Very good advice. It's why I stopped writing short stories to focus on my novel: the novel would get me where I wanted to go while the stories, while they taught me a lot and were fun, put me in what a friend calls the "cul-de-sac of productivity," that is, you're getting stuff done, but you're not getting anywhere.
What good advice. I used a similar framework recently when I decided to launch a serial essay anthology about Louise Penny's books. (My first plan was to review all 17 books my self, my second plan was to split them with a friend, my third and final idea was to get a group of contributors.) It's been so fun so far, helping me meet new people and develop new skills instead of tiring myself out doing it solo.
This reframing of the question is excellent. For writers, which projects to pursue, grind through, and seek publishing, is one of the most important decisions they'll make. It certainly has been for me. I've written some books purely out of satiating my curiosity. I've done others, frankly, for the money and some vague idea I'm fulfilling the expectations of my readers. Still others because I was simply enraptured by one of the characters. In hindsight, whenever I've made the choice on a subject out of following an interior joy, it's succeeded. Whenever I've done so trying to fulfill some exterior want, it's been a very hard slog. I won't say which books are which :)....but one of the things I love most about writing my own newsletter here is that I am only following that joy.
What a great column, Kate. I loved this part, where you elevated Jane's fine comments: "Hard things that deplete you can be worth it in the end, of course, but *in the end* isn’t the only thing that matters. You have to think about the *in the middle* or *at the start*." I'm recommending your newsletter to my authors!
I have some long term health issues so looking at which choices take me on my chosen path matters, I need to use my limited energy in the best way possible. Best for me, anyway :)
Enjoy the holiday, reading and swimming sounds fantastic.
Great advice! After a day of writing and mothering, my decision skills feel really blah these days. :) This is an easy way to take back the framing for myself rather than hemming and hawing for too long. Thank you!
In one of those cosmic coincidences, I'd been flirting with expanding my social media presence and adding TikTok. But my heart's not in it. When I saw Jane's newsletter last weekend she helped me realize I'd feel diminished too.
Great advice Kate, and I say Kate knowing the original post was from Jane because if you hadn't given your take on it I would have missed this nugget of gold.
Kate, that's absolutely wise advice. I have tended to follow my passions cheerfully in the opposite direction of fortune and fame, and I'm now certain that chasing either or both is the key to a truly crappy life for almost everyone. I say "almost" , and I'm not even sure I can add that qualifier. Second -guessing oneself is part of that sort of life, and it's a fast track to misery.
Such a fabulous way to look at choices--something that's often hard for writers working in a silo, without a ton of daily contact with peers, or clear mentors, or teammates, outside of their agent. Love this, thank you for sharing it!
Very good advice. It's why I stopped writing short stories to focus on my novel: the novel would get me where I wanted to go while the stories, while they taught me a lot and were fun, put me in what a friend calls the "cul-de-sac of productivity," that is, you're getting stuff done, but you're not getting anywhere.
What good advice. I used a similar framework recently when I decided to launch a serial essay anthology about Louise Penny's books. (My first plan was to review all 17 books my self, my second plan was to split them with a friend, my third and final idea was to get a group of contributors.) It's been so fun so far, helping me meet new people and develop new skills instead of tiring myself out doing it solo.
This reframing of the question is excellent. For writers, which projects to pursue, grind through, and seek publishing, is one of the most important decisions they'll make. It certainly has been for me. I've written some books purely out of satiating my curiosity. I've done others, frankly, for the money and some vague idea I'm fulfilling the expectations of my readers. Still others because I was simply enraptured by one of the characters. In hindsight, whenever I've made the choice on a subject out of following an interior joy, it's succeeded. Whenever I've done so trying to fulfill some exterior want, it's been a very hard slog. I won't say which books are which :)....but one of the things I love most about writing my own newsletter here is that I am only following that joy.
What a great column, Kate. I loved this part, where you elevated Jane's fine comments: "Hard things that deplete you can be worth it in the end, of course, but *in the end* isn’t the only thing that matters. You have to think about the *in the middle* or *at the start*." I'm recommending your newsletter to my authors!
That is a really beautiful way to frame decision making. And coincidentally, that is why I haven't joined TikTok 😉
I have some long term health issues so looking at which choices take me on my chosen path matters, I need to use my limited energy in the best way possible. Best for me, anyway :)
Enjoy the holiday, reading and swimming sounds fantastic.
Great advice! After a day of writing and mothering, my decision skills feel really blah these days. :) This is an easy way to take back the framing for myself rather than hemming and hawing for too long. Thank you!
In one of those cosmic coincidences, I'd been flirting with expanding my social media presence and adding TikTok. But my heart's not in it. When I saw Jane's newsletter last weekend she helped me realize I'd feel diminished too.
Great advice Kate, and I say Kate knowing the original post was from Jane because if you hadn't given your take on it I would have missed this nugget of gold.
Thank you so much
Kate, that's absolutely wise advice. I have tended to follow my passions cheerfully in the opposite direction of fortune and fame, and I'm now certain that chasing either or both is the key to a truly crappy life for almost everyone. I say "almost" , and I'm not even sure I can add that qualifier. Second -guessing oneself is part of that sort of life, and it's a fast track to misery.
Such a fabulous way to look at choices--something that's often hard for writers working in a silo, without a ton of daily contact with peers, or clear mentors, or teammates, outside of their agent. Love this, thank you for sharing it!