author since I was in 3rd grade and this is my life's dream and ambition. I've spent the last year working my ass off on my novel and it's just about in a state that I might almost consider 'done' and ready to send off for agents. However the time that I get to spend working on it is frustratingly small.

I open my mouth tonight and voice that thought that maybe I might want to quit my job so that I can finish my novel and start putting in the needed hours and send it off to publishers.

This is no sooner out of my mouth then my sister responds: "You can't quit your job for a hobby, Marie."

Ouch. What the fuck. Since WHEN was my writing a 'hobby'. I'm sorry it's not something grand and white collar sounding like accounting, but fuck!

Somehow the thing I've been passionate about my whole life is just a hobby. And the idea of me quitting my job, if only for a few months, is preposterous and irresponsible.

I'm so fucking hurt. I didn't even say anything. I just kept my mouth shut and walked away.

I deal with this kind of thing too, and I know how much it absolutely sucks. I'm really sorry you have to hear that from the people that should be supporting you.

It must be painful to have your dream dismissed like that .

I'd suggest that you stick with your paid employment and continue writing on the side though. Few authors earn enough money from their first novel to give up permanent employment and as much as I hope your series beats Twilight, you've got to hedge your bets.

Ouch. That sucks, Maxine. I understand that writing isn't exactly the most stable source of income, but to dismiss it like that is just nasty.

Wow, that was really rude of them, Maxine. When you publish your novel and it's as successful as I think it will be, I wonder what they'll think of their attitude about your "hobby."

Yes, having supportive people around you is important. Sometimes it can make all the difference.

Does your work offer any sort of paid vacation time?

I was going to suggest using your annual leave, then remembered you live in America where it's not very generous...

+1 for Europe... :p

In my current role I get 5 weeks and all bank/public holidays on full pay. In my previous place you started on 4, the legal minimum and got an extra day per year up to 5 extra and then you could buy additional annual leave. By the time I left I had 6 weeks a year.

You can't take it all consecutively and your employer can force you to take it at set times or ban it (e.g. places close over Christmas or you can't have it during sale season) but in the main it's good.

Some of the countries in continental Europe have it even better.

America sounds like a sad place for employment .

Long day in a string of long days. This will be my third week with next to no downtime/sleep time. I'm either in class, doing homework, at work, or doing homework. I barely have time to sleep or eat properly, and my acne is horrible as a result. Just, ugh.

Edit: fuck it, I'll keep going.
I was at school for 10am today, and left the building at 1am. Class till 5, homework till 1. I'll be there for 9am tomorrow, (my day off), do homework till 4:30 or so, if I want to get my homework due Thursday done before I go to work at 5:30 and till at least 10 but as late as 1. I also have other homework that doesn't have to be done at school to do after work for Friday. I have a date on Thursday, but if I want to get my Friday homework done before Friday, I'll have to cancel. (Which is fine anyway, my acne is horrible and I look pretty gross as a result.)

This has been my life for the past 2 full weeks, weekends included, and this one looks to be the same. I'm just worn right out and have no chance to sleep or recharge.

Do be careful, Zamisk. I worry you'll make yourself sick at this rate. You need rest.

ugg, I remember schedules like that when I was going through school, zam. Unfortunately I have no divine advice other than GOOD LUCK and do try to get what you can in. there were some days that I ate in between classes if not in the class itself.