Good morning, Friday. Let me start by saying that this week kicked my ass. Completely. I have no ass left. None.
So as I continue to explore the evolution of my career, there are moments. Moments where you feel like you can't get anything right. Moments where people's obsession and agony over every freaking word makes you feel insane. Moments where you wish you were independently wealthy, interspersed with remembering how grateful you are for having work in the first place. All of those moments.
But as I continue to grow my creative career path, there are some inevitable bumps in the road. One of those bumps that has me reaching for a seat belt is vulnerability. I have never experienced such a deep sense of it in my work as I do now. What I mean by this is that although writing on behalf of brands is not "personal", it still feels very close to my heart and soul. My writing does. And when people rip it apart and agonize over my words it's tough sometimes. Very tough. I have learned through this process to never get too attached or fall in love with my ideas. It's not that I don't stand up for things when they are great, but I have learned what's worth fighting for and to only fight for the right things. But even when I wave the white flag, that doesn't mean I don't get a little beat up from the battle sometimes. At times, it's all just too obtuse. And exhausting.
Thing is, everyone's a writer. We write emails, posts, memos to staff. So everyone has an inevitable bias when it comes to words. It's entirely subjective and you could go around and around a million times over one sentence, mission statement, or headline. It can rip your heart out. And though everyone's a writer, being creative is a whole different thing. Completely. PS this rule applies to most creative things now- take photographers for instance. We are all endlessly snapping iPhone pics and thinking we're Avedon. There's some great stuff out there, but it complicates things for people who do this for a living.
I just wanted to share how challenging it is to be creative for hire. And to get paid for it. Every job is hard and though this one is more fun than most, it can feel gnarly. It's humbling to do work that is close to your heart and spirit. I'm not saying copywriting for brands is a heart thing for me, but my writing sure is.
That's why I need to dedicate much of my free time to writing my own stuff. As I do here. I appreciate the finesse of writing professionally, but I don't want to lose what made me love writing in the first place. And that's my voice. My POV. My words. Me me me basically. ;) My gratitude knows no bounds for having been able to shift gears and follow my passion, but you can't forget about why you did it in the first place. I'm tough enough to take the heat. But on occasion, I need to get out of the kitchen.
Hey So on occasion, I have to take a pause and remind myself not to get too down when it all goes to shit. Because it often does. But then it all somehow works out and you hit a home run and it's all ok again. I'm tapped into my most creative side right now and I'm willing to take the good with the bad because it's totally and completely worth it. And I realize it's all very much part of the process. I wouldn't trade it for the world. Well, maybe for my own novel or screenplay.
Cause that's what's up this putting it all out there kind of Friday in the 212. Yours, in what are words worth? XO