If they'd let you, I'd go with the second option until your current commissions are done, then move to the full time position. You could still take commissions every so often, and spend more time working on personal pieces when you feel like it, since you'll be in a more financially stable place

That's true, but why would I do commissions at all if I can make more money doing less work elsewhere? Hence the price raise in option 3.

Maybe do both?
I don't see the problem with raising prices at all, especially if you wanna keep doing commissions

But I'd definitely go with doing work for the roofing company, even if it is just the week on, week off thingie

Right, but the problem is that I've got MONTHS of commission work ahead of me... Do you think it's fair to tell people who've been on my waiting list for a while that my prices have increased 30% in the interim? (Not a rhetorical question xD) I'd probably offer frequent discounts, like for the really long stories (which are much easier for me.), or for content that I really like, but otherwise I'm afraid I'll alienate my commissioners, and the long-time ones in particular.

I'd say for those commissions you've already taken, leave the prices where they are (after all it's only fair if they were quoted that amount in the beginning) but anything new gets the new pricing. Discounts are always a great incentive too! (I'm one of those couponing people, and sometimes it's those discounts that tip me into buying things, hehe)

Definitely don't see a problem with offering incentives, especially for long term customers or subject matter that you enjoy

Most people are just wait-listed at present. Basically, my plan was to take everyone who is currently on-table and leave prices the way they were for them until their projects were finished. Any other commissions over 10k words on my wait-list would get my current rates, but any under 10k would have to pay the new rate, or cancel. This is all just theory right now, I haven't planned anything yet.

Well that's a very tough call to make, while I do want to read more of the stories people have commissioned you ultimately you gotta do what you think is best for yourself in this situation.

I totally agree... but I'm kind of stuck on the notion that I don't want someone to want to commission me, but not be able to because my prices are too high. I've been there, and it can be quite uncomfortable.

That's why I offer hefty discounts with certain options - 30% for really short stories where I have a lot of control, 20% for a story in my particular interest category (but also giving me a little more control), and 10% for using one of my characters.

That way people who can't afford the regular priced commissions, but still want to get a story, have options to look at. It's not as good as having complete control over the direction of the story, of course, but I'm also writing at less $$ per word.

As for your queue....no advice there =/.

Right, that's what I had in mind, as well Though I think I'd do discounts a bit differently, like offering them for specific content that I can write quickly, or by giving me creative freedom, or a discount for repeat commissioning, etc.

3's what I'm leaning towards, right now :) Probably with discounts for certain people, etc. (See above post trees for details)

There really is only one thing to do, much as it pains me to say.

Take the full time job and refund everyone that paid you for work. Really there is no other choice. If you enjoy writing, do it later. Right now, you do it to survive. But now that you have potential to make a LOT more money in a possible career, however exhausting it is right now, which means writing is no longer a means to survive, you'd write so people don't think poorly of you.

However, think poorly of what? 'I'm sorry guys, I have a job that's taking up 48+ hours a week and i'm unable to write for you for a while, if ever.' Okay, that might make people a little upset, but if they actually get really bothered by it, they're not good people to begin with and their feelings don't matter. There is no real method of standing on solid ground and saying 'Okay, I know you deserve money to live on, and you have potential for a career and a large income you can't make by writing, but I really want my fetish material, so you'd better write it or i'm going on Artists Beware!' But then furries usually come up with ways of saying that, so I dunno.

However, it boils down to two things.

First: You can make money to set yourself up for the future. Taking classes for a career you want, branching out into another(less labor intensive) field of construction, even going back to college. You can pay rent and other bills in the meantime and, for once, be happy and content about your finances.

Or two: You can continue to worry about finances, taking a part-time position with no guarantee of it being there week-on, week off again, writing to make furries happy and possibly never getting out of your current situation. Remember: this day in age, part time jobs mean you're expendable, I don't care who you're related to in the company, your ass is grass if you can be replaced easily.

You make a very compelling argument, and I'd totally agree with you if it weren't for a few key facts I left out of the journal.

1) I HATE the people involved in this profession. Very nearly every one of them is a drunk, drug addicted asshole. A professional firm like this one is better than the run of the mill freelance roofers, but not by much. Working here is as much of a mental exercise as it is a physical, and I'm not sure I could take it full time. Not to mention just driving around is a headache with these people. I've seen my dad drink three beers on his way home from work, and text while driving besides. He's a terrible driver, and frankly I don't feel safe 50% of the time I'm with him.

