Work From Home Couple

Yesterday was not a good day for me business-wise.

I’ve been writing comic book scripts for an independent comics publisher. The publisher informed me yesterday that he was going to have to cancel the upcoming four-issue series I’d written because pre-order sales were so low. The reason he cited? The comic didn’t feature enough T-and-A, and in today’s current comic marketplace, that’s what sells.

Then, another blog network I write for has completely revamped the way it pays its writers. The new pay system means that my monthly income from that blog will plummet. It’ll fall so far, in fact, that I can’t justify continuing with it.

On a business day like this, it’s nice to have your spouse working from home, too. No offense to office workers, but I’d much rather have my wife’s shoulder to lean on. And, of course, she was there for me, as she always is when I need to vent, plan or fret.

And I’m there for her, too, when she faces her own business struggles. She’s trying to build a career in costume design. I think freelance writing is an unforgiving industry, but costume design for theater? That’s even more brutal. Directors and producers want their costume designers to work countless hours. But when it’s time for pay, there aren’t countless dollars to pass out.

This constant support is key to life when both you and your spouse work from home. If I had been working from alone yesterday, I might have wasted valuable time sulking. I didn’t, thanks in large part to my wife’s support. And the day ended on a fairly positive note: I picked up two new assignments from a fairly well-paying newspaper client. It doesn’t quite make up for the failed comic book or the failed blog, but it’s something.

So if you both do decide to work from home, remember that part of your job is supporting your spouse. On some days, in fact, that might be the most important part.

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