It's not really an option or a choice, I don't think. It's just part of who you are - like being a painter or a singer or a musician...when I used to interview perspective students for Film School I would ask them what they would do if they didn't get offered a place and the ones who said 'go travelling' or 'do a History degree' didn't get a place. if there was something else they could do then my theory was they should do it. Film had to be the only choice for them because that was the only way it would be a life they could live...I think that is what it's like to be any kind of artist. It's not negotiable.
Thanks Jennifer. I have to agree (to a certain extent). I just wish it wasn't so damn miserable at times. Not that there aren't good times, but it's so unpredictable when they'll come along. I guess you're saying if you got leopard spots, you got leopard spots. Get over it!
This sort of self-assessment of where you are is one a lot of people embarking on creative pursuits should do - and continue to do from time to time even when they see they've established themselves within their niche. This is a great quiz anyone can take!
Thank you so much for your kind comment, Lee. If things were going well, would I take this self-assessment quiz? Very likely not. I've devised it because I want to know if I am perpetually barking up the wrong tree. Sometimes I think it might be the wrong tree, but the right forest, if that makes sense. Maybe there is some other way to be comfortable writing that I've not found yet. For sure, books aren't the only way to put words on paper. Or the internet!
First, love the quiz idea! I wonder if your answers will change by the end of the year. I agree with Jennifer - I don't think that writing is an option for most of us. The unfair part is that few people who write well can earn a decent living from it. Or an indecent living.
It makes me want to bite my nails or pound the wall when I read all of the many posts detailing the rules and the practices of publishing and writing well. But I read them just in case somebody has a genius idea.
Ah, thanks so much Mimi. I have to admit, this isn't my first go at this rodeo. I used to freelance for 10 years in Canada before moving to the UK. I thought I could "pick it up again" as I had made money writing before. But I'm sniffing at burning out the second time! I'm not entirely sure what the solution is. I'm sure there IS a solution, other than you can't help but write. Or, don't expect to make money from writing, which I do find quite annoying. (Why, is there something wrong with earning money?) But the encouragement of sweet people like you helps a great deal. So, again, mucho thanks!
Everything I know about publishing has changed since I went into higher education. I still have the need and drive to write, but without a paycheck (even a tiny one), it is hard to convince myself to spend precious time on even a short story. We will hold each other up here!
Yes, Mimi, the thing no one ever tells you is that this writing game is not for wimps! If I just wanted to write for myself and no one else, I suppose I would be doing it for the love of it. But, as it is, I WANT to be seen, to be read. The fact that I used to be paid as a freelance writer is one of pegs that keep me from feeling that I can't do this. I did it once before, so theoretically, I still can. The question, as you've so accurately put it, is HOW? I think years in the academic world is also working against you, in that it seems that world has entirely different rules and expectations. Tell you what, let's keep going. There might be a pot of gold at the end of this somewhere. (We just have to live long enough!)
A great quiz, writing is certainly a rollercoaster at times for me. Like you, giving it up is not an option. I think, ultimately it has to bring us joy.
Thank you so much for your comment Daisy! Sometimes I have to admit, I wish giving up were an option, but I don't know, there's just SOMETHING about it.....
Thanks for the amazing comment, Beverley. Do I work for the joy of it, that is a concept that kind of stumps me. I don't hate doing it, but I can't really say I love it either. I love it if people say nice things, and if it comes out well (I've baked a good "word cake". But that makes the whole experience too dependent on other people, which is not good. Honestly, I don't really know at times why I do it. I don't have the same love for it as you do for art. I wish I did.
There are statistics out there somewhere about how much (i.e., little) writers make on average. Most of us fall into the very low bracket. Not everyone is trying to earn a living from it. - which is just as well, perhaps! Different things keeps us going; a deeply-felt need or compulsion, a way of living creatively, an itch that we can scratch, whatever. Often it's just because we have something to say, that we want to say it well, and that we'd like to share it with others. Keep scratching!
Boy, you certainly hit the nail on the head when you said "different things keep us going"! Ain't that the truth. I am not entirely sure where the rewards come from in this game. Sometimes it's satisfying, but at times the lows are too low and too often. Just when I think I'll give up, something else keeps me going till next time. It's a crazy thing. Maybe I'm a masochist.
It's not really an option or a choice, I don't think. It's just part of who you are - like being a painter or a singer or a musician...when I used to interview perspective students for Film School I would ask them what they would do if they didn't get offered a place and the ones who said 'go travelling' or 'do a History degree' didn't get a place. if there was something else they could do then my theory was they should do it. Film had to be the only choice for them because that was the only way it would be a life they could live...I think that is what it's like to be any kind of artist. It's not negotiable.
