Thursday, May 15, 2008

Career reboot?

During the past several months I have grown increasingly dissatisfied with my writing. I'm not sure why. I'm not "blocked," the finished manuscripts are as good as, and occasionally better than, they've always been, and I continue to sell most of what I write. I'm not good at introspection and self-analysis, so, despite repeated attempts to define my dissatisfaction and the possible causes for it, I come up blank.

Even so, I have pondered the idea of a career reboot. (It seems to have worked for the Batman movie franchise.) I've considered turning the computer off for a couple of months and spending my time doing something--anything--other than writing.

Would I return to the keyboard refreshed? Or would I have done nothing more than lose two months of productive writing time?

Alas, a careful examination of my bank balance suggests that a lengthy break from the keyboard might be counter-productive. I've grown accustomed to three hots and a cot and have no desire to become a starving artist.

Maybe all I really need is a vacation. That's something you don't often get when you're self-employed.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Take a break man....Sharon R.

Kevin R. Tipple said...

Is it possible to take a partial break? Just do the stuff that has to be done to keep the money coming in?

pattinase (abbott) said...

Hi --I wondered if you'd be willing to contribute a forgotten book to my blog project on such. Every Friday various writers recommend a book they believe has fallen off the radar a bit. It needn't be long. Would you be willing to do one June 6th? If you're too busy, I completely understand.
For a sample of last week’s choices: http://pattinase.blogspot.com

Thank, Patti

Stephen D. Rogers said...

Well, I guess I'm not alone. :)

I've written off my lack of oomph as allergies, and hoping the end of allergy season kicks things back up a notch.