I'm just curious, and maybe nobody will respond to this, but who else here has a day job that is very far from being a screenwriter? I just think that there are so many interesting occupations out there (many of which we draw on to provide material for our scripts), but I wonder how many of us are not writers by profession - yet :)

I'll start, and maybe I'll be the only one. Oh well, here goes.

I am a Geographic Information Systems technician. Absolutely nothing like being a writer, virtually no creativity required.

Anybody else?

School

Keeping my husband happy and well fed.

Quoted from Aaron School

Taking writing classes?

Quoted from Grandma Bear Keeping my husband happy and well fed.

Your newest avatar makes you look exactly like Arden Mirin (sp?).

Technical Analyst.

Spend 10 hours a day on computers only to go home and write for another couple.

I need sun.

IT Distribution Specialist.  I wait for orders to come in, process them, generate paperwork, and essentially serve as a liaison between the Production, IT, and Shipping departments.

Like MacDuff, I sit in front of a comp all day, only to go home and do it for most of the night.

[quote=James_R]
Taking writing classes?

Nope, home school

I write almost full time and work as a volunteer at the hospital.

My main focus in life has been education and I had home schooled my kids who are now grown and I'm so very happy to say doing really well on the road of life.

I operated a home daycare when my kids were really young-- dabbled with radio broadcasting... and before that I had worked for a vitamin company, several factory jobs when I was just a kid still and living in Vancouver. As a matter of fact, I had met my husband on the pier while working at the fish cannery years ago. We've been married 31 years.

The writing projects and research that I have going I really love so much. I just wish I could gain my health back and then I would be the happiest person in the world I think.

Sandra

That's cool Sandra. I enjoy home school better than public school, it's just...better. You get more work done, AND you get to college faster if you don't have long summers. My upcoming summer in like June or around there will be like 3 weeks. But at that rate I'll be off to film school in 2 or 3 years.

Some samples of the writing I actually get paid for can be found here.

I am author on a book chapter, too.

I get paid for writing code, programming.  I write in many different languages  C#, Python, Javascript, HTML and SQL. There isn't any examples I can show you on the publicly accessible web because they are usually private applications.  Currently I'm working for a company that makes Graphical Information Systems software.

Cool idea for a topic. I'm in college full time currently but last year I worked as a waiter, which introduced me to a lot of interesting characters.

I am uneducated, unskilled and so toil away on a production line in a factory. Which is so mind numbingly boring and repetitiive I get to swich off, go auto pilot and just day dream for eight hours (and get paid for it too.)

Writing is my creative outlet.  

i'm a house husband!  yeah, mr.mom. my five year old just started school and my two year old is running amok as usual! now, this sounds like a good setup for prolific writing, and its how i started, first with stories, now scripts.

but i work at night in a supermarket doing nightfill, so sleep is a rare thing for me! too much coffee! my wife works fulltime. i work on scripts when i can but the catch 22 is that on my spare time i'm tired and can't think that well! but it's fun and i wouldn't swap it for anything...

I am a professional poker player and part time gigolo in my dreams.

In reality I sell stuff to people.

An aviation underwriter - someone's got an Aircraft, I insure it.

Quoted from bert I am author on a book chapter, too.

That's interesting.  care to elaborate.

Quoted from Murphy In reality I sell stuff to people.

That's funny, gigolos do the exact same thing.

Quoted from bert Some samples of the writing I actually get paid for can be found here.

Quoted from Bert's writing Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a large family of proteolytic enzymes involved in an array of physiological and pathological processes from development, morphogenesis, reproduction, wound healing, and aging to inflammation, angiogenesis, neurological disorders, and cancer cell invasion and metastasis.

Is that...English?

That's some serious stuff, Bert.

Quoted from Shelton That's funny, gigolos do the exact same thing.

Unfortunately most of my clients are middle aged men, I think there might be another name for that!  :o

Quoted from Murphy Unfortunately most of my clients are middle aged men, I think there might be another name for that!  :o

Yes.  It's "Phil".

