Balancing Writing Projects – How to PART ONE

How does a writer organize different projects? PART ONE

First, let’s examine what is meant by “different projects.” Writers, effectively, are artists. It’s a craft that carries high risk in terms of outcome versus expenditure of time, energy and effort. In order to market anything in the artistic realm, the maker (in this case, writer) needs to consider the full scope of the endeavour. There’s a lot of talk from writers about the challenges of getting work done and whether “writer’s block” is indeed a real phenomenon. However, that’s just one aspect of the creative process. And it’s only a nugget of the profession overall. Does that sound strange? Let me explain.

Writing something that another person wants to read points to an outcome within a broad category. Somewhere inside that range would also be the outcome of writing something that a person would pay to read. Consider these three possible subdivisions: high-end items, volume pieces, and signature items. These are what is meant by “different projects.” Let’s look at each:

High-end Example: Full-length book. This is the thing that comes to mind most often when someone thinks of “a writer.” The singular piece that the writer produces takes a significant amount of time, research, and resources with no guarantee that it will be picked up by an agent, publisher or other party interested in purchasing rights. There is potential to generate an income on this singular item, but in the beginning it’s more about opening doors of opportunity for the long-term.

Volume Example: Newspaper column. This is something that the writer can churn out in a reasonably short amount of time without exhausting too much energy on perfecting the prose. There may still be a degree of research and preparation involved, but the project itself is much smaller than a high-end piece and may be part of a recurring project on a particular theme or topic. Generating income from this level of output is based on volume—hence the name. The more of these that get published, the more coins in your pocket. It may be lower resolution in terms of the artistic value, but it’s necessary bread and butter. Even an independently wealthy writer should consider volume pieces in terms of marketing and name recognition to support the high-end category.

Signature Example: Blog. This is a recurring and highly-visible item that is the most accessible to the writer’s intended audience. The product is most closely associated with the writer as a personality within the industry. It’s not your typical item that springs to mind when you think “writer,” but it still requires creativity, forethought, and commitment. Although it is possible to turn an income from a signature piece, this is more about networking and platform-building.

In visual art a high-end piece may be a mural, while the same artist’s volume piece may be card-sized caricatures, and the signature item may be a mixed media collage displayed in public galleries as opposed to an individual’s private home. The breakdown of time and resources spent versus prospective outcome is quite similar to that of a writer.

Now that we’ve established what is meant by “different projects,” how does a writer organize these pursuits? Find out in PART TWO on my blog. Wanna get it in your email inbox? Subscribe to stay informed of my newest articles, story reviews, updates, and more.

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