Slightly weary yet bright-eyed students, having barely begun the new academic year, clambered into The Outhouse pub on the last Tuesday of September. There to attend the Edinburgh Literary Salon, drawn in for what was for most, their first introduction to the literary group. Welcomed to the Salon by members and regular attendees, the event was off to a great start, the warmth inside a powerful antidote for the chilly autumn evening outside.
The intimate event space, adorned with glowing string lights and round tables huddled together, set the stage for guest D.V. Bishop to discuss his career so far, offering pearls of wisdom and many humorous anecdotes collected over the years. Although an award-winning writer who has worked on a plethora of projects and published over 20 books, Bishop’s job title cannot be summed up by “author” alone (2025). Currently also holding the role of university lecturer in creative writing, a weighty question on my mind that night was: how does he do it? And should I pursue a multi-hyphenate career too?
When asked this very question about how he balances writing novels while also lecturing at Edinburgh Napier University, D.V. Bishop gave us an insight into his writing routine and impressive output. A brisk 5:30am wake-up call to write is not to be scoffed at, especially not when it is followed by a day of teaching university students. Much to the relief of many, however, Bishop assured us, “You don’t have to write everyday to be a writer” (2025). He also talked fondly of finding and nurturing other creative talent, and appreciating the short yet meaningful time he has with them. This dual role makes Bishop a quintessential multi-hyphenate author (Lui, 2021). In today’s publishing landscape, very few writers wear only one hat (Milliot, 2023).
Whether an author-academic or novelist-podcaster, being a multi-hyphenate author comes in many different forms, with the common thread that you have more than one profession besides writing (Lui, 2021). It is a common trend in publishing nowadays, with differing reasons as to why people are expanding their professional portfolios. For many writers (both traditionally published and self-published), economic necessity drives them to supplement their income by juggling other commitments (Thomas, Battisti and Kretschmer, 2023). For others, including many highly-acclaimed authors, creative vitality simply won’t allow them to be tied down by one profession (Portman, 2015).
For some aspiring authors in attendance at the Salon, the image of sitting at a desk writing all day long grew fainter, faded by the reminder that many authors have to balance writing with other jobs. For myself and others, however, the evening was a comforting reminder that the changing landscape of publishing is allowing more creative professionals to branch out and diversify their careers. The pride with which D.V. Bishop spoke about his time teaching other creatives alongside working on his own craft was truly inspiring. The key seems to be finding the sweet spot between passion and practicality.
Bibliography
Bishop, D.V. (2025), Edinburgh Literary Salon, September Students Salon. 30th September, Edinburgh.
Lui, H. (2021). What a Multi-Hyphenate Career Actually Looks Like. Blog on creativity, marketing, and the human condition. Available at: https://herbertlui.net/what-a-multi-hyphenate-career-actually-looks-like/ [Accessed 10 Oct. 2025].
Milliot, J. (2023). Writing Books Remains a Tough Way to Make a Living. [online] PublishersWeekly.com. Available at: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/93301-author-incomes-post-small-gains.html [Accessed 9 Oct. 2025].
Portman, G. (2015). 10 Famous Authors’ Day Jobs. Author Guy Portman’s Blog. Available at: https://guyportman.com/tag/authors-who-had-other-jobs/ [Accessed 9 Oct. 2025].
Thomas, A., Battisti, M. and Kretschmer, M. (2023). Authors’ Earnings in the UK – Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre. [online] Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre. Available at: https://pec.ac.uk/policy_briefing_entr/authors-earnings-in-the-uk/ [Accessed 10 Oct. 2025].
MSc Publishing – Industry Accredited Postgraduate Degree 