Great topic and I think the answers vary widely depending who you talk to. I've never felt the pressure to hustle until recently when I permanently lost my job after a year of Covid lockdowns.
Now I DEFINITELY feel the need to hustle. Who wants to put together