Famous Writers Who Had Full-Time Jobs

A lot of writers have written while also working a full-time job. Organizing your life to accommodate your literary obsession and a full-time job is a demanding decision that can transform your life. Many, many writers have worked full-time jobs while they were writing their greatest books. This includes some very famous writers who worked full-time jobs while simultaneously enjoying the height of their literary careers. These writers found it helpful and clarifying to divide their income from their vocation. The poet Wallace Stevens worked a job as an insurance salesman. The poet T.S. Eliot worked a job at a bank. The poet William Carlos Williams worked as a doctor for his entire career. If you're wondering how to shape your own life, don't ignore the examples that famous writers set with their own lives. The lives of great writers are a great resource.
For all the videos in my writing advice series "Becoming a Writer (when you have a full-time job)", check out the entire playlist here: • Becoming a Writer (whe...
Twitter: @danagioiapoet
Website: danagioia.com

[@Ampedbassist1]

This is very inspiring, especially since I work a full eight hours daily, plus OT. I'd love to know what the writing process was for some of these poets. I've heard Robert Frost would write in the morning before going out to work and then again in the evening. I also heard Wallace Stevens would write on his walk to and fro to work. I know Dana Gioia would write for 2 hours after work. I'm just curious about various methods and processes poets had to get themselves writing.

[@liper13]

Sir, please post more videos. We love them and learn much from them.

[@liper13]

You’re voice is so exceptional; it has an authentic quality that puts one at ease. When my work is published I so want you to read the audio book. :)

[@alyswilliams9571]

Very interesting. Eliot and Frost are two of my poetic heroes. The Welsh poet R S Thomas was an Anglican minister, Philip Larkin was a librarian.

[@MarlaCarew]

Thank you so much for this talk. I have a very demanding full-time job and I write. It can be so discouraging to see the mentality that poets are only those who teach poetry in academia. There are others too. And we have different experiences that just might be interesting.

[@harryburganjr.969]

I had no idea Dana Gioia had an active KZbin Channel!!

[@YourPoetryMom]

I have enjoyed and appreciated your recent series of videos so much - especially this one. Even with a B.A. and eight years of college study under my belt, I ended up working in a factory to pay the bills. Twelve hours a day (or night), for many years. I’ve never been afraid of manual labor, and I consider it a privilege to work alongside such humble, hardworking people of the community. But… I also write poetry. ✍🏼 Good or not, it is what’s in my heart. When someone tells me I’m not a poet, I yell, “Philip Levine worked in a factory!!” 🗣💁🏻‍♀️ 🏭

[@TheTnaidu]

As a full time teacher of English and a PhD student in the final stages of writing and revising, this sold to my heart! Thank you so much.

[@charlescarberry665]

Banal

[@zm3248]

This channel gives me tons of good poets to add to my list I am not familiar with! Love it!