Don't Burn Out

Suppose you're a writer. That's great and wonderful. What are you doing to pay the bills? If your writing is paying the bills, then stop reading and I'll see you later. If not, then read on.

So you need to do a job. You're a competent writer, so the logical choice is to have a writing job. After all, you should do what you love, right? Maybe you'll be a technical writer, a copywriter, or a proofreader. Whatever the case is, you get to write and get paid for it. Ain't it great?

But consider this for a moment. If you spend 8 hours a day writing. When you go home and take a load off, what are you going to do to relax? Most likely, the answer isn't write more. You're goiong to be burned out on writing and want to do something brainless to give your mind a rest.

What would happen if you went the other way around? What if you took a mindless job? If you spend 8 hours a day lifting heavy objects or entering data into a computer, then you will get burned out on imndless activities. When you get home, your ideas will be screaming to get out.

I'm not saying that you need to pick a mindless job, or that it is better to do. Some people thrive if they are constantly using their mind. Some people lose their creativity if they spend enough time not thinking or creating. Only you can know what you should do to pay the bills. Just make sure that whatever you choose, you don't burn out.