Wordswoman

James Van Pelt has a candid article over on The Fix, entitled The Day Job: Quitting It. But it's really about not quitting it.

On  related note:

• Scalzi on Why It's Good to Have a Day Job
• Scalzi again with Unasked-For Advice to New Writers About Money
• Justine Larbalestier, Getting paid, or don't quit your day job
• Writing Unboxed blog on Don't Quit Your Day Job

Do we notice a trend here, class?

Even if I had a book contract (which would presuppose finishing a book, a somewhat large detail), I wouldn't be quitting my day job. For one thing, my day job takes place at a fine and lovely Midwestern college, where I am surrounded by intelligent, interesting people. All these people help make possible the education of 2000 or so of the smartest young people on the planet.

As day jobs go, this does not suck.

But even if it did, I wouldn't be quitting my day job. Because it also provides:

• Health insurance
• Retirement plan contributions
• A predictable salary
• College tuition benefits for my children

Selling a novel, for 99.9% of all writers, would not make possible any of the above.

And that is why I'm not quitting my day job.

That, and the fact that I haven't actually finished a novel, much less sold one.

Details, details.