Don't quit your day job

Writer's Digest has a funny round-up of "The Oddest Odd Jobs of 10 Literary Greats." The you'd-never-guess-it prize goes to JD Salinger, who was a cruise ship entertainment director.

Writers love to grumble about how it'd be so nice to "just write" for a living, instead of working as a (bartender, coffee barista, corporate shill, teacher, fill-in-the-blank). Even for those lucky enough to write and edit in their daytime work, the writing is often less-than-glamorous items like crime briefs, press releases, corporate memos or newsletters. No matter how much you want to sex it up, a newsletter is a newsletter is a newsletter.

But I say, take pride in that day-job! It may lead to your next great short story, or if nothing else, a better understanding of how the common man (or woman) lives. These experiences and observations fill our stories with quirky details and rich character.

Photo of JD Salinger from Wikipedia, credited to Lotte Jacobi.