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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>One thing to think about: benefits like health insurance. If you have that at the day job, I’d stick it out and do other, more satisfying freelance work in off hours until you can sustain the extra costs you’ll incur not working for someone else (or until you find that new staff position). I did that for years in a soul-destroying day job; the writing kept me sane and let me learn new things and meet new people while still paying the bills.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> Ipg-smz <ipg-smz-bounces@netpress.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Liam Kelly<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, May 29, 2019 11:04 AM<br><b>To:</b> ipg-smz@netpress.org<br><b>Subject:</b> [Ipg-smz] Thoughts on a Career Pause<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Hey all,<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>I'm thinking to leave my position as editor of a crypto-centric blog to pursue a few different options. <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Likely I won't find anything as well-paid as this for a few months, but I've been at this publication for a few years now and I have the impression it's time for a bit of progress.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>The idea is to leave editing to the side and gather as many bylines as possible in hopes of landing a staff position at a larger publication. <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>But I was curious about a few things:<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>- If not writing, what other skills would <b>you</b> develop during a similar break?<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>- Am I crazy to leave a position in which I'm paid a flat rate to both write and edit?<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>- And, finally, any general thoughts on some personal experiences related to this subject.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>I've got savings, a handful of smaller clients that I've been working with, and a dreadful feeling of stagnation. All of this has culminated in this plan. <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Thanks in advance for any suggestions, relevant stories, and/or links to things I should read before making the "leap."<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Best,<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Liam J. Kelly<o:p></o:p></p></div></div></div></body></html>