I find that having my freelance writing work be absolutely nothing like my personal writing is essential to my ability to keep writing overall. I get paid to write about progressive corporate shareholder proposals (my annual spring gig). Today I wrote 1000 words on Subtractive Manufacturing, god help me. But it's words, it pays my bills at a better hourly rate than any prior job I've ever had, and it requires no emotional or psychic energy from me whatsoever. That emotional and psychic energy is mine. It's for me-- my newsletter, my book.
And writing regularly about stuff I have no prior knowledge of or, honestly, interest in reminds me that I am perfectly capable of making words happen *without* inspiration. That writing is a craft and my job is to keep my crafting skills up to par. Inspiration is largely out of my hands, so I can't bank on it. Not to pay my bills and not to exist as the only fuel for my creativity.
Tomorrow I get to do 1000 more words about Additive Manufacturing. Again, god help me. But it means I can write for myself the next day. I'll take that.
Well written article, but point number 8 really spoke out to me. I've struggled with the concept of writing a book and looking at it as such a mammoth task. Breaking it down into bite size chunks is such a simple and efficient approach, that it almost seems obvious. But it's not. Something just clicked within me on reading that point.
Could I share this with a class I am teaching on motivation and persistence? I think my students will get a lot out of this (and they are more likely to believe all this coming from you than from me.)
Thank you SO much for this post, it is so relieving to hear you experience so many of the same things I experience. Especially your post with ADD, understanding the WHY my brain doesn't want to me to tackle the project makes it easier to write. I have a play that's been haunting me for over a year, I will try doing just a little bit at a time.
I used to "take money to write," aka it was my job. I wrote on demand, the length and subject seldom of my choosing. (Someone wrote a book called "How Many Words Do You Want?" about their writing job) I used to keep a "Shoe" comic taped above my desk. Junior: "I don't know how you write a column every day." Writer: "I have to be patient and wait for the Muse to speak to me." Editor: "12 MINUTES TO DEADLINE!" Writer: "The Muse has spoken." The author Barbara Jenkins told me she HAS to write, whether it's for money or not, she must write what she must write. Me? I GET to write, I don't have to.
I find that having my freelance writing work be absolutely nothing like my personal writing is essential to my ability to keep writing overall. I get paid to write about progressive corporate shareholder proposals (my annual spring gig). Today I wrote 1000 words on Subtractive Manufacturing, god help me. But it's words, it pays my bills at a better hourly rate than any prior job I've ever had, and it requires no emotional or psychic energy from me whatsoever. That emotional and psychic energy is mine. It's for me-- my newsletter, my book.
And writing regularly about stuff I have no prior knowledge of or, honestly, interest in reminds me that I am perfectly capable of making words happen *without* inspiration. That writing is a craft and my job is to keep my crafting skills up to par. Inspiration is largely out of my hands, so I can't bank on it. Not to pay my bills and not to exist as the only fuel for my creativity.
Tomorrow I get to do 1000 more words about Additive Manufacturing. Again, god help me. But it means I can write for myself the next day. I'll take that.
Honestly, this is a post that I can see myself coming back to because there's so much good advice and inspiration.
Well written article, but point number 8 really spoke out to me. I've struggled with the concept of writing a book and looking at it as such a mammoth task. Breaking it down into bite size chunks is such a simple and efficient approach, that it almost seems obvious. But it's not. Something just clicked within me on reading that point.
Could I share this with a class I am teaching on motivation and persistence? I think my students will get a lot out of this (and they are more likely to believe all this coming from you than from me.)
You just helped me get unstuck. Majorly. THANK YOU!
How did you know!? Felt this to my core
Thank you SO much for this post, it is so relieving to hear you experience so many of the same things I experience. Especially your post with ADD, understanding the WHY my brain doesn't want to me to tackle the project makes it easier to write. I have a play that's been haunting me for over a year, I will try doing just a little bit at a time.
I used to "take money to write," aka it was my job. I wrote on demand, the length and subject seldom of my choosing. (Someone wrote a book called "How Many Words Do You Want?" about their writing job) I used to keep a "Shoe" comic taped above my desk. Junior: "I don't know how you write a column every day." Writer: "I have to be patient and wait for the Muse to speak to me." Editor: "12 MINUTES TO DEADLINE!" Writer: "The Muse has spoken." The author Barbara Jenkins told me she HAS to write, whether it's for money or not, she must write what she must write. Me? I GET to write, I don't have to.