What job would I do for free?

Creativity, On Writing, Self-empowerment by Christine Betts
Daily writing prompt
What job would you do for free?
View all responses

The job I’ve been doing for free since 2017 – Writing!

I’ve been writing most of my life but I’ve been writing daily, publishing, and teaching for the sheer, mother-loving joy of it for seven years and show no signs of stopping. Everything about the writing life is wonderful, especially days like today when I’m at my standing desk, cats at my feet, and it’s raining outside.

You can buy my books online, order from a local bookstore or request them from your local library service.

There is the occasional wobble, a moment when I wonder what the hell I’m doing all this for.

‘I could be helping,’ I think…

This week I had a wobble because holidays and visiting prevented me from spending my days writing. I can be very anti-social. Don’t get me wrong, I love my family and friends. Simple truth is I’m generally a better human when I’m writing or directly following a big writing day, basking in the glow of my productivity. I’m not one of those people who only love having written; I love writing and editing. I’m a weirdo, I know.

Then I remind myself that I do help!

One of my fave things about the writing life is encouraging others to get stuck in too. When I meet a new person at our writers’ association, my favourite question is ‘what are you writing?’ People love talking about their work! I created a fun event called Write and Sip and facilitate a critique group. I volunteer to interview authors at the library. I also sponsored the Gold Coast Writers’ Association short story competition in 2022 and 2023. The 2024 GCWA short story competition is open for entries until May 31. Great cash prizes and a feedback option is available, too! Click here for more info. I’m not the sponsor this year but I can’t enter as I’m on the committee.

I recently applied for a fellowship but I haven’t entered any competitions for ages as I work on a non-fiction book, a contemporary romance, and a series of romantic short stories to publish on KU. I am working on getting this gig to pay and have so many projects and ideas, I’ll have to live until I’m a hundred and fifty to fit them all in.

Happy Writing!

Here’s my Instagram. I’m just about to hit 1700 follows!!

I’ve joined a movement this month called #promoteyourartapril the brain child of the wonderful Amy McNee from @inspiredtowrite I’ve been promoting my work for five days and I don’t believed I have died from it…