And What Do You Do?

I have a copy of And What Do You Do? to give away. Just leave a pick me comment.

It is a modern truth about writers that very few are able to make a full time living from writing books. One solution is to work a normal 9-to-5 job and write in your spare time. However, another route is to treat writing as a part time job, and take on three or four other part time jobs to produce a number of income streams to pay the bills. If you are considering taking this approach (it is called Portfolio working), or already do, then And What Do You Do? is the book for you.

Barrie Hopson and Katie Ledger have written this book as a step-by-step guide to building a ‘portfolio’ career. The book is split into ten practical steps:

My portfolio career: Is it for me?
My money: Can I afford a portfolio career?
My motivated skills: Work I am good at, enjoy and am proud of,
My values: What makes me want to work?
My ‘selves’: Who am I going to be today?
My networks,
My portfolio,
My story,
My brand,
My portfolio career: Next steps.

So, what can I say about this book?

Well to be honest this is a very honest book. It sets out to give pragmatic guidelines to building a portfolio career. However, not only is it packed full of practical advice, it also asks the reader to look deeper into themselves and ask if this is the kind of work they should be pursuing. Overall, this is an excellent book.

And the winner is…Rosie

{ 24 comments }

Carola January 13, 2010 at 10:50 am: Uuuugh ….. this book loooks like it’s right up my street. Pleeeaaase pick me!!
Bee January 13, 2010 at 10:50 am: Pick me! I need help with my portfolio career!
Cathy January 13, 2010 at 10:51 am: Pick me please!
Pippa Hennessy January 13, 2010 at 10:59 am: Please pick me – sounds perfect!
Roma Diaz January 13, 2010 at 11:08 am: Pick me! Sélectionnez-moi! Escójame! Pick mich! Выберите меня! Με επιλέξτε!
Please
Fran Flett Hollinrake January 13, 2010 at 11:14 am: Since stepping off the full-time work wheel six years ago and moving to the Orkney Islands, I have taken on several part-time jobs, both employed and self-employed. It’s an exciting and varied life and I am trying very hard to make time for writing. This book would be a brilliant help!
Jo January 13, 2010 at 11:18 am: This looks exceptionally useful, and I promise to write a thorough, but not sycophantic, review on a site of your choosing if you…PICK ME
Helen January 13, 2010 at 11:19 am: PICK ME. Please.
(Thanks.)
Donna B January 13, 2010 at 11:44 am: I would love to win this book so please pick little old me xx
Mike Arnzen January 13, 2010 at 1:34 pm: Pick me! I could use the info from this book to help teach my writing students who are wondering what on earth they are going to do when they graduate. The concept of ‘portfolio’ careering sounds fascinating to me.
Danny S January 13, 2010 at 1:40 pm: Portfolio eh? seriously thinking about packing in my 8 to 4, three day week office gig to swim on and do a length or two properly writing and stuff… this could just keep me afloat!
Row January 13, 2010 at 1:42 pm: Yep, I’m a professional job-juggler. Please pick me
Dave Barker January 13, 2010 at 2:11 pm: Been seriously thinking of switching to part time to write more. Please pick me, lovely, lovely BubbleCow!
Jill January 13, 2010 at 2:12 pm: As a full-time corporate copywriter who rises at 5 am every morning to write her novel, I can’t help but wonder if striking out on my own would offer more satisfaction (and at least some of the pay). Still, with a husband out of work and a flailing economy, I’m not really sure how to do it. It’s nice to see a comprehensive how-to on a very specific subject. I’d love to tear into it.
Claire (BucksWriter) January 13, 2010 at 3:13 pm: I would love a copy of this book as I gave up my full-time job 10 months ago, took a break and am now taking my first (very tentative) steps into a new career where I hope to combine some consulting with some creative writing and some work as a reiki practitioner. I hope to be busy but am also v v nervous and I need guidance and solace and a kick up the backside. Thank you
Juliet Boyd January 13, 2010 at 4:19 pm: Please pick me – I’d love to know if this is a realistic route for me.
emma January 13, 2010 at 4:47 pm: Sounds perfect for me – I’m juggling voice-over work, visual research for documentary television, writing, and being a musician!

Pick me please
Terry Sparks January 13, 2010 at 5:38 pm: Looks like a interesting read. That is how I have worked my whole life, didn’t know there was a term for it. Just starting out in writing, this could help me clean my game up a little.
Diane January 13, 2010 at 5:59 pm: This sounds great! Please pick me – I’m hoping a portfolio career will be the key to solvency
Bev Katz Rosenbaum January 13, 2010 at 6:20 pm: Quite accidentally, I seem to have cobbled together a portfolio career–would love tips on how to handle!
Andy January 13, 2010 at 9:38 pm: Sounds good, pick me please! I currently work 4 days a week and write on my day off and evenings/weekends/lunches, but this is also combined with study psychology! It keeps away bad tv!
Rosie January 13, 2010 at 9:38 pm: *jumps up and down with hand in the air*
Jen January 13, 2010 at 9:54 pm: Go on, pick me. You know you want to…
Please. Pretty please.
Lisa Mason January 14, 2010 at 2:41 pm: I really need this book in my life, I’m so fed up with being asked the Title of Hopson & Ledger’s work in a condescending manner. Plus some tips on networking would be invaluable…pleeeease pick me!!