How did you know....?

[melw]

For those that used to work outside of the home, how did you know to stop working and start writing?

I would love to write fulltime at home, i mean no more early mornings or rainy weather to get caught in.

I know we need the money, but hubby wouldn't mind too much as long as i did things around the house.

So at the moment i will continue working. I have to wait to see what God decides. I know He has plans set in place and knows what is best for me.

MEL

[Katharine]

Mel, I'm right there with you, so I'll be watching this thread for a good definitive answer! (I will not, however, hold my breath.)

Praying with you,
Katharine

[SOP]

Oh wow! If you can manage it financially, do it! Wish I had that opportunity!

Dean Koontz's wife offered to carry him for 5 years. She said: "…if you can't make it as a writer by that time, you'll never make it."

Guess what? He made it!

Cut a similar deal with your hubby and then write like hell... no pun intended ;)

[Tamera]

Things were a little different for me. I thought I would be getting another job as a children's pastor. But I heard God tell me very clearly to quit. I was on staff at a church. So I quit, and my husband and I left the church on good terms. Then, after I left, I knew I was suppose to take a year off to write and do kids crusades and workshops. Then after I accepted that, God told me it wasn't just a year. It was long term. So here I am - writing full time, and doing an occasional kids crusade and workshop - with no money coming in.

[AnnieJ]

If you can afford it, try it. You may find it spurs your writing or you may find you write less (a lot of people are not designed to work from home) but if its possible, it's a worthy experiment and a nice commitment to your dream of writing.

As the mom of a special needs child I was a stay at home mom first and a writer after the fact (after reading a book I knew I could have written - before that I wrote poetry and essays - if I'd had the web then I might never have even tried to be published, btw - I'd have turned my energy to website, bbs and blogs) but from time to time I have taken part time jobs.
That's a whole other kettle of fish - the idea of quitting your day job in hopes you can make $$ writing. I have earned my living writing for years now (which is getting harder to do these days)and all these years into the biz, I still apply for jobs if a good one pops up because the idea of a steady paycheck really appeals to me :)

annie jones

[Tommie Lyn]

Mel, you might want to visit Holly Lisle's website. She makes her living as a writer and shares the ups and downs, share all kinds of helpful info:

http://www.hollylisle.com/

Also, she has an ebook that she offers as a free download, "Mugging the Muse," in which she shares her "writer's journey," all she went through to finally become a full-time writer. Reading about her experience might be helpful to you:

http://hollylisle.com/downloads.html

[DrRita]

I write at home full time. My story is just too long to fit her so I'll just give the logline:

When God finally makes Dr Rita understand He wants her to write screenplays, He moves to Hollywood, and makes it clear she is to write full time and trust Him for the finances.

[tlm]

For those that used to work outside of the home, how did you know to stop working and start writing?

If I could, I would.

As it is, I am a teacher so I get 2 months off.

[Gravity]

Chip MacGregor has a whole timeline inked out for this in his blog. I'm not 'zackly sure where it is, but it was written within the last couple months, so it should be easy to track down.

EDIT: wup, it was further back than I thought, January 20 and 29.

[writerpatty]

Well, I'm not sure if this counts, but I worked at home. We used to have an eBay business. I was a powerseller. When my husband noticed all the "bookmarks" in my browser on writing, he asked if I was getting back into it. He knew that I always dreamed of being a writer. When I told him yes, he started reducing the amount of items we had up on eBay until we only have a couple of things up a week now.

He wants me to pursue my dream.

So, it was just recently that I've stopped "working from home" and now I'm writing at home instead.

I have five children, so my workload at home is still very large, but it's work I gladly do with a happy heart, because I do it for those that I love.

[shadowwriter]

If you are led, if in your heart of hearts you know it is the thing you must do. I call it the soul pull where you are so compelled that you just do it.

[tlm]

I feel compelled. I just can't afford it--yet!

[Tamera]

I feel compelled. I just can't afford it--yet!

Sometimes we feel compelled to do something, but it's not time yet.

[tlm]

So very true!

[Penny]

It seems to me that quitting a job for something uncertain has more to do with than just finances. It has a lot to do with what obligations you are under. If you can float financially long enough without that regular income to try a fulltime writing career, I suppose it can't really hurt. God doesn't want us shirking responsibilities He has given us, though. If we risk getting evicted and our kids need food-- can you float well enough to avoid that? Single? Then you've got a lot of flexibility. God won't "tell" someone to do something sinful, and not providing for a family might cross that line. It isn't a lack of trust in His provision-- He's provided your abilities as they are, and He has provided your current employment.

My opinion next, I hope it errs on the side of safety and common sense: if God "wants" you to write a book and accomplish financial stability that way, you will find a way to carve out the time and resources you need in addition to that job. Maybe it won't happen in your own decided-upon timeframe, but rarely does anything happen that way in life. Be willing to get the blessings He sends in His time-- they always are to the fullest that way.

If you don't really care about all the "God" talk, then you may as well gather up credit cards, quit your job, and swim the best you can. That's the secular way of it-- take it into your own hands completely. If it works, it does, if it doesn't work, it doesn't, and you can contribute that to it "raining on the just and the unjust" (Mt 5:45).

I don't buy into God "moving" people-- that word is just too vague for most Christians. Having God "speak" to you is pretty vague also. He gave us a whole book in which He "speaks" to us. Use what you learn from there to make God-pleasing decisions; the further blessing is that the decisions you make that way will be more beneficial to you also.

[Thebigguy]

I don't know I use to like the thing of becoming a full time writer, but now I want to spend more time around people. If God led me in that direction I'd do it but I think I need to be a bit more financially savvy than I am now.
Tommy Lynn great link I like what she said about being a full time writer.

[Louchiere]

If you are led, if in your heart of hearts you know it is the thing you must do. I call it the soul pull where you are so compelled that you just do it.

Exactly! You just know inside you, and you take that leap of faith. It wont be easy but the harder you struggle the more you realize you must be doing what is right, for nothing good ever comes easy:)

[elbib]

When I worked outside the home, I had a writing pad next to me and if the Lord gave me a story, I'd take a second to write. Then on my breaks/lunch, I'd write some more. I did that for 13 years until the Lord provided an opportunity for me to be at home to write.

I pray the Lord would speak to your heart and you can hear his clear call as to when you should write from home. In Jesus name.

Sincerely - Kimberli

[tlm]

I think I remember an interview where John Grisham said he would go into work an hour early so he could spend at least one hour each day writing his first book.

[Gina123]

I wouldn't want to quit my job, I spent time and money to get the degree to qualify for this job and I like it. However I love to write. I carry my littl z-drive thingy with me and I can plug it into a computer whenever I have a bit of time and work on my story. I think it is the best of both worlds to have a job I like and write on the side!!