I started blogging for two reasons. One was that I thought Quercus Community needed a profile on Social Media. That reason has passed, as there is no group now, and I really should change the name. I did say I was going to do this a year ago but I am famous for my inertia.
The second was that I needed more practice writing. I’d become slack and lazy and unproductive. I’m still slack and lazy, but it has made me more productive. I can, as I found yesterday, knock out a thousand words in an hour. I didn’t mean to time it but I had about an hour to fill and I did two posts in that time (one still to be published) which came to 970 words. In my world that’s near enough a thousand.
The reason I wanted to write more was that I enjoy it. I had also looked at something called “content writing” and thought it offered a way of making money. Not a fortune, but enough to keep us fed. Unfortunately, when I had a serious look at it the sites offering employment they all seemed to be full of American students offering to write for next to nothing.
My plan of writing to keep us supplied with groceries collapsed. That sort of money is only enough to buy biscuits and, to be honest, it’s easier just to give up biscuits and write things I enjoy but don’t get paid for.
At the moment I’m going through a bit of a slump with the blog and failing miserably at my self-inflicted target of a post a day.
It’s partly to do with time, partly to do with inclination and partly to do with equipment. I still haven’t had the laptop repaired and the netbook isn’t very inspiring. In other words, I only have myself to blame.
And that’s it. Just 300 words in twenty minutes today, because there’s not much more to say. However, it is interesting to note, as with poetry writing, that the more you do, the more fluent you get.
I’m avoiding the word “better” as I’m not convinced my writing is better than it was – just that there is more of it.
Fascinating post. I have been self employed since 1996. I have always been “a creative” but have never really settled into one thing. So I am a freelance bookkeeper for small businesses (that’s the bulk of my income.) I have an etsy shop where I sell hand made Rolodex cards. I write for craft magazines. I sell stock photos. (Those last 3 amount to $5000 or $6000 a year.) I garden, I blog, I sew, I cook. (No pay for these.)
I find I need a creative outlet. I’d love to make money at it but it is really hard to do. So your thoughts are all my thoughts,as well. A job that pays the bills and doesn’t suck the life out of you is a good thing to start with, for sure.
I’m fortunate I managed to get a job with my age and employment history. It makes things a bit easier.
I hope you continue to blog because I enjoy your posts and the ensuing comments add much brightness to my day! 😀
Thank you. I’m not planning on giving up – just struggling against my natural tendency to sloth! 🙂
😀
Tony Hancock would have agreed that 970 is very nearly a thousand
One of life’s under-rated thinkers. 🙂
🙂
Great post! I used to post a lot more than I do now and I am not sure why. It’s like I get tired to fast. By the time I work on photos I have taken for the day I don’t want to write posts to go with them. I thought once winter was over I would snap out of it, but so far it hasn’t helped.
Thank you. You put it well – though I didn’t want to admit I felt too tired to write. 🙂
You notice I didn’t admit on my blog. 🙂
🙂 Good plan!
I think every creative endeavor has its ebbs and flows. Sometimes you must make yourself slog it out and other times the ideas are so exciting you can’t wait to get at it. I think that’s the whole point – you have to do the slogging to get to the exciting parts. If you never try – nothing happens.
That’s the important point – if you don’t try, nothing happens. I hope I never stop trying…
NEVER stop trying. 🙂
🙂
Blog on! The money is not great, but it sure is fun making friends in far away places. It broadens the horizon.
Unfortunately I’ve given up a lot of reading at the moment too. But yes, it is fun to see into a back garden in Maine!
I originally started to support my Father-in-law, though I’ve written short stories for years.
It was my way, being an Only child, as well as reading great stories other well known authors had written.
It was as well as reading and drawing, my way of entertaining myself, I was never a sporty child. I had a great imagination.
It’s great to be able to have an inner life isn’t it. People who are good at sport miss out on a lot, though people like Derrick manage both.
Let’s not all compare ourselves to Derrick please. None of us would ever get out of bed to begin the day. : )
🙂
I have mastered the quantity but the quality is much the same as when I started. I enjoy your musings a lot and miss them when inertia or technology keeps you away from the keyboard. On the matter of making money, putting on make-up in public and becoming and influencer seems to be the way to go. Good luck.
I must admit I’ve never thought of putting make-up on in public. If there’s money in it I may give it some consideration…
It is the way to go.
I think the beard might interfere with the application of foundation (as I believe they call it).
Thanks for sharing this!
🙂