Stuck in a rut

Adsta

Adsta

Adsta

Soldato
Joined
7 May 2008
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Born in the U+K
Is there anyone here that feel they are stuck in a rut.

Currently I have a "good" job my life on a whole could be a lot worse. But I just feel like I have hit rock bottom.

I cannot stand the job I am in at the moment, but I just cannot see any way out. Its so frustrating because I earn quite a bit of money from the job I am in so whenever I talk to my family or girlfriend about it they just keep telling me that I should stick with it and just try and push through as it would be such a waste to throw a good job away.

I have sat in this role for over a year now and really cannot stand it, I hate the work, I hate the people I work with and to be honest the work I do I feel I am not even that good at.

The problem I have is I cannot go completely out of work due to a personal loan that I need to pay off. I currently have just over one more year before that is paid off. I am saving money and feel that maybe I should just pay off this loan, save a bit more cash and then just pack the job in. Just quit and do nothing for a while.

The problem is I just have no idea what I would want to do instead of this. The only thing I really enjoy is doing "creative" writing because I can work at my own pace and use my creative side which I really enjoy. I have been looking into freelancing but that just seems near on impossible to get into unless you already have contacts or have some kind of professional award or certification.

I don’t really know what responses to get from here really except “mustard” and “smash some pastys” :p
 
Join the forces like me! :D I wasnt happy in my old job, so joined the RAF and love it !
 
What ever you do fella don't give up your job. Go to night school or something and learn something new. It's hard to get a good job at the moment so leaving one would be a mistake.

Throw some mustard at your boss It'll help I'm sure.
 
Personally if I were you and I had the means to pay off that loan early, I would do it and get the hell out of there.
I'm stuck in a job I dislike but my credit cards and loan are crippling me, I have no way out at the mo. I'm trying to get a part time bar job to go with my work at the mo so that in the next year or 2 I can get out and try looking for something that will make me happy.
End of the day you only live once, make the most of it, chase whatever makes you happy.
Just do it sensibly.
 
You are in a lucky position because you enjoy something which could potentially get you an income, if you are any good (creative writing).

You are in a double-lucky position because you can do your creative writing in the evenings, at your own pace.

If I was you, I'd sit down and start writing a few short stories -- and when you have 10 of them (and hopefully are wise enough to disregard the 35% that arn't that good -- rather than keep them just because they took you ages) -- send them (hardcopy) to 100 publishers and just see what happens.

I read that the author of Harry Potter competely finished 2 books -- spending months on each of them, then literally chose the 'worse' of the 2 and threw it in the bin! It's all about self-censorship so the stuff you release in your name is all good quality -- and takes discipline in all aspects of art (I saw an interview with George Michael and he said that for every song the public hears, there are 4 which he refuses to release even though they took thousands to produce and record etc .. because he's so keen to keep his quality as high as he can).


So

1) Start doing 2 hours in the evening of creative writing and get it off to publishers to see if you stand a chance ..
2) Bumble along at the job half-heartedly -- and don't try that hard or give that much thought to it as it doesn't matter if you don't do well or get sacked really.
3) Maybe start applying for any old (decent paying) jobs -- who knows -- if you get one .. job done give it a go for a few months. If you don't -- well -- no-one needs even know you were looking ..
4) Instead of throwing your worse stuff in the bin, you could always (using a mates address) send it under a 'pseudonym' name -- that way if its actually any good you get to still get a publishing deal -- but if its not that good (as you expect) you haven't tainted your professional writing name .. loads of authors do this ..
 
Hedge said:
Join the forces like me! :D I wasnt happy in my old job, so joined the RAF and love it !
Click to expand...

funnily enough I was going to suggest the forces as well!

its such a change in life..but not everybody is suited to it.

it also allows you you to learn a new trade if you so wish..and if you find its something you enjoy you can always sign up again for another stint.

choose your trade carefully, go for it whole heartedly and dont hold back and it will reward you, friends you will make for life and that you can rely on.

the only problem will be the girlfriend

my best mate was in for he long haul in the Signals, met a girl and got married and he had to buy himself out..they divorced a few years later and he has regretted ever leaving..it was his life, he was a sergeant and a good few years older than his squad. but they were like family...its something the forces gives you that I dont think you can get in any civilian job.
 
Adsta said:
Is there anyone here that feel they are stuck in a rut.

Currently I have a "good" job my life on a whole could be a lot worse. But I just feel like I have hit rock bottom.

I cannot stand the job I am in at the moment, but I just cannot see any way out. Its so frustrating because I earn quite a bit of money from the job I am in so whenever I talk to my family or girlfriend about it they just keep telling me that I should stick with it and just try and push through as it would be such a waste to throw a good job away.

I have sat in this role for over a year now and really cannot stand it, I hate the work, I hate the people I work with and to be honest the work I do I feel I am not even that good at.

The problem I have is I cannot go completely out of work due to a personal loan that I need to pay off. I currently have just over one more year before that is paid off. I am saving money and feel that maybe I should just pay off this loan, save a bit more cash and then just pack the job in. Just quit and do nothing for a while.

The problem is I just have no idea what I would want to do instead of this. The only thing I really enjoy is doing "creative" writing because I can work at my own pace and use my creative side which I really enjoy. I have been looking into freelancing but that just seems near on impossible to get into unless you already have contacts or have some kind of professional award or certification.

I don’t really know what responses to get from here really except “mustard” and “smash some pastys” :p
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Sounds like a similar situation I was in. First question - how long have you been working there?

