This was a biggie and the fact that I had the determination to see it through should be testament enough to my enthusiasm. Of course, it never hurts to go a little above and beyond the call of duty, though.

I think that a little authentic communication that goes beneath the more superficial exchange of notes and files is often a good way to do that.

I think for me, I appreciate knowing that someone will read what I write and make good use of it. That's what motivates me to take the "less sexy" stuff. And sometimes it's handed to me, focus intact. I'm okay with it.

I will meet the deadlines, and the work will be good quality, but the internal struggle isn't pretty. when the writing is on a roll, I can't compartmentalize, and, frankly, ANGEL HUNT is the most important thing in the world to me right now, and I refuse to compromise.

Finding a way to keep the momentum and still stay on the deadlined work in the breaks from the revisions is an interesting challenge.

But then, it's never "just a job" for me. If I wanted "just a job" I'd work in someone else's cubicle. I'd rather face this type of challenge than the normal 9-5 challenges.

I tend not to take on jobs about which I'm not enthusiastic, getting away from wrestling with my own writing demons for a minute. I'm lucky that many things interest me, and I tend to go after assignments on topics that intrigue me. If I'm not interested in the topic, I don't pitch for the job.

But then, although I make my living writing, my focus isn't on the business writing. When that's what I land, I give it heart and soul, but that's the fill-in work. My main focus is on the fiction and the plays, which take longer to show a return, but which I find more rewarding. And, since the script work is heating up right now, too, I'm lucky enough to have the option of focusing more on that and less on business writing.