4 answers
Zoey
Student
Zimmerman, Minnesota
3
Questions
Asked
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How much overtime do you put in/how much time do you have for family, hobbies etc. ?
I'm in 11th, and looking into Marine Biology and/or Writing and would like to know how much free time these jobs have.
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3 answers
Roger Maxwell
Freelance Writer
13
Answers
Phoenix, Arizona
Updated
Roger’s Answer
Hello!
I wanted to be a marine biologist too! But my mom wouldn't allow me to take scuba lessons since I wouldn't get home early enough to do homework.
Marine biologist's typically work for the government, research labs, non-profit organizations ... which may have more regular 8-5 working day. However, writers usually have a greater range of hours depending on what type of writer you are - freelance/copywriter, journalist, novelist...
If you are a freelance writer, you make your own hours. You determine your hours based on your workload. If your client needs you to write one 2,300 word blog a week for $800 a blog, and you can write that blog in 20 hours (4 hours in 5 days), that's $3200.00 a month. Will that allow you the spare time you need or want.
If you are a journalist, you will probably be working for a news agency and they may have standard hours, or even extended hours.
The other thing you should consider ... do you love what your doing? I wanted to be a Marine Biologist because I loved the ocean and the beauty of the sealife and wanted to use my photography to take pictures. And I loved science. I thought it would be perfect. But I also loved to write. I ended up doing neither and got sucked into the world of Information Technology. I've only recently gotten back to serious writing - copywriting.
My point: You need to do what you love. And the hours you spend doing that won't seem so long ... in fact, it may fly by sooner than you think!
-Roger
I wanted to be a marine biologist too! But my mom wouldn't allow me to take scuba lessons since I wouldn't get home early enough to do homework.
Marine biologist's typically work for the government, research labs, non-profit organizations ... which may have more regular 8-5 working day. However, writers usually have a greater range of hours depending on what type of writer you are - freelance/copywriter, journalist, novelist...
If you are a freelance writer, you make your own hours. You determine your hours based on your workload. If your client needs you to write one 2,300 word blog a week for $800 a blog, and you can write that blog in 20 hours (4 hours in 5 days), that's $3200.00 a month. Will that allow you the spare time you need or want.
If you are a journalist, you will probably be working for a news agency and they may have standard hours, or even extended hours.
The other thing you should consider ... do you love what your doing? I wanted to be a Marine Biologist because I loved the ocean and the beauty of the sealife and wanted to use my photography to take pictures. And I loved science. I thought it would be perfect. But I also loved to write. I ended up doing neither and got sucked into the world of Information Technology. I've only recently gotten back to serious writing - copywriting.
My point: You need to do what you love. And the hours you spend doing that won't seem so long ... in fact, it may fly by sooner than you think!
-Roger
Thank you so much for the advice!
Zoey
Claudia Soares
Program Manager
2
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Claudia’s Answer
With any job the balance between career and personal time is challenging. In my experience, it's never perfect nor will it ever be 50-50. The goal is to find what works best for you and understand that that will always be a moving target. As your life changes so will the amount of time you dedicate to each part of it. At times, your career will be prioritized others it won't. At times you will feel like you have everything under control, while others you won't. The best thing you can do is find what works for you, what makes you feel balanced and take care of yourself so that you can juggle all the things that are important to you.
Thank you very much! I appreciate it!
Zoey
Rich Feitelberg
Novelist
2
Answers
Quincy, Massachusetts
Updated
Rich’s Answer
As a writer I set my own schedule. I try to leave time for family and a social life and rearrange my schedule as circumstances require. That said, I try to write Monday through Friday and leave the weekends for myself.
Thank you!
Zoey