Hemingway in a Red Cross ambulance, Italy, 1918 During World War I, Ernest Hemingway was an ambulance driver for the American Red Cross. (more) List of Day Jobs of Famous Writers Learn what nonliterary skills paid the bills of famous writers throughout history. Written by René Ostberg René Ostberg is an associate editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica. René Ostberg Fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated May 7, 2026 •History The life of a writer is often stereotyped as one of self-imposed seclusion, bottomless cups of coffee (or something that comes in a bottle), or thunderous bolts of inspiration. In reality, writing is a job like any other. It takes effort, dedication, and skill to produce a solid piece of writing, whether a novel, an essay, or a poem. Yet even best-sellers don’t necessarily pay the bills. Many famous writers held a “day job” and...

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