[Figo0202]

I’m a 40-year-old IT guy, been in the tech for 16 years. But just last week, the corporate guillotine came down in the form of a cost-cutting spree, and I, along with 10 other guys got the pink slip.

Now, the company’s parting gift includes:
1. A 2-month notice period that ends on June 15th, 2025.
2. After that, a consolation prize of half my salary for up to 4 months or until I land a new job(whichever comes first)
3. So basically, I’ve got 6 months of financial air to breathe before adulting kicks in again.

But here's where the plot thickens: I’ve always had this secret identity—mild-mannered techie by day, wannabe writer by...well, mostly by weekend. I published a short story on Kindle about a year ago. It didn’t exactly break the records, but it got some decent reviews and inflated my confidence just enough to start a full-blown novel. That baby is now about 60% done, and I’m pretty sure I can complete it within these 6 months.

Had the big talk with my wife (the real CEO of my life), and she gave me the green light to chase the dream—write the book, see where it goes, and only then dive back into job hunting if needed.

Now, the big question: Is this a bold, brilliant move—or the plot of a future chapter called "Regret: The Broke Writer’s Memoir"?

Would love your thoughts. Should I lean into this writing dream, or play it safe and start job hunting alongside?

[condor]

Originally Posted by Figo0202

Should I lean into this writing dream, or play it safe and start job hunting alongside?

Option 2. Not everyone has a best-seller from the start - and then continues to churn stuff. Reading hard-copies is a fading hobby for people.

And the returns come periodically. Not sure how exactly it is now, but my father got some royalty over the years for a couple of books he wrote on his subject - small amounts each quarter.

A proper job as the main source of income, or a regular source of proper income will be important.

All the best, though.

[ranjitnair77]

Originally Posted by Figo0202

I’m a 40-year-old IT guy, been in the tech for 16 years.

Would love your thoughts. Should I lean into this writing dream, or play it safe and start job hunting alongside?

Since you've completed 60% of the novel while holding down a job, i'm sure you can finish the rest while working. At your experience, roles are fewer, competition is high and companies are choosy. The market isn't very conducive with quiet layoffs everywhere. Don't waste a single minute of job search.

[am1m]

Originally Posted by Figo0202

...just enough to start a full-blown novel. That baby is now about 60% done, and I’m pretty sure I can complete it within these 6 months.
... Would love your thoughts. Should I lean into this writing dream, or play it safe and start job hunting alongside?

First off, congratulations on making this much progress on a novel! If you are more than half-way there and can see an end in sight, you must have put in so much work already.

The question really is, how much effort and what kind of effort do you need to finish the book? Does it involve extensive research? Do you need to travel somewhere to gain some insight to add authenticity to the writing? Or can you just sit in your room and finish it?

If you can just sit and finish it at home, then probably no reason not to search for a full-time job as well.

But if your gut (and some impartial readers) says you have a possible good book at hand, that just requires some full-time effort to finish up, then use these 6 months, or some part of that, to do a great job, even if it means postponing the job search for now.

But that is a bit of a gamble, no doubt. A novel that is 'finished' from a first time novelist's point of view is quite often just the start of many re-writes, restructuring, extended character development, etc etc, not to mention several rounds of heavy edits from the editor/publisher point of view. So it could very easily extend beyond those 6 months. And that's for a book that is considered publishable. Add to that the effort involved in selling the book idea to a publisher, the low returns for a first-time Indian author writing in English (which I presume the book is in).

Not trying to dissuade you by any means. Taking a book idea to even 60% completion is a stellar achievement!

And again, there is no reason why you can't do both. Some of the best books have been written by authors juggling multiple life things and jobs.

Whatever the outcome, great going man, I envy you. A book is something precious!

[NPV]

Originally Posted by Figo0202

I’m a 40-year-old IT guy, been in the tech for 16 years. But just last week, the corporate guillotine came down in the form of a cost-cutting spree, and I, along with 10 other guys got the pink slip.

Sorry to hear about the job, but happy to hear about your literary pursuits.

Since you’re still having the question about another IT job vs full time writing and you haven’t mentioned anything about the health of your financial and retirement planning, I would think first focusing on finding a job would be a better option and then you can continue writing in your free time (but remember the new job may not allow you the same time for it like your previous job, but don’t get disheartened).
Overall, finding an IT job now will be easier than finding one after say 3-5 years if you decided to try and get back, that’s just the way the industry works.

*Also check with folks in your circle/linkedin if you can get a remote working job or if you have niche skills you may be able to find a more flexible job/role.

[deep_bang]

Originally Posted by Figo0202

Would love your thoughts. Should I lean into this writing dream, or play it safe and start job hunting alongside?

My view is that this totally depends on your financial situation. If you feel that you can take off for a couple of years and there is no issue and life goes on nicely (may be just put off your next car purchase and such compromises may be ok), then I think it's good to finish the novel and then think of what next.

If however you can afford only 6 to 8 months of taking off then i would suggest to start looking for a job and while that's going on, spend the rest of the time on writing.

[v1p3r]

Originally Posted by Figo0202

Had the big talk with my wife (the real CEO of my life), and she gave me the green light to chase the dream—write the book, see where it goes, and only then dive back into job hunting if needed.

Can't give you any real advice because there are too many variable, but my compliments on being with a spouse who is this supportive!

And going by your post, I'd buy your book.

