Writing is a really tiring pursuit. After spending almost two years now writing full-time (not that I didn't write in corporate, but I didn't always have writing work depending on the day or the job), I can officially say that I'm exhausted.
Now this isn't really a rant. It's more of an acknowledgement, you know? Or maybe a recognition of something I'm discovering about myself. A recognition that I got so tired that I made myself sick and I'm still recovering two weeks later. A recognition that I've got some good things going, and that I need to find more balance, too.
I'm really glad that I've got a batch of clients who understand how tough it is to write well, and who pay me appropriately. But I'm also glad that my main client gives me non-writing tasks to do so that my brain can breathe a little bit.
You know how when you have to think really hard about something for a long time, and then at some point your brain starts fogging up, and then you want to go zone out in front of the TV for like six hours? That's sort of how I feel every day.
The process of learning about a product or service, learning what the client wants, learning what their client wants (if I'm working with an agency), learning about the industry and target audience, and then churning it all into something readable is like running a marathon sometimes.
And I don't want to whine about my job. I love my job. I'm just recognizing that trying to write all day every day for the next 30+ years may not be sustainable. Because my brain is going to slow down over time. And my energy will, too.
Which is why I'm really excited that I've found some other ways to make money, so that I can diversify it up a bit. Will I always write? Absolutely. Writing is just what I do. And it's what I will always do.
But will I always write full-time? No. I don't think so. I'll be throwing some yoga and photography into the mix as much as I can afford to. And probably hanging on to my really awesome main client for dear life. ;)
