Oct 06 2008
Back to the Blog
That’s how I feel about my life right now. Like I’m under construction. Things are great but… As you all know, I recently began a new career (still within the entertainment industry, but in a new area). Luckily I was fortunate enough to not have to start all over from the bottom – I even got a substantial raise!
But I’m still not writing for a living. Which bothers me deep down. They always say you shouldn’t write to make money – but you should also strive to do something for a living that you love. So I wonder… Am I really serving my purpose out here (here = LA)? I criticize people for now going after what they want more vehemently, but am I?
This weekend I pondered how I began blogging December of last year as a way to keep me writing and take my mind away from the humdrum monotony of my day job in legal. Then I began this blog assuming that the added incentive of pay for blogging would keep me writing. Then everything just went topsy turvy. This weekend I ran in to someone that said “hey, what ever happened to you sending me your spec?” Mind begins racing. What is he talking about? OMG! He was going to hand my spec script directly to someone that would not only read it, but provide feed back and possibly get me an in on their network show. Which is really invaluable in this industry and make or break a career. Networking is paramount! That hit me like a ton of bricks. And so I have to reassess. Which is what I’m doing. Reconstructing myself so that I can kind of fall back in line with not just making a great salary, but doing what I love and making a great salary- all at once. Are you doing what you love for a living? Or are you simply making a living and doing what you love as a hobby? How do you feel about that?
Well I write for a living. It’s what I’m trained to do…it’s what I love to do…but I’m broke. I’d take a “normal” job right now if it meant that I could have some financial security.
I’m good at what I do but I’m still not making enough money to live off of…the grass isn’t always greener honey…believe me.
I’m soo happy that you are back!
I always wanted to do something where I had interaction with people face to face and where I could assist them with something they needed. I know I am a “helper” by nature.
I just started working at a community college in their business assessment center and I LOVE it. Everyday is different, there is so much to learn and I meet people from various backgrounds. The pay is okay for a part-time job too. I like money, but I rather like what I’m doing more. God is providing for my family and I’m content with that right now. Everyones idea of being successfull(I think that is a typo) is different and I had learn what I thought it was. I started to think about what I was passionate about and how I could turn it into a career. I have found it for now, I must tell you it was a long hard road but it was worth it. Hang in there, it will all fall into place when you least expect it.
I’m writing for a living and doing what I love, so I can’t complain. But I can relate to what you said about not networking. I have a manuscript just waiting to be sent to an agent - a friend’s agent, so I’ve got a little ‘in’ - and all I need to do is write a cover letter and send it. I swore to myself I’d have it done before the end of September, then before the first week of October. I need to get off my butt!
Nice to see you back!
Yay! Glad you’re back writting your always brightening, challenging and inspiring thoughts. You must be shared with the world!
As for me…Im learning what it means to make that trade off we must make sometimes between pursuing my passion and keeping the lights on. Fortunately I’m crazy enough to risk it all under the belief that the financial rewards will be a natural byproduct of my pursuits. But…”Is Calvin strong enough to walk the path of the starving artist if neccessary??” LOL Hopefully it wont come to that cuz I’ve got mouths to feed and I’m sooo spoiled…luckily there are plenty 7-11’s n liquor stores in the burbs if thing really got tight. LOL J.K.
this blog was right on time. i recently (very recently like two weeks ago) saw my life as if i were looking at it through a glass, and thought ‘what the heck am i doing with myself?’ I like my 9 to 5, which is more than most people can say, but my heart as well as my talent is in songwriting. I think too often we know exactly what we should be doing in life, but for some reason we fall prisoner to the security of a 9 to 5. Nobody’s stopping us but ourselves. thanks for the insight.