Are you doing what you planned with your writing career? For me, the answer is yes and no. When I first thought about writing as a career, I had no idea of the form it would take, but I assumed that at some point I would write a novel, get published and earn lots of money from my writing. That’s not quite how it happened.
I am making money from writing, though not in that way. And I do enjoy what I do. My writing career allows me to research new topics and make them digestible. I’ve turned into a polymath, just because of the sheer number of subjects I’ve written about. Since I enjoy acquiring and using new knowledge, this aspect of my career works well for me. That’s the yes part.
However, there’s another aspect of writing that is less fulfilled by client commissions (that’s the no). My poems, short stories and mini-essays tend to get neglected in favour of hitting my writing deadlines. And let’s not even talk about the barely begun and half finished novel writing efforts that are stashed in folders and on hard drives somewhere. It’s been a long time since I’ve had time to look at them.
Small Steps To A Creative Writing Career
But that stops now. I’ve decided that it’s time to take small steps to build another aspect of my writing career. That means:
- doing something with my poems
- reworking my children’s stories and adding to the collection
- assessing my novel drafts to see if they are worth saving or whether I should start again
I’m also going to keep it simple by making a small time commitment to begin with because when I make longer ones, I end up having to sideline personal projects in favour of client projects and deadlines. So I’ll start with one to two hours a week for creative writing projects. If that goes well and I can keep the commitment, then I’ll increase it.
Have you got unfinished writing business? How are you going to take the first step to realising your dream?
(Photo: patries)
Article by Sharon Hurley Hall
Sharon Hurley Hall has been mentoring writers here at Get Paid To Write Online since 2005 to help them improve and build sustainable and successful writing careers. Check me out on sharonhh.com. Feel free to connect with me online on Google+.
Sharon has written 653 awesome articles for us at Get Paid to Write Online
Twitter: @SHurleyHall | Facebook | Google+ | Blog → Writing Portfolio
{ 19 comments }
*hugs* Congratulations on having the courage to make this new commitment to your YOU writing.
I struggle to spend time focused on my novel in favor of other projects. Yes, there is an aspect of prioritizing the ones that ‘pay now’ rather than may, someday, make money. Or even, client work vs. me work.
Of course, I also use client work as a way to procrastinate on my personal projects because they are pretty scary. I can write confidently on any number of topics and I can pull together websites with minimal fuss. Creative writing is different, it’s about putting ourselves out there and letting others judge what is closer to our core.
Courage! Congratulations on embracing yours.
.-= Rebecca Laffar-Smith´s last blog ..Book Review: Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing =-.
Twitter: shurleyhall
August 8, 2009 at 07:57
That’s so true, Becca. It’s difficult to have the same detachment from your own work, making it that much harder to share it. Thanks for the encouragement.
I think this can be said in all areas. People start out with a plan but after a while they slightly move away from the plan. If you don’t stop and rethink it you can find yourself way of track.
.-= Stefan´s last blog ..How to Increase Your Number of Pageviews =-.
Twitter: shurleyhall
August 8, 2009 at 07:58
Yes, Stefan, stopping to check that you’re on track is an essential part of any good plan. I realised that the last time I did this I overestimated the amount of time I could free up. Starting small seems a much better approach.
Twitter: bizbackpacker
August 8, 2009 at 08:18
Hi Sharon!
This is something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately. I always wanted to write a book, but it was a ‘someday when’. It wasn’t really until I started my blog that I feel I really found my writer’s voice. I think before that I was always writing for someone else… or for a grade or approval. I think the fun of it and the part that is so inspiring is to get back to that voice and have some fun with it. Are you going to post some of your creative work on this site? :0)
.-= Brooke Ferguson´s last blog ..Finding Yourself in Remote Locations =-.
Twitter: shurleyhall
August 8, 2009 at 08:29
I am hoping to have some fun with it, Brooke. I don’t know yet where I’ll publish the creative work. I have a neglected Wordpress.com blog which I call my Writing Lab, so it might be there. I’ll keep you posted though.
Hi Sharon,
I sat down one night, about two years ago and decided to do something, which I always wanted to do. I wrote a book. I have not got it published, it seemed that everywhere I contacted, the cost of publishing seemed to me to be very steep indeed. It is now just sitting there typed on A4 paper, doing nothing but gathering dust. Would you have any ideas on where I could get published and printed or would I be better doing it online and if the latter is the best option, how do I go about getting paid for it assuming it is any good that is?
