What lessons can we take away from this? First, let me say that while I’m all for squeezing time into a busy schedule to write, unless you and your boss have an agreement concerning writing during work hours, you shouldn’t be surprised when they hand you the pink slip if they sneak up on your cubicle while you’re doing 140 wpm on the keyboard. (I have seen some authors who do work out an arrangement. They have a part or full-time job that allows them to write during down time and slow periods, so long as they maintain productivity levels.)
It also might not be a good idea, during the job interview, to ask what the company’s policy is on furthering your writing career on business hours–especially if your job is something like air traffic controller, or a security guard. Typing away might be a bit distracting during some crucial points during the day.
Throughout my various employments, I tend to take my lunch hours and set them aside for writing. I’m on my own time then, and I can get away from the desk and let my head clear for a little bit. Sometimes I head out of the building and walk around while talking through plot points, and, yes, I consider that part of the writing process.
The woman in this article did challenge the firing, saying she was just honing her skills during slow periods at work. I think any business appreciates employees trying to improve their work value, but when you work at an industrial equipment manufacturer, literary props aren’t going to help much, methinks. Anyone disagree? Think she should’ve been given unemployment benefits?
I guess it could’ve been worse. She could have been trying to pull off a Devil Wears Prada scheme and expose how awful her boss was. The question is, how is she going to explain her getting fired while applying for her next job?
I see that smile.
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No sympathy from me.
Work is work.
Writing is writing.
Unless your work is writing.
Okay … from that last bit of twisted logic, it is obvious that I’ve indulged in too many Christmas cookies.
Work as writing can be fun, as I’ve found with my job. Fortunately, I haven’t found that writing for sales catalogs and such drains my personal creativity at all…at least so far. Let’s hope that’s a trend.