Quoted from Shelton Yes.  It's "Phil".

You crack me up.  ;D

*only just found out the smileys are working again.  8)

AWESOME!  :) ;) :P ;D :( >:( :'( :X :-/ :o :B 8) :K) :D ::) ??)

Quoted from slabstaa That's interesting.  care to elaborate.

Sure...chapter 9...go buy a copy here!

Or don't haha.  Kinda' pricey, actually.

It's all English, Sniper, but doesn't really make for the the best conversation at dinner parties....

Quoted from bert Sure...chapter 9...go buy a copy now!! It's all English, Sniper, but doesn't really make for the the best conversation at dinner parties....

Is it available as an audio book?

At €120 there'd better be some porn in there.

ADAM19, huh? Would be a cool character name for a sci-fi flick.

Quoted from Shelton Is it available as an audio book?

You're kidding, right?

Quoted from Sniper At €120 there'd better be some porn in there.

Purchase a copy and you will be pleased to find that there are not TONS of naked pictures of Shelton.

I work in a prestige private bank, owned by a parent company that's totally broke.

If the rumours are true, Credit Suisse come get us.

I've worked in DIY, accounts, photography and consumer research.

I bought the audiobook. Listened to it in my car on my way to Atlanta... fell asleep in Lake City, went off the road, was arrested, tried to explain to cops why I fell asleep. Made them listen to it... once they were sleeping I drove off with blaring death metal blasting from the speakers.

Quoted from Grandma Bear I bought the audiobook. Listened to it in my car on my way to Atlanta... fell asleep in Lake City, went off the road, was arrested, tried to explain to cops why I fell asleep. Made them listen to it... once they were sleeping I drove off with blaring death metal blasting from the speakers.

And what did the rest of the cast of Mad TV think of that, Arden?

I had no idea this would be interesting to other people. What a curious bunch we are!

Quoted from Grandma Bear I bought the audiobook. Listened to it in my car on my way to Atlanta... fell asleep in Lake City, went off the road, was arrested, tried to explain to cops why I fell asleep. Made them listen to it... once they were sleeping I drove off with blaring death metal blasting from the speakers.

Mike's not the only cracker around here.  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Sandra

GM Giles... What type of poker? Online or offline? Cash or tourney? What stakes?

I'm at university. Or college. Or whatever you guys call it. Doing an arts degree. So that includes studying English, along with a bunch of other things.

Even though I make more money playing slots or blackjack at the casino, I work in retail. (gotta have medical insurance).

Haha you're joking right Cindy? Or do you card count?

No, I'm not joking. I know how to play, and I'm good.

Okay so you don't count. But you know basic strategy yes? Doesn't the casino still have the advantage? 1 and a half percent I think...

I am a masked defender, stalking the dark city at night protecting the innocent from evil.

If it's not too cold.

But other than that, I'm a graphic designer and on-air operator for CTV in town. On the side I've got my own small scale production company going, I mostly do live events (musical performances, the odd wedding, etc.) but right now I'm working on producing a short documentary on a band recording their first album. It's just me, so I plan it, shoot it, edit it, pretty much the only thing I don't do is get in front of the camera. So I suppose there is a bit of writing there. For the most part I tend to just somehow work everything out in my head as I go, and it always works out.

Those things tend to keep me busy.

Lordy I ramble.

Quoted from Tommyp GM Giles... What type of poker? Online or offline? Cash or tourney? What stakes?

$15 blackjack lol.

I was joking about being a pro by the way. I could never be a pro, for one I end up getting drunk and splitting 7's and two I am crap.

Quoted from Tommyp Okay so you don't count. But you know basic strategy yes? Doesn't the casino still have the advantage? 1 and a half percent I think...

The dealer always has the advantage.

You just have to know when to take a hit, when not to hit, when to double down...

