Writing Frustration

One of the drawbacks to writing as a career is that you put so much effort into it–and not always with any result–that you don’t want to waste your time on projects that aren’t going to pay off. This is absolutely an intelligent way to feel, since it’s easy to get sidetracked with attractive tangents that others are enthusiastic about or that simply appeal to you for one reason or another. You can waste your time on “fun” stuff when the writing that you tend to actually sell goes by the wayside. Let’s face it, we all have a limited amount of time to spend on unproductive things.

But, what happens when you get too locked into that mindset? You may actually miss opportunities that could pay off in a big way, or at least pay off in some way. How do you decide whether or not you’re just chasing one more mirage, or really should put time and effort into an iffy avenue?

One of the best ways I’ve found is to consider how you came upon the idea. Have you just heard/read on the web/seen a success with this type of project? Are you just wishing you could follow that path as well, without really feeling a passion for it or seeing a potential market which is easier to reach than your own? Do you have the qualifications or credentials you need to pursue this new project? Your rational answers ought to guide you.

–But, sometimes it’s hard to be rational. Most writers have been in this spot, and so I offer two questions to ask yourself before going out on a financial or time-and-energy limb. First, do I really, really want to do it? If you’re passionate about something, it’s almost always worth trying it out, just to see where it takes you. Second, how did the idea hit me?

I’m going to say more about this on my next post.