Any help or information will be greatly appreciated.
Hi Sharon,
Having just finished publishing a book on CreateSpace, I totally get where you’re coming from in this post. I can say that while I had no illusions about making tons of money writing my own book, for myself, it does provide a sense of satisfaction that writing for paying clients doesn’t. Having done it, I now am also re-assessing my writing goals, having completed one of them. For one thing, how much time do I really want to spend marketing this book? It’s not just about writing, when you write a book, much of it is about marketing, formatting, image, etc. If the book was written to provide me a measure of personal satisfaction, how important is it that I market it for anyone else? How much time will that cut into other writing projects? It’s a never-ending dilemma – being a writer. Yet, we’re blessed to be living in a time when what we write is easily accessible to everyone, without going through a major publisher. I guess, I am happy to hit a few of my own personal goals, and now feel happier with my other paying work too, knowing it’s not interfering in any personal goal I might have. Are there things about the book I would have liked to perfect? It’s a forever process, and at some point you have to step back and say, “It’s finished,” even if the end product isn’t what you expected. Right now, the cover is not showing (it takes five days), I haven’t fully figured out how to market it, and I am slammed with paid writing work. Obviously, I am deliriously happy with the paid work and the fact that the book is finished. If you want to know what I’ve been up to the last few years, buy the book. Ha, ha. Good luck with your own personal goals! It’s quite an adventure!
.-= SpiritWealth´s last blog ..What Your Gut Instincts Can Tell You In Business =-.
Twitter: shurleyhall
August 8, 2009 at 13:46
With any project, it’s not just a case of starting it, but of knowing when to finish. I’m a bit of a perfectionist myself, but I learned some time ago that you have to know when to draw a line under one project and start another. Good point, Spiritwealth.
Sharon,
I identify with your situation. Though I have published two novels, I have not been spending the time I should on my current work-in-progress. This book is a sequel to the last one and should come out within a year or two of the first book so I really need to focus. Yet, like you, I tend to prioritize client work over my own creative writing.
Congratulations on making the commitment to your own work and good luck.
.-= Lillie Ammann´s last blog ..What I Learned from The Plant World =-.
Twitter: shurleyhall
August 8, 2009 at 13:47
Good luck with your sequel, Lillie. It’s a never-ending process, isn’t it? Just as well we love writing so much.
Good for you Sharon! Having been so impressed with your endlessly creative ideas for the location independent stuff, it’ll be great to see you working on your own creative writing – it’s clearly a strength of yours & deserves to be given some time…look forward to reading your new stuff.
.-= Lea Woodward´s last undefined ..If you register your site for free at =-.
Twitter: shurleyhall
August 8, 2009 at 15:04
Thanks, Lea. I’m quite excited about this new phase of my writing career – it’s been on the back burner for far too long.
Congratulations on making this decision Sharon! It’s always good to re-evaluate and find new balance…and especially when it comes to a mode of creative expression. Alternatively, my web writing career has shown me that my preferred creative expression is not in writing, which was a very interesting find!
.-= Courtney´s last blog ..All I need to know about being a web writer, I learned in kingergarten. =-.
Twitter: shurleyhall
August 11, 2009 at 19:29
Wow! I bet that was a surprise, Courtney! Have you decided what your next move will be?
Oh…I’m still web writing! I just know that poems, stories and novels aren’t in my future.
.-= Courtney´s last blog ..All I need to know about being a web writer, I learned in kingergarten. =-.
Twitter: GeorgeAngus
August 12, 2009 at 02:40
Sharon,
Yes, yes, yes! You go! I can tell you are motivated and impassioned about this! I’m so excited for you and I know great things are in store.
I want all the juicy details as you go along!
George
.-= Tumblemoose´s last blog ..Book ‘em, Dano – Ten fully arrest-able query gaffs =-.
Twitter: shurleyhall
August 12, 2009 at 07:59
Oh, I’ll share them, George – my first job is going to be getting a collection of poems together to enter for a competition.
Love hearing your ideas. Very inspirational! Thanks!
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