Hi Michael. Seeing someone else being in the exact same day-vs-creative job tug-of-war I've been for much of my professional life is uplifting in the sense of not being the only one at it. Sorry if I get wordy here — have a lot to say about this. Will try not to go overboard.
I actually majored in fine arts and have made lots of children's illustrations and character design. However well before graduating I had a hand with technology and it was easier to get jobs and money that way, first on web design, then on UX, and when I realized it more than 20 years had passed and was already known in local circles as a trailblazing UX specialist. But what I always really wanted to do was make comics stories, animations, create funny characters. Tech was meant to be just a temp gig to get some money and go back at creativity after some time. Well, I ended up liking earning money best. How naive in my part.
Two years ago I was fired from my last office job. That was bad for sure but realizing I had a good bunch of savings, investments and no debts, I decided I should use this period of time as a learning sabbatical to plunge deep into all the learning and workshops on MG comics and illustration I could get my hands on. After lots and lots of trial and error and false starts, I'm finally getting to work on a pro level middle grade GN pitch featuring my original characters and stories. I have also learned that my issue with full time job positions was more one of energy than time. Commuting, workplace stresses and responsibilities — I ended up returning home more often than not wasted and with no will to work on my personal projects after hours. This is something I need to be wary about should I need to return to the corporate trenches again — as making a living exclusively off art is quite a tough call.
Train work is the best work. Something about that liminal travel time that allows me to pound out more creative work in 40 minutes than I normally do over a whole busy weekend.
Thank you for sharing this! I really enjoyed the video and I like the additional points you made here. What kind of jobs have you had while working on your books?
When I started Adamsville, I was working in a call center talking with customers. From there I went into a compliance job, then technical writer. Currently, I work in user experience as a writer for our website. All with the same company. Ironically, as I sought to advance within my company, I started leveraging all of my comics skills to lobby for the jobs I have now!
Hi Michael. Seeing someone else being in the exact same day-vs-creative job tug-of-war I've been for much of my professional life is uplifting in the sense of not being the only one at it. Sorry if I get wordy here — have a lot to say about this. Will try not to go overboard.
I actually majored in fine arts and have made lots of children's illustrations and character design. However well before graduating I had a hand with technology and it was easier to get jobs and money that way, first on web design, then on UX, and when I realized it more than 20 years had passed and was already known in local circles as a trailblazing UX specialist. But what I always really wanted to do was make comics stories, animations, create funny characters. Tech was meant to be just a temp gig to get some money and go back at creativity after some time. Well, I ended up liking earning money best. How naive in my part.
Two years ago I was fired from my last office job. That was bad for sure but realizing I had a good bunch of savings, investments and no debts, I decided I should use this period of time as a learning sabbatical to plunge deep into all the learning and workshops on MG comics and illustration I could get my hands on. After lots and lots of trial and error and false starts, I'm finally getting to work on a pro level middle grade GN pitch featuring my original characters and stories. I have also learned that my issue with full time job positions was more one of energy than time. Commuting, workplace stresses and responsibilities — I ended up returning home more often than not wasted and with no will to work on my personal projects after hours. This is something I need to be wary about should I need to return to the corporate trenches again — as making a living exclusively off art is quite a tough call.
Thank you so much for sharing your story! I would love to see your pitch when it's done! I hope all the best for you in that.
This is so good. Thanks, Michael. Needed this.
Train work is the best work. Something about that liminal travel time that allows me to pound out more creative work in 40 minutes than I normally do over a whole busy weekend.
Thank you for sharing this! I really enjoyed the video and I like the additional points you made here. What kind of jobs have you had while working on your books?
When I started Adamsville, I was working in a call center talking with customers. From there I went into a compliance job, then technical writer. Currently, I work in user experience as a writer for our website. All with the same company. Ironically, as I sought to advance within my company, I started leveraging all of my comics skills to lobby for the jobs I have now!