For every writer who’s proclaimed “Writing is my life!” there are slews of overworked writers aiming a finger of their choice at them. Over on Tess Gerritsen’s blog there’s a discussion about writers who are pushed by publishing houses to crank out more and more work in less and less time. The discussion revolves around whether this is a perceived pressure or actual pressure, and it’s well worth the read.
The underlying point is this – do we know when to say when? Can we conceivably tell a client we’re over our limits and our sh$t meters are pegged? I’m working for a client right now on projects that have me juggling more work than I can handle in one 60-hour week. The work is involved and time-consuming, and it’s a technical project in which I have to read laws and regulations and translate them into educational content. The pay is fine, but the workload is unbelievable. I have to crank out one project every 31 days. Worse, this is a short month.
We all know our pain points. We know that X number of hours equals Y amounts of work. That’s not the problem. It’s when Z numbers of extra hours are required to finish the projects that we realize the problem isn’t us.
I know it’s a rare thing when writers are overworked to the point of losing weekends and sleep. But it happens. In those instances, it’s okay to scream “uncle” and to ask for extensions or a break. Your work won’t dry up as a result.
The discussion on Tess’ blog included a comment or two on how authors are given the message that their writing will suffer if they take a break. Uh, I see the opposite. I’ve read some of my favorite authors and frankly the ones who crank out book after book soon start to write the same plot, the same characters and the same predictable ending. Readers would point to it as an example of a writer who doesn’t go beyond his or her safety zone. I disagree. I think it’s more a writer who isn’t given the time to retreat and refresh. Pushing a writer to death is a good way to kill your best client’s creativity, in my humble opinion.
Don’t let this job become your life. Instead, let your life enhance your job.
Wow, is this ever true. I just had a week from you-know-where last week. I’m usually good at scheduling and getting everything done, but this past week everything just came crashing down at once. It’s sometimes not enough to plan well–you also have to know when to push back.
Yeah, there are a couple of authors, who, if you ask me, have fallen into the habit of using ‘Global replace’ from book to book just to change character names and the name of the town. Everything else is the same.
On occasion, I’m one of the guilty as charged. No matter how well freelancing goes, I think there’s just an inate tendency in us to take the work when we can get it, because it might not be there tomorrow. But I agree that you can’t write about life if you don’t have an actual life…which is particularly important for fiction writers. Ah, perhaps that’s why I don’t consider myself a great fiction writer. LOL
In those instances, it’s okay to scream “uncle” and to ask for extensions or a break. Your work won’t dry up as a result.
not true!!! i’m living point, anyhow, I guess by the grace of God, I started getting bites for work, and I’m waiting for 15 projects, OH NO!! But alas, I’m back — and I “heart” you for being so supportive Lori. You are fantastic.
that should have said
*living proof
hahahah
But see? Your work didn’t dry up after all, did it? You made my point. :))
Glad you’re back.