It’s hard to believe it’s been a decade since the last time I wrote something. I was in the thick of trying to produce an animated indie motion picture when the pandemic hit, leading to the collapse of the project. It hurt, to see something I worked so hard on crumble around me.
I thought that was the end of my writing career. I was OK with it, too. I figured I was ending on a high note – I took on an ambitious project, I worked hard, and I felt like I did the best I could. Forces I couldn’t control came to bear, and there was nothing I could do. I’ve got the recordings of the voices, a few scenes animated, and some beautiful artwork…what’s not to love?
So the pandemic comes along, and it seemed for a while like the world was ending. Things shut down. I couldn’t find work. It was a truly depressing time – I wasn’t feeling particularly creative, so I figured perhaps I was done.
Then something funny happened. As things started to open up again – as the world started shifting back toward what we used to know as normal, I started to feel creative again. The path was calling me back: it doesn’t call with a shout, it calls with a whisper. I felt the stirrings, and I thought I needed to try again. So I did.
It took a while – almost three years to be exact, to get this new project to work. That’s a while. Honestly it’s not like I was working on it every day during that time. I’d put a few days in, then I’d set it down. But ultimately I hit a block that was really tough to get past. It took a lot of soul searching and revisiting old inspirations with fresh eyes, but it finally worked.
There are things I learned in that time away. I’d like to share them with you, dear reader, for maybe you’re reading this and you’ve been away from your art for a while. Or maybe you’re stuck, blocked and unable to move forward. Hopefully my lessons can help you.
- Don’t chase the approval of others. Do your best work and step back. You’ll know when you’re giving your all. (Be honest)
- Sometimes, despite your best efforts you will fail. This is OK. This is how we learn.
- When you go indie more of your time will be spent marketing than creating. This will consume lots of energy.
- Holding down a day job while trying to write can be tough. It’s doable, but it’s tough.
- Some employers will look down on you for having a side passion; others will admire your spirit. It can be really difficult to tell which you’re dealing with.
- Failure costs money but success costs more money. Until you’re making consistent sales be very careful with what you’re spending on promotion. Especially online these costs can add up quick.
- Constantly seek out new sources of support and inspiration. The people rooting for you when you start will eventually move on – it’s the way it is. Find other ways to stay validated.
- Use whatever tool you’re comfortable with to do your work. There are plenty of people that will tell you you’re not a writer if you don’t use this software. These people are idiots. Don’t listen to them.
- Some people will look down on you for writing genre. Unless you’re applying to a college program or a job don’t listen to these people either. Even if you are, take their advice with a grain of salt.
- Believe in yourself and your work, but stay humble and pay attention to feedback.
- Not everything will be useful; you’ve got to develop a sense for what you can use and throw away what you can’t.
- Taking a break is not quitting. It may feel like it is, depending on how long the break lasts, and sometimes you’re not going to know whether it’s a break or quitting until you start up again.
- You are a human being, not a machine, and sometimes you need a break.
- Your art will always be there. It is in you, it is core to your being, and if you’ve got the spark it will never leave you. There may be times when it feels like it has, but when the fog clears it will be there.