[Archive] Doing What’s Necessary
Probably an appropriate subject today, considering I’ve just spent some time applying for jobs and need to do more of that. But I’ve made a start on my newest path. Though it does sting a little to know there are other provisions for me in terms of severance because I now fall under “Age Discrimination” law considerations. That just pours salt on wounds, that does… So here’s today’s archive post…
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This week’s column is brought by the letter “K”, as in “‘K, where did this week go?” This week is a compressed because Friday marks the beginning of ApolloCon in Houston. A fun weekend of zombies, future transportation, and cliches, you should come. But that makes this a week of shoe-horning things to get things done on time, and doing what’s necessary. Which means, of course, that the Plot Bunnies are out in force. They’re wicked like that.
So, “k” there should be a point to this, right? Here we go. This is when writing for a living means maybe writing something you don’t like and may not care at all about. This, hopefully, will apply to full time fiction, but more than likely it’ll apply to your day job – whether corporate or freelance. Guess what? Unless it totally compromises serious ethics or breaks the law, suck it up and do it.
I remember a much Bigger Name Author than me telling me he and his writing partner only wrote one of their High Fantasy novel series because their agent told them to it’s what was selling then. It wasn’t what they wanted to do, but they did it – successfully. In my day job, I write entertainment webcontent – which means occasionally writing about reality television “stars” breaking up. It’s part of the job. You do what you have to do.
Writers have to make their own lines, but consider what makes it worth it in the long run. If writing about the occasional celebrity meltdown helps pay the rent. Or an agent says he or she can get you a contract but only if you change your military SF to High Fantasy, then consider carefully if that’s a necessary battle to fight. Sometimes you will have to walk away from a project, but most of the time you’ll find it’s better to just suck it up and do it.