Oh yeah, and NOT to split 7s  ;D

I'm tech support for a computer program that assists doctors and hospitals file their insurance claims electronically. Specifically, I work on the portion that interfaces with Medicare's Direct Data Entry system (which is an old DOS based 24x80 screen interface) in both maintenance and minor programming script changes in visual basic script and XML. I do quite a few other things as well related to the background support of this program, but that's my main responsibility.

I hack in my spare time, but that's a secret. Beyond screenplays, I'm also writing a novel based on what I consider to be my best screenplay.

Quoted from George Willson I hack in my spare time, but that's a secret.

What color hat do you wear?  ;)

Quoted from R.E._Freak What color hat do you wear?  ;)

It all depends on the occasion, my friend.

Quoted from George Willson It all depends on the occasion, my friend.

Say no more, say no more, wink wink.  ;D

The Government pays me to sit here and do nothing at all.

My day job was I helped process plastic for companies like John Deere and such.

I'm doing a degree in English and Film here in London.

I work at Waterstone's - a big UK bookstore - during the holidays.

Full time education - college, in my final year. Off to university next year. And I work in an 'urban' clothes shop at the weekend... For what I do, it's pretty good pay.

I work for a bakery (Hovis, for those of you from the UK), doing their customer service and admin work. The job gets quite similar to Lost at times (just pushing a button every 108 minutes, or however long that was).

Gives me plenty of time to read scripts and think of new ideas though, so every cloud, as they say.

Quoted from Old Time Wesley The Government pays me to sit here and do nothing at all.

So I'm not the only one working for the gubment. Whose gubment, though?

I use Jeff Paul's "Shortcuts to Internet Millions" and earn up to $15,000 - over $110,000 a week! Unfortunately, that was only when I stole the identity of the "Shortcuts to Internet Millions" infomercial's fake interviewee's identity, when in reality I work at a family medical center scanning papers, filing charts, and delivering correspondence papers to doctors and nurses, and eat the free food there, too.

Sean

Quoted from Zombie Sean when in reality I work at a family medical center scanning papers, filing charts, and delivering correspondence papers to doctors and nurses, and eat the free food there, too.

Bullshit, you're working on a virus that will reanimate the dead  :K)

Quoted from James R So I'm not the only one working for the gubment. Whose gubment, though?

The Canadian one.

The one where if you make a tiny mistake in filing for money they force you to prove you`re a legal citizen, sign some documents and waste a bunch of extra time. Yep, that one.

Full time student and soon, part time intern at a video training center. I'll basically be writing some of the center's promotional material for upcoming programs. First "real" job in my industry. Actually looking pretty forward to it.

Quoted from stebrown I work for a bakery (Hovis, for those of you from the UK), doing their customer service and admin work.

Ste, is this you then...



;-)

I do freelance graphic design, mainly for the casino industry (design glass for slot machines). Used to be real busy, but business has been real slow lately...Had a part time job at an advertising start-up, but that's on hiatus now..Substitute teaching to help get through the slow times...Fortunatly, my wife is still working and me fed, so I got no complaints....

Quoted from sniper Bullshit, you're working on a virus that will reanimate the dead  :K)

Note to self: when virus is successful...Send the test subjects to Robert....


Sean

I work part time at an elementary school as an after school program instructor. Good money, and the job is great, but not enough hours. The kids seem to make it worth it, though.

I don't have a day job.  I work 3rd shift as a Transportaion Planner.  I work for Exel Logistics, and we contract for Goodyear Tire and Rubber.  I work at the Goodyear world headquarters in Akron, OH, and plan freight for the Victorville, CA LC.

I left school at 16, joined a production factory to help pay for a family holiday. Five years later, still there, getting paid for nothing.  

My current job is teaching EFL.  Still trying to decide what I want to do when I grow up.  :)

Day job, student...Night job, i work at a 24/5 computer lab.

I'm a 3rd shift Janitor at the movie theater. Probably the closest I'll ever come to working with films. Haha. At least I get to see free movies.

~Zack~