There’s nothing wrong with teaching creative writing, if it’s something you really want to do and enjoy. But is it? Most creative writing teachers could make just as much bartending, and bartending would be less deleterious to their creative lives. And there are other jobs, humanitarian jobs like working in a homeless shelter, construction jobs, all sorts of things. Even career jobs. Lots of great books are written by doctors and lawyers. Writing is a fantastic hobby.

I realized that to continue as a writer I had to adjust certain expectations. My books have never sold in huge numbers and probably never will. But I can make enough while only writing what I want to write. Several times a year I teach a two-hour seminar about writing from experience. I love teaching the seminar because I get to engage with an interested group about topics that are really interesting to me, without having to read their work. I think we both get more out of it that way. But if I did it too often it would be just like any other job. Sometimes I can get $500 or $1,000 for giving a reading at a university and sometimes a royalty check will come from nowhere, like found money. I’m 37 years old and I can live off $30,000 a year, which is about what I make. It’s not a lot for San Francisco, but it’s enough. I try to do the best work I’m capable of, which is not the same as making the most money.

I’m at an age where my nonwriter friends are buying property, having babies, and moving ahead in their careers, while I live in a rent-controlled apartment with my young hipster roommate. I still go through heavy bouts of depression; it’s my nature. But I wouldn’t choose a different life. Time spent focusing on art is a privilege and a gift. The writing doesn’t make me happy, but it makes me happier, and it makes everything else easier to take.

@gwen i’m definitely a fan of bird by bird

I think artists are like anybody else: they need plenty of exercise, sleep, a healthy diet, friends, family…and most of them sacrifice these things for their “art.”

The best I can usually do is 2 hours a day. You’d be surprised what you can do with 2 hours: I wrote my first book on the way to/from work and on my lunch break.

Books more influential to my writing and my teaching of writing to college students are Bird by Bird which you mention and Wild Mind by Natalie Goldberg.

On the conflict between having a family, being a good parent, partner etc–finding a balance–that’s been hard for me. Fortunately, my family enjoys and supports my 2 current creative outlets–blogging and environmental activism like organizing First Friday ArtRides where we dress up and ride around town (50 cyclists in Santa suits in June for example).

On this subject, Ray Carver says a mouthful in his essay “Fires” in the book of the same name. What he says is shocking but the truth.

Mostly I don’t sleep.

I read and worked through much of “The Artist’s Way” and I got a lot out of it. It’s a bit new agey/12 Steppy for me, but even so, found it very useful. Best of all, it gives a structured set of activities so you are cranking out stuff on a regular basis—creating.

I know people tend to see day jobs as a sign of failure, but really, there are so many benefits:

1. By separating your comics from your need to feed yourself, you keep full control of your comics. You’ll never have to draw someone else’s story simply because that someone else is going to help you make rent.

2. Health insurance.

3. Your day job can be a great source of material. Stories occur around us all the time, especially when we’re interacting with other people.

Yang makes another excellent point: it’s important to choose a day job wisely:

You do have to exercise good judgment in picking a day job. It should be something you like – not every day, but overall. It should be something you find meaningful. And it should be something that will leave you with enough energy to make your comics after work. For a lot of us, that means a day job that doesn’t involve cartooning.

Personally, I think classroom teaching is a great way to go. Everyone knows we need good teachers, and teaching, at least for me, draws from a different “energy well” than cartooning. Teaching is so extroverted, so people-oriented. At the end of a day of teaching, when I’ve had all the human contact I can stand, I go to my drawing board and recharge by inking a page. Then, when I’m sick of being holed up in my home office, I go back into my classroom. Plus, you can catch up on your comics during summer vacations if you fall behind during the school year. If you’re a cartoonist who’s ever even had a passing interest in
teaching, I’d encourage you to explore it

I would absolutely love to write a book about family & art — I’ve been thinking for a while about bringing my wife on as a guest poster for a “First Wives” series, where we talk about the first wives of some of my favorite creators, and how they got the shaft…

I haven’t found many great books on balancing art and family. I have a sneaking suspicion that any such books have been written by women. (Maybe you can suggest a couple?)

Maybe Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way? I’ve not delved into that book at all, but know about her more “spiritual” approach to creativity, FWIW…