2) The owner of the business was desperate to have me on board. He has 10-15 job sites running at any one time, and he has 50 more that he just doesn't have the trained, experienced personnel to tackle. With my twelve years experience and professional attitude (he won't hire idiots, for which I'm grateful), I'm a irreplaceable employee and capable of working whatever days and hours I want. He'd give them to me. He has no choice.

3) If I took a full-time job, I'd have to start paying taxes and fees, which would eat away 30% of my income every month (As opposed to working there part time, where I get paid cash, and commission writing, where I don't pay tax or fees). Not to mention I'd have to give up a rent-free apartment to work here (totally different part of the city than where I normally live.) in exchange for a much smaller room I would have to pay 650$/month for, and live with people I can't stand full time.

First bit: Your dad is a supervisor. What are the odds with your experience, you could get a similar position in the company? You already stated in #2 that the owner knows you can handle yourself, if you have that kind of clout, why couldn't you ask for a supervisor's position? Might be better money, plus it might be a little easier.

Second first bit: If you don't like your dad driving, get your own license. Not rocket science there.

3) You make a good point on taxes, but welcome to the real world. I wish that 25% of my paycheck didn't go to taxes, but it's part of being a grown-up. Not to sound crude, but it's a fact of life. Besides, fro, what you told me you made in two weeks of working, you'd have more than enough to handle an apartment on your own and then some. Enough to get your life on the right track.

As far as your co-workers being drunk, drug addicted assholes; again, welcome to the real world. Much as you might wish it, people can't all be awesome to work with. This is the best opportunity for you, and another month of working this insane job would have you in top shape, physically, mentally, financially and self-esteem wise. It's hard now, but obviously it's an opportunity for much better things.

Think of all your complaints you've had because of low money. Living situation, food shortages, worrying about day to day living and the final bills of the month while your current roommate gets high all the time. Now imagine how much a large influx of cash would help improve your situation.

Alright, I had a whole essay written, but I realized that this is a moot point. The first, foremost, and only point of concern is that I would be unhappy and unfulfilled doing this full time. The benefits outweigh the cons in the short term, but in the long term this job would take a toll on me. One I can't afford. I told Evan (The owner) that I'd be happy to work as much as two weeks a month, cash only. I'll have to enter the real world one day, but it'll be under my terms, not its. Thanks for your input Seif, I appreciate it.

I have to agree with Seifer, though I share his reluctance. It allows you more control of your life and once things become stable I'm sure you'll find that you'll find yourself much happier. And something to keep in mind with any kind of construction work, it's not consistent, there is a definite and extreme feast/famine cycle in the career field. Once winter hits you won't be getting nearly as many hours.

You'll find yourself to be much happier* I should proof my comments better since I can't edit them on here...

See above.

A good paying work is awesome. HIghtening your prices is also a good choice.

:I These are all your options not mine and I don't know what to think.

Additional thought, the third option if possible with the company seems like the way to go in case you need to finish off the stories.

Goo-goo?

Well first off I'd definitely say you need to raise commission prices. By my standard, once you can fill 3 commission slots within 24 hours, your prices are too low.

Second, well, I do recommend taking the full time job. It pays more than writing, but more importantly it starts to build a resume. Erotic fiction is a great thing to do in your free time, but it's just not a marketable skill.

Best of luck, whatever you decide.

Well, the problem isn't that I have too many commissioners, it's that my commissioners are commissioning 100-200,000 word novels. Secondarily, I've informed many of my long-time commissioners about the price raise, and they were like, "Okay, sure. No problem here," so I've still got tons of work... Tertiarily, Erotic fiction may not be a marketable skill, but networking, customer acquisition/management, accounting, computer skills, formatting, prose, etc. all are. Besides, I gave Evan my answer already. I'll be working part time until I get my driver's license, then I'll take a full time job as a tool/material slut, bringing stuff back and forth between job sites.

If you've got time in the next few weeks, I could fill you in on details over some IM client C:

Yeah, I kind of have the same problem. When I started taking commissions I assumed I'd be doing 5k stories, but I've ended up writing multiple 15k+ over the course of the summer. That's great, but also really time consuming. Maybe we could IM sometime this weekend. This week is quite busy for me already.

Likewise, my workweek has been extended a few more days... :/ Oh well. Note me on the weekend if you're free, I'll be around.