Be safe – be sorry
December 14, 2009 by Doug
Filed under publishing
One of the life-lessons I had confirmed last week was that a great many writers want a safe and guaranteed job. I posted about needing somebody to start a business and provide a gardening editorial service and got quite a few emails from people asking how to apply for this job.
Ignoring what I considered a rather glaring disqualification (if you didn’t read the second last paragraph, then why would you consider yourself qualified to do the job?) it brought home something I’ve been thinking about for some time.
I’ve said more than once that it is important for writers to either develop their own channel or depend on somebody else doing it for them if they want to write.
Developing your own channel is risky. It comes with problems and a steep learning curve. It comes with having to get your head around a brand new way of thinking and abandon the tried and true. It involves a great deal of risk on your part. It means standing away from the crowd.
Depending on somebody else to create and manage the channel is the old and “safe” way to be a writer. You manage the writing and hope those managing the channel figure out a way to make enough money to pay you. You hope you can produce enough income to make it worth your while using their channel. You give up control as writers have done for generations now.
I’ve obviously developed my own channel but I don’t recommend everybody do this – it takes a specific kind of entrepreneurial outlook to do things this way.
But I understand you do have a choice to make – and that choice is not one you can avoid.
No matter whether you create your own channel or use an established channel, you can choose to stand out from the crowd or you can choose to fit in.
You can choose to lead or choose to follow.
You can choose to be out there or be in the middle of the road.
My sense of things is that the only thing in the middle of the road is road kill.
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As always, thought provoking and uncomfortable-making, Doug. I’m about this far (nanometre) away from bailing from one of my longtime clients because they have dumbed down so badly, it’s mindnumbing. Just not quite there yet. Gotta psyche myself up for further reinventions…
@Jodi – Dumbing down isn’t great for sure – but then again, it depends on whether they ask you to dumb down or whether you can still deliver value. I’m actually at the point of increasing the content density in some areas. But then again, you can do that when you are your own boss and get to assume the consequences. :_)
Doug said:
“You can choose to be out there or be in the middle of the road. My sense of things is that the only thing in the middle of the road is road kill.”
Although often true, that strikes me as being a bit harsh. It is possible to choose the middle of the road, understanding the consequences of that choice, and be content and productive instead of road kill.
The trick is making the choice mindfully and being prepared for what that choice means in the short and long terms.
Everyone is different, and the challenge in life is finding your correct path.
@Carolyn – to you it’s harsh – to me it’s a reality. If you want to survive in a creative endeavour – you have to excel. There is no room for middle-of-the-road mediocrity. If you make a conscious decision to be middle-of-the-road, and you’re happy with it – all’s well and good. You simply can’t expect to make a living from that position – no matter how good your intentions are.