Thanks Jennifer. I have to agree (to a certain extent). I just wish it wasn't so damn miserable at times. Not that there aren't good times, but it's so unpredictable when they'll come along. I guess you're saying if you got leopard spots, you got leopard spots. Get over it!
I think that is exactly what I’m saying.
This sort of self-assessment of where you are is one a lot of people embarking on creative pursuits should do - and continue to do from time to time even when they see they've established themselves within their niche. This is a great quiz anyone can take!
Thank you so much for your kind comment, Lee. If things were going well, would I take this self-assessment quiz? Very likely not. I've devised it because I want to know if I am perpetually barking up the wrong tree. Sometimes I think it might be the wrong tree, but the right forest, if that makes sense. Maybe there is some other way to be comfortable writing that I've not found yet. For sure, books aren't the only way to put words on paper. Or the internet!
First, love the quiz idea! I wonder if your answers will change by the end of the year. I agree with Jennifer - I don't think that writing is an option for most of us. The unfair part is that few people who write well can earn a decent living from it. Or an indecent living.
It makes me want to bite my nails or pound the wall when I read all of the many posts detailing the rules and the practices of publishing and writing well. But I read them just in case somebody has a genius idea.
Thanks for sharing this genius idea with us!
Ah, thanks so much Mimi. I have to admit, this isn't my first go at this rodeo. I used to freelance for 10 years in Canada before moving to the UK. I thought I could "pick it up again" as I had made money writing before. But I'm sniffing at burning out the second time! I'm not entirely sure what the solution is. I'm sure there IS a solution, other than you can't help but write. Or, don't expect to make money from writing, which I do find quite annoying. (Why, is there something wrong with earning money?) But the encouragement of sweet people like you helps a great deal. So, again, mucho thanks!
Everything I know about publishing has changed since I went into higher education. I still have the need and drive to write, but without a paycheck (even a tiny one), it is hard to convince myself to spend precious time on even a short story. We will hold each other up here!
Yes, Mimi, the thing no one ever tells you is that this writing game is not for wimps! If I just wanted to write for myself and no one else, I suppose I would be doing it for the love of it. But, as it is, I WANT to be seen, to be read. The fact that I used to be paid as a freelance writer is one of pegs that keep me from feeling that I can't do this. I did it once before, so theoretically, I still can. The question, as you've so accurately put it, is HOW? I think years in the academic world is also working against you, in that it seems that world has entirely different rules and expectations. Tell you what, let's keep going. There might be a pot of gold at the end of this somewhere. (We just have to live long enough!)
A great quiz, writing is certainly a rollercoaster at times for me. Like you, giving it up is not an option. I think, ultimately it has to bring us joy.
Thank you so much for your comment Daisy! Sometimes I have to admit, I wish giving up were an option, but I don't know, there's just SOMETHING about it.....
Totally agree 👍
Read and weed.
Quizzes.
Challenges.
Puzzling post.
Many questions to ask myself about creative practice.
I have a need to be the best I can be.
I work for the joy of it for the challenges and for love.
To build up a good stash of work.
Say this is me and it's what I do.
That is my own goal and then see where my work might fit in.
Offer it up to the world.
Discover who might like to see it or as a writer to read it.
I like to experiment and push boundaries. Get out of my comfort zones sometimes and feel the edge.
At times to rest in them. No pressure.
Be kind to myself and less judgemental.
From a place of stillness, trust and allow creative intuition to take me to places that might be surprising.
To work with other creative people for support, for excitement and development can be good sometimes as artistic lives can feel isolating at times.
I'm impressed by how much you do like this already Rose to further your creative process.
The journey isn't linear.
It's spacious somehow drawing on our subconscious, life experience and the wisdom passed down from all who have gone before us.
Thanks for the amazing comment, Beverley. Do I work for the joy of it, that is a concept that kind of stumps me. I don't hate doing it, but I can't really say I love it either. I love it if people say nice things, and if it comes out well (I've baked a good "word cake". But that makes the whole experience too dependent on other people, which is not good. Honestly, I don't really know at times why I do it. I don't have the same love for it as you do for art. I wish I did.
There are statistics out there somewhere about how much (i.e., little) writers make on average. Most of us fall into the very low bracket. Not everyone is trying to earn a living from it. - which is just as well, perhaps! Different things keeps us going; a deeply-felt need or compulsion, a way of living creatively, an itch that we can scratch, whatever. Often it's just because we have something to say, that we want to say it well, and that we'd like to share it with others. Keep scratching!
Boy, you certainly hit the nail on the head when you said "different things keep us going"! Ain't that the truth. I am not entirely sure where the rewards come from in this game. Sometimes it's satisfying, but at times the lows are too low and too often. Just when I think I'll give up, something else keeps me going till next time. It's a crazy thing. Maybe I'm a masochist.