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The battle's not over
Mar. 30th, 2017 08:56 pmSo I've gotten offers for three different jobs, each of them for $3 an hour less than my previous job. I also got notice that my rent was increasing $100/month starting May. I was struggling already before; this is basically not sustainable.
I've gotten some wonderful commissions and responses from friends. I had one set of twelve comic page commissions that I thoroughly enjoyed doing. (In fact, I'm a little melancholy about giving up that "work on commissions at home" lifestyle.) But I'm aware that my art is not in the demand it needs to be to make up the shortfall.
So, after the initial panic session, I've come to some conclusions:
1) The minute a job in my old salary range becomes available, I'm applying for it and jumping ship should I get it.
2) Tim and I are working together to get him employed. It's a bit difficult as he's been out of the workforce for some time, and I haven't had the time or ability to acclimate him to the strenuous business of job searching.
3) I will try to find any part time work I can get to help make up for the shortfall.
4) I will be available for commissions indefinitely. (There's one job that, should I get it, would make doing one commission a night a definite possibility.). If I don't do one, I'll try to do an independent artwork to keep myself relevant and keep me on my artistic toes.
5) I'm going to add more benefits to Patreon patrons. I'm thinking of text stories, which are a bit easier for me to write than comics.
"Newshounds" is coming to a definite close this year, but there's comics in the queue till January or so. "Infinity Refugees" may end up being twice a month until I can spare time for it again. In the meantime, I'll work on commissions, struggle to find a new job, or whatever it takes so I can get us back on our feet again. This is going to be so rough. I have no breathing room right now if an emergency happens. I'm making car payments. My credit card debt is huge. But at the same time, I don't have any big needs or expenses, and we can live even more sparingly if we have to.
But we can't continue to live like this. Before, once I had a job, I would settle. I can't do that now. The job search is continuing while I work.
I've gotten some wonderful commissions and responses from friends. I had one set of twelve comic page commissions that I thoroughly enjoyed doing. (In fact, I'm a little melancholy about giving up that "work on commissions at home" lifestyle.) But I'm aware that my art is not in the demand it needs to be to make up the shortfall.
So, after the initial panic session, I've come to some conclusions:
1) The minute a job in my old salary range becomes available, I'm applying for it and jumping ship should I get it.
2) Tim and I are working together to get him employed. It's a bit difficult as he's been out of the workforce for some time, and I haven't had the time or ability to acclimate him to the strenuous business of job searching.
3) I will try to find any part time work I can get to help make up for the shortfall.
4) I will be available for commissions indefinitely. (There's one job that, should I get it, would make doing one commission a night a definite possibility.). If I don't do one, I'll try to do an independent artwork to keep myself relevant and keep me on my artistic toes.
5) I'm going to add more benefits to Patreon patrons. I'm thinking of text stories, which are a bit easier for me to write than comics.
"Newshounds" is coming to a definite close this year, but there's comics in the queue till January or so. "Infinity Refugees" may end up being twice a month until I can spare time for it again. In the meantime, I'll work on commissions, struggle to find a new job, or whatever it takes so I can get us back on our feet again. This is going to be so rough. I have no breathing room right now if an emergency happens. I'm making car payments. My credit card debt is huge. But at the same time, I don't have any big needs or expenses, and we can live even more sparingly if we have to.
But we can't continue to live like this. Before, once I had a job, I would settle. I can't do that now. The job search is continuing while I work.
