Why I’ve Quit my Side Hustle to Write.

Last month, I earned around $300 on various online survey sites. I even got paid for playing puzzle games on my cell phone. Sounds great, right?

I honestly thought things were starting to look up. On the verge of ill health retirement after a long battle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), any extra money coming in would surely be a godsend.

But in truth, I wasn’t really enjoying the process. I could tell it was starting to have negative effects on both my creative writing and mental health issues. But I still kept going due to an underlying sense of guilt and duty to earn a crust.

Permanently glued to my laptop, I would fill out surveys each time a notification bell sounded. Then in-between the gaps, I would try desperately to concentrate on writing essays and poetry for my platforms.

Even when taking a rest break, I would rush to my desk to fill in a random survey about grocery shopping. It seemed the opportunity to earn a whopping 60 cents for 4 mins work was just too big to turn down!

Then one evening, I was trying to relax with my wife during a particularly intense episode of Downtown Abbey, when a notification bell sounded for yet another survey. Suddenly, I completely lost the plot!

“Fuck off you little pinging bastard! William is about to discover Mary’s secret about the Turkish diplomat that she shagged to death after the hunt.” (Apologies, perhaps I should have issued a spoiler alert)

When my wife asked me if I was ok … well … I’m afraid I broke down a bit actually. Tears began to flow!

I just hadn’t realised how mentally and physically exhausted I’d become from spending so much time at my desk. When I tried to explain I was just trying to make some extra money for the family, she hit me with both barrels …

“But you’re a writer Simon! Why the hell are you trying to scrape money from survey sites when you are so talented. Did you really spend all that time doing a creative writing degree just to offer your opinions on which brand of soap powder you prefer?!”

Of course, she was right (as per usual!) I have learned so much from my writing degree, it would be crazy not to use it. Even if I don’t become the next Shakespeare, I surely have all the knowledge and tools to make at least a minimum wage through my prose as a freelance writer.

It has still been a difficult decision to give up my side hustle. Especially knowing I will soon be without the job I've relied on to support my family over the last 20 years. But I now believe it is definitely the right one.

Concentrating solely on the creative writing process has already started to show some positive effects. I’m much less stressed and my mind seems to have untangled itself from its usual clot of knots, to a mere stringy mess with some extra space for free-thinking.

Then just few days ago, I spent a solid three hours writing a piece for Vocal without any of my usual interruptions. It is the first time in ages I have fully committed to my writing like this and the freedom felt wonderful!

When it was later awarded Top Story, I was so proud of myself. It not only turned out to be the most popular piece I have written so far, but also proven to me that I have what it takes to be a freelance writer.

Because writing is who I am!

Thanks for reading.

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Original version published at https://medium.com/never-stop-writing/why-im-quitting-my-side-hustle-to-write-aeb3e230bd9b