Day Jobs: How Famous Authors Made Ends Meet

Stephen King

First Posted: 24/02/2012 12:02 Updated: 24/02/2012 12:02

Sometimes it can feel like writers are split into two types: the rich and famous and the poor and struggling.

But every journey begins with the smallest step, mighty oaks from little acorns grow, and even Stephen King once had to sweep up discarded juice cartons after spotty teenagers.

Yes, looking into the humble origins of history's most successful writers can be a cathartic experience for any would-be authors, because lo and behold, they all once had day jobs - and quite a few of them weren't very nice at all.

Others, if we were to speculate wildly, may just have influenced their story lines and characters, which proves another old cliche correct: in writing, no experience is a waste of time.

Check out these 10 literary giants and what they did when they were in the rat race along with the rest of us...

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Sometimes it can feel like writers are split into two types: the rich and famous and the poor and struggling. But every journey begins with the smallest step, mighty oaks from little acorns grow, a...
Sometimes it can feel like writers are split into two types: the rich and famous and the poor and struggling. But every journey begins with the smallest step, mighty oaks from little acorns grow, a...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
npw350
There is no time or distance.
05:56 PM on 02/26/2012
Did anyone theenk to prufe reed the artikles? Never saww so many mistakess.
02:10 PM on 02/25/2012
If there are only two types of writers: rich and famous or poor and struggling, then I certainly know where I fall.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
proggirl
college teacher, artist, writer
09:36 PM on 02/24/2012
Actually, King later taught in that same school.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
NewDem08
Pay attention, there's a test later
08:44 PM on 02/24/2012
Ten famous authors and HP could only find one woman?
07:21 PM on 02/24/2012
What an unflattering picture of Vonnegut. Haha