[Vishal.R]

Originally Posted by Figo0202

Would love your thoughts. Should I lean into this writing dream, or play it safe and start job hunting alongside?

Agree with others that option 2 is better. But would also suggest that instead of desperately hunting for new job which must be equal or batter in terms of pay and title, you may remain bit flexible and try to find a job which provide best work environment / work life balance with acceptable remuneration even if it may not be the best in terms of pay and label.

This way you may continue with your passion and if things go as expected, you would be in situation that you no longer have any financial need for full time job and that would be more appropriate time to finally say goodbye to job.

[SoumenD]

Originally Posted by Figo0202

...Should I lean into this writing dream, or play it safe and start job hunting alongside?

What sort of runway do you have? Is your house need sorted(as in paid-off house) and have a decent corpus to let you concentrate on other things for a few years without bothering about how to pay your monthly bills?

If the answer to the above is yes, please follow your passion. Very few get to do it anyways.

[Guna]

Originally Posted by Figo0202

Should I lean into this writing dream, or play it safe and start job hunting alongside?

Even if you want to focus on writing, your mind will not be calm from inside. Job hunting can take considerable time and effort. It requires 100% of your focus in today's job scenario. Go with option 2 without thinking twice.

[gupta_chd]

Originally Posted by Figo0202

Had the big talk with my wife (the real CEO of my life), and she gave me the green light to chase the dream—write the book, see where it goes, and only then dive back into job hunting if needed.

Compliments on having such a supportive suppose. Belive me, it is the biggest asset you have in your life contrary to your financial situation or literary skills or your technical expertise.

My advice do hold on to your career (technical) first, find a good job, don't jeopardize your primary bread winner and then in parallel focus on your dreams.

[A_Basu]

Originally Posted by Figo0202

mild-mannered techie by day, wannabe writer by...well, mostly by weekend. .....Would love your thoughts. Should I lean into this writing dream, or play it safe and start job hunting alongside?

Lean into the dream. You live only once.

A friend lost his job (quite a few years ago, when the first of the layoffs had started appearing in Bangalore), didn't immediately get another job (our field is closely networked; he'd have landed a job within a short time), wrote his novel, published it, wrote another, and now writes a very very popular OTT series (wont name the series).

[subraiyr]

Originally Posted by Figo0202

Had the big talk with my wife (the real CEO of my life), and she gave me the green light to chase the dream—write the book, see where it goes, and only then dive back into job hunting if needed.

A lot of folks have already provided you with the right perspective. Financial stability married with passion is clearly required to take a decision

I am going to turn from the point in question to something else

I must say that the new gen spouses (women & men) are so different from the earlier generations. Not to be gender insensitive or incorrect, but the womenfolk have really taken up the financial burden in families, esp when it comes to allowing their spouses to chase dreams. Love the world that we are living in nowadays.

In the last 4 months as a life coach I have been speaking to a lot of folks in their Middle Ages and almost all of them come back with the point that the support they receive from their spouses have been immense when they are looking to chase their passion.

Kudos to all those open minded spouses
,

[somersault]

Originally Posted by Figo0202

I’m a 40-year-old IT guy, been in the tech for 16 years. But just last week, the corporate guillotine came down in the form of a cost-cutting spree, and I, along with 10 other guys got the pink slip.

Now, the big question: Is this a bold, brilliant move—or the plot of a future chapter called "Regret: The Broke Writer’s Memoir"?

My friend, please take this as an eye opener. Even if you get another job at 40, there is always a risk of layoff in the future and chances of getting the job again at the right level is most difficult.

I would congratulate you to consider starting a career based on your passion. However small, it is important that you follow this path, provided your family/ wife supports you wholeheartedly and also to some extent financially. I am sure with your savings and wife's income you should be able to hold good for some time.

Remember, going forward, it will be difficult to get employed only on the services. You have to create something or manufacture something. Your story writing is the first step in the right direction. You will have some struggle in the earlier days. But put your hard work, and one day you will see success and a transition from the IT sector to the career of your passion. All the best.

Very few people know what they want to do in their life. You are one rare gem whom God has given the opportunity to follow your dream. Go for it.

[invidious]

Originally Posted by Figo0202

I’m a 40-year-old IT guy, been in the tech for 16 years. But just last week, the corporate guillotine came down in the form of a cost-cutting spree, and I, along with 10 other guys got the pink slip.

Now, the company’s parting gift includes:
1. A 2-month notice period that ends on June 15th, 2025.
2. After that, a consolation prize of half my salary for up to 4 months or until I land a new job(whichever comes first)
3. So basically, I’ve got 6 months of financial air to breathe before adulting kicks in again.

But here's where the plot thickens: I’ve always had this secret identity—mild-mannered techie by day, wannabe writer by...well, mostly by weekend. I published a short story on Kindle about a year ago. It didn’t exactly break the records, but it got some decent reviews and inflated my confidence just enough to start a full-blown novel. That baby is now about 60% done, and I’m pretty sure I can complete it within these 6 months.

Had the big talk with my wife (the real CEO of my life), and she gave me the green light to chase the dream—write the book, see where it goes, and only then dive back into job hunting if needed.

Now, the big question: Is this a bold, brilliant move—or the plot of a future chapter called "Regret: The Broke Writer’s Memoir"?

Would love your thoughts. Should I lean into this writing dream, or play it safe and start job hunting alongside?

Best of luck. Send me a DM and I can put you in touch with my literary agent.