Frustration 2

Last week we talked about the frustration that comes with trying to break into this business and how you deal with that, realizing that most people won’t become writers—which means you spend a lot of time aiming for something that may never come to pass… built in frustration, no matter how you look at it.

We talked about the two types of people, each of whom deal with that frustration differently. You may be the sort of person who realizes that the odds are against you to make it—so you take a job that pays well, thus giving you a better lifestyle as you try to break in. Sure, you may have less time to write because of the pressures of that job, but at least you have that safety net of a decent income. Or you may be the type of struggling writer who just takes a job-job to pay the bills, thus being able to devote your whole being to writing. No safety net, but you also have more time to spend writing because you don’t have the pressures of a career—you leave your job at the door when you head home each night.

Both of these scenarios have you admitting that you might not make it. It’s kind of like going into a marriage with a prenup or without a prenup, isn’t it? If you opt for a prenup you’re being logical, admitting that the marriage might not work. If you don’t go for the prenup, you’re being optimistic, assuring yourself the marriage WILL work. In both scenarios, with or without the prenup, the reality is that the marriage might not work—as about a third don’t. In one scenario you prepare for that eventuality, in the other you don’t.

So when you look at it that analytically, shouldn’t you prepare for the eventuality that it might not work and pursue a career you DO have a chance at succeeding at? Sure, you’ll be writing, of course, but doing so living in a nice condo in Santa Monica instead of a crowded share in Koreatown, right?

Well, the answer to that depends on your essential character. Do you need a safety net to pursue your dreams or don’t you? Will pursuing your dreams with a safety net distract you from your goal or free you more to pursue it? Or if you don’t have the safety net, will you work harder to achieve your goals?

You’re the only person who can answer that—how will you deal with the frustration that comes with the process of trying to break into this crazy business? Only you can answer that. Only you can decide.

Next week we’ll look at a case study of one person and how she dealt with that frustration: me.

Copyright © Diane Lake

10Jun18

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