I Need To Get It Together...

I just started working at a factory, third shift. I started a month ago. I quit freelance writing completely (I understand there are a lot of you, probably a lot of you here that could make a living off of it. I obviously can't. I spent years trying and got nothing but shit. Enough to maybe call it beer money?)

I'm working in a strenuous labor position, I come home every day feeling like I stepped in front of a freight train and all for a measly $13 an hour. 15% taxes too. So, I bring home $900 every 2 weeks. That's it and for what? I need to get shit together. The sad part is, the $900 a week is FAR more than I was making with writing. The last client I had at $2/100 words didn't care about my family emergency going on at the time and new working situation and threatened to contact Stripe. I'm just so tired of dealing with those people. I stayed up, sacrificed a day of sleep before going to work again and wrote what was owed just to get rid of them.

I watched a Gary V (Vanderchuck?) video about how people who live for the weekend are screwed in the head and just thought about it all shift last night. If I go to work, watch the clock and wait for the weekend only to do nothing during the weekend, I will be here for the rest of my life. Nothing will change. I have to do something and get it together because I wasn't built for this.

I say this full well and knowing that some people genuinely enjoy working in a factory. Some people genuinely don't mind it and get used to the sore body every single day/morning. I am not one of those people. I have a strong pinching in my lower back and can barely walk most mornings. With my new income, I have to be smart and actually figure out what I should do with it to get out of this place. I obviously don't want to return to freelancing because I clearly cannot sell myself and automation of anything is a dream unless you get lucky. I'm so lost on how to move forward.

My current plan: Save up for a vehicle, apply to tech-related jobs like junior web developer with no experience required and get out of this place.

Hey dude, all the best.
This is a very sad situation that you are facing.
But believe yourself and I am a 100% sure you'll make money enough to quit this f**king job if you are 100% committed.
Just remember the night is darkest just before dawn

Switch your mindset. Don't give up. HUSTLE every day!
It took me 8 years of online marketing to get income that is not some "beer money".

Once you'll find your angle, your life will change.

Keep fighting. It gets better.

You finish work at 5pm Friday, you switch off and spend time with family and friends. You pick up your wages and don't have to worry about someone not paying you or requesting a refund.
Presume you'll get xx weeks paid holiday each year too?

Sometimes the employed option is easier mentally and financially, but you can also do the odd writing gig via whichever platform you used before, on weekends maybe just to keep your hand in.

Don't let it get you down though, get through this manual work and see what is still out there for you.

I feel your pain buddy everyone starts somewhere