Yeah, writing and making money at it is tough. There's a friend I know just fiinished a new book and 2nd edition of first one.. and is now into promo for them.. which is a whole nother thing.. a lot of time and work. Book signings, speeches (his books are like motivational things and business oriented management things .. not fiction )..
So he is into that now and it takes a lot of time and stuff... but you put aside that clump of time and do it.. and when it's done you can move on to the next " project"
It's been good for him and pays off but it is a lot of work and dedication etc. I'm sure it really sucks some days... to keep plodding along.. but he's self disciplined and strong.
But that's his life .. for like the past 30 years.. like many who work in weird stuff where it's not staff and steady.. he made it work for him. Working freelance or per diem is the same thing in some ways.. ( like what I did ). But thank goodness I got a pension coming and had health insurance and so on. Only the unions for actors, crew, musicians, directors, cameramen, all those people... only getting together as freelance workers were they able to get some benefits like that. When you're young that doesnt matter much.. but when you get over 20 years old and get married and stuff .. then it matters.
Unfortunately the word " union " is generic and misunderstood depending on where it is applied. I have no interest in making those distinctions anymore to anyone. I hope the young people have the balls to speak out about what they have inherited. and do a good job.

oh, and that includes saying, " no I am not setting up the camera on that rallraod tressle .. you moron ! ... unless you get some railroad person here with flags and lights and signals and walkie talkies .. so I know I"m not gonna get squished like a bug and die out there ! "
union or not ( member or not ) jurusidiction is another thing.. ( my union was NYC .. if I went to Africa I aint crying to the union about rules..and to be honest I AM THE UNION .. ITS NOT ANYTHING MORE THAN YOU AND ME ... how can you think it is something other than YOU AND ME ??? ....)
Like this country.. THIS LAND IS MY LAND, THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND ... WHO IN GAWDS NAME DO YOU THINK IT BELONGS TO ? OR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT ?