I'm going through a period of emotional turmoil regarding my professional life. I wake up at night asking myself questions such as: "Why don't I write for SPIN yet?" and "Why does Rolling Stone keeps rejecting my brilliant essays"? In search for a little solace (pun!) regarding my current situation, I have made a research on famous writers and their day jobs. Turns out that not every writer had an awesome life of adventure like Hemingway. Here's a comprehensive list that will hopefully blow some wind in your back as it did for me.
Dashiell Hammett was a goddamn Pinkerton! OK, it's not helping...next!
Nathaniel Hawthorne worked as a weighter and gauger in Boston's Custom House. He was the guy with the scale when the pirates sailed in with gold.
Dan Brown (yep, Mr. Da Vinci Code himself) went through the hell of teaching English in high school. He was probably taken in pity by many as "that poor teacher with those novelist hopes"
Nicholas Sparks, Mr. Notebook has been turned down by the publishing world, so he waited tables to finance his dream of writing. I'm somewhat touched and have a new feeling of respect for the guy.
William Faulkner was a postmaster! How awesome is that? In between solving packaging issues, he found the time to write As I Lay Dying, The Sound And The Fury and Sanctuary.
Harlan Ellison did any dirty job that would allow him a little peace and quiet at night to write his own stuff. He was even a door to door salesman at some point! Ugh!
Anthony Trollope stamped your letters at the post office. No one knew the funny bearded guy woke up every morning at 5 to work on thick novels that could kick your ass.
Dennis Lehane, before A Drink Before The War was a delivery boy. He failed at journalism and English teaching so he took every possible job that would finance his goal.
