Should I Quit My Day Job to Write?

Mark Twain, not quite making enough money to support himself.

Over the last weekend, there was a passionate discussion on the SCBWI-MI listserv regarding quitting one's day job to become a full-time writer. I will not disclose personal information, that's why you need to be a member of SCBWI and follow your local chapter's listserv, but suffice to say, many authors we neophytes would consider successful still do not earn enough to make a living.

While there are a few writers who have made plenty of money, most do it for the love of writing and the joy of connecting with readers. Writing is not a get-rich-quick scheme. It's not even a get-rich-slow scheme, and this is nothing new. Even Mark Twain ran low on funds and had to hit the lecture circuit to raise cash.

So, what was the general consensus of the SCBWI-MI listserv? Don't quit your day job. While leaving one's unsatisfying livelihood to pursue a dream might sound romantic, having more bills than money is not.