Two-Zero-Zero-Eight! Time to stop and evaluate!

A new “fact of life” revealed: Aldric cannot cheer! Amidst the New Year wishes, a thought came into mind: why don’t I evaluate my copy writing plan. This came after I re-read the second chapter of Robert Bly’s Getting Started As A Freelance Writer. It is time to evaluate: should I be a writer? For those of you aspiring to be a writer, maybe you can adapt this entry for your own use.

When you come cross the word “writer”, what comes to your mind? Who do you see? When you want to be a writer, how do you see yourself? Holding your Bestselling Book in over 100 countries and 1000 languages? Sitting in front of your laptop, looking out of you 50-room villa situated in Italy as you search for ideas? Or do you see yourself laughing with the stars and celebrities of the world as you brush shoulders with other bestselling and award winning writers? Yes? No? Then what does being a writer means too you? For me, being a writer is a way to indulge in my passions (reading, writing and thinking- to quote Bly) and earn a side income. But for me, writing is not a job but a venture.

Before proceeding, I would like to make clear my definition of success. Success is a level achieved in life when I am off the rat race and on the fast track, doing things I like and want to do. Many motivational writers and authors recommend that you take this simple step - defining success -  before you attempt to do anything. This helps you chart your course and identify your destination. This definition gives your life a meaning. Your definition does not have to be identical with those around you. It’s what you want to achieve with your life. Can writing help me be successful?

As a student, my life is all about reading, writing and thinking. Even more so as a law student. Although I need oratory skills as well to excel. It just dawned upon me: my “prime years” as a student are over. Overall 2007 showed me that. As I begin my 4th Semester, my focus needs to change. A more personal note, my 24th Birthday is fast approaching. Being a copy writer, I’m doing nothing different - other than the fact clients are paying me cash. What is different is my approach to writing as a venture rather than a job. I am capitalizing on my talents and abilities. In simple sense, I’m also an entrepreneur. Certificates of achievement and participation awarded by the university doesn’t seem to be as appealing as it used to be. After all, my working experience is about to begin.

From that third last sentence,  we need to consider how we approach writing. The Malaysian Government use to air a song over and over again about one’s mentality and approach. The campaign intended to boost the morale of the Malaysians in achieving their vision. A line goes: if you think you can, you will reap success (or something along that line). Many personal finance and motivational authors have emphasized on this. Applying it to our situation, how do you view “writing”? Is it a hobby you do in you leisure time. Are you providing some sort of service? What are your motives of writing? If you want to make money through this, Bly advises readers of Secrets of a Freelance Writer that you should treat yourself as a businessperson. Again, you definition of success influences your approach. If it’s just for sharing and discovering knowledge, your approach and expectations are different. You approach to writing can drastically change the outcome.

Because I am a full time student, my studies are a priority. I provide my writing service on a part time basis. Oh yeah, I should mention that I’m a freelance commercial  writer. Not the ones who write fiction. I write copy for marcom and customer communications primarily. My purpose of writing? To sell my clients’ products and services.

Anyway, here are some questions posed by Bly at p. 13 of his book, Getting Started as a Freelance Writer:

    So the first prerequisite or issue to consider in your writing career is: Do you want to do the work? Do you want to spend your time writing? Or are you, as May Sharton suspects, more enamored with the thought of being a published author than with the act of writing itself? To be happy and successful as a writer, the latter should be much more important to you than the former. Not that we can ignore the issue of publishing, though; it is also central to being a freelance writer.

So, yes, I am willing to do the work. I would love to spend my time writing and I opt for “act of writing”.

I should stop here before I continue writing aimlessly. Once you start, it’s hard to stop.