I spent 12 years in the same place and basically got so hacked off with the politics that leaving was a life changing experience. The place was sold off and became a product-based company with all the knives coming out after previous mergers under the old parent company. The problem was there was so much fighting internally and I would just return home a little more dead in the heart each day. My parents and friends weren't surprised and thought I would have done this a whilst go.

Better I'm out of it. I'm still looking for a role, the job market is very very slow at the moment and it's not the time to really attempt moving roles if you're wanting to transfer skills unfortunately.

I am slowly writing a book. However remember if you write a book it could be three years before you've completed it and there's no real guarantee that either someone will publish it or you'll make money.
It's better perhaps to look at the new technologies such as games scripting or media.

The skills I have can be used all over the place, product management/solution architecture.. but I thought about it and it's the continuous environment of change that a high level solution architect which really makes me feel alive so I'm looking at solution/enterprise architect roles. :D
I like the book writing but it's a very lonely solitary existence as your world becomes the book and it's revisions, revisions and revisions..

I should note I was left money, so I have spent 2 months enjoying summer before settling down into a rhythm and splitting my day into job hunting, writing and drumming. Now six months on and I've experienced all the self growth and exploring "what is valuable to me", an odd question but one that I've never stopped to ask myself or at least sit long enough to answer it (the work was masking it).
Sort of hippy/mid-life crisis but having the time to sit and answer the question :D
 
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britboy4321 said:
1) Start doing 2 hours in the evening of creative writing and get it off to publishers to see if you stand a chance ..
2) Bumble along at the job half-heartedly -- and don't try that hard or give that much thought to it as it doesn't matter if you don't do well or get sacked really.
3) Maybe start applying for any old (decent paying) jobs -- who knows -- if you get one .. job done give it a go for a few months. If you don't -- well -- no-one needs even know you were looking ..
4) Instead of throwing your worse stuff in the bin, you could always (using a mates address) send it under a 'pseudonym' name -- that way if its actually any good you get to still get a publishing deal -- but if its not that good (as you expect) you haven't tainted your professional writing name .. loads of authors do this ..
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice :)

I have been playing about with a few ideas I have for stories. I have an outline for a story I am currently working on as well as a couple of drafts for a few chapters.

But I think your idea of coming up with a few short stories rather than looking at a whole book for now and see where it gets me.
 
i know how u feel i work in a call centre and its soul destroying, however i earn hardly anything my wage is an insult at £6.30 per hour as it has been for over 2 and a half years now. Good job i live in one of the most deprived towns in the country so that cost of living is fairly cheap.
 
Adsta said:
Thanks for the advice :)

I have been playing about with a few ideas I have for stories. I have an outline for a story I am currently working on as well as a couple of drafts for a few chapters.

But I think your idea of coming up with a few short stories rather than looking at a whole book for now and see where it gets me.
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Your short stories can be set in the world/universe you're writing your larger story about. This doesn't have to give away the larger story but will validate how you write about it.
 
I disagree with all these 'don't give up your job' squares. if you pay off your loan and have no debt then I say go for it. You are clearly not enjoying your job and it is holding you back from doing waht you want to do, whatever that may be. Good luck chief, follow your dreams and don't be another one stuck in a job you don't like.
 
Jambo said:
I disagree with all these 'don't give up your job' squares. if you pay off your loan and have no debt then I say go for it. You are clearly not enjoying your job and it is holding you back from doing waht you want to do, whatever that may be. Good luck chief, follow your dreams and don't be another one stuck in a job you don't like.
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The issue is that even finding a part time job that could give you time to write for example is going to be exceedingly difficult in the current job market. Especially as all the grads are currently applying for them.

He's effectively wanting todo what I have done (I have no debt). You will still require living expenses (food, tax, pension, NI, fuel, insurance, servicing, going out etc).
 
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NickK said:
Your short stories can be set in the world/universe you're writing your larger story about. This doesn't have to give away the larger story but will validate how you write about it.
Click to expand...

Its always really nice getting some helpful advice/ideas :) thanks

I think I will make a start on this tonight to be honest. I have my concrete idea of a world it would not be hard to come up with some history on it and then produce some short stories on that. Thus I therefore will create a more of a feel and past to the world.
 
JRR Tolkien wrote "essays" and other such study points during his time writing Lord of the Rings.

I don't know if you've looked at any books around fictional writing? I've got a few around characterisation and self editing rather than "how to write a book" which lead to cookie cutter storylines just like the dross you get from Hollywood.
 
I have to say I haven't really looked into books about writing.

I most likely should. I think one about self editing would be really good. The one thing I do a lot when writing is get side tracked and end up writing about things that really are not relavent :p

Have you any suggestions on good books to get for this NickK ?
 
My friend is/was in a similar predicament. He's written some damned good stuff, but has NEVER sent anything off, as he's NEVER fully satisfied with his work.
Its certainly a huge comittment to write as for every successfull author there are literally 1000s of failed ones or good ones that never get the chance to be read.

Jambo said:
I disagree with all these 'don't give up your job' squares. if you pay off your loan and have no debt then I say go for it. You are clearly not enjoying your job and it is holding you back from doing waht you want to do, whatever that may be. Good luck chief, follow your dreams and don't be another one stuck in a job you don't like.
Click to expand...
Whilst i agree with Jambo in sentiment, the real world isn't so kind and you need to be able to support yourself before 'living the dream' dude.
 
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