Conversation so far:
What was Robert Walser (writer) doing in 1898?
the influential critic Joseph Victor Widmann published a series of poems by Walser in the Bernese newspaper Der Bund.
Was that his first published work?
In 1904, his first book, Fritz Kochers Aufsatze.
How was that book received?
poor.

Question: Did he have any non-writing jobs during this time period?
Self-contained rewrite: Did Robert Walser have any non-writing jobs during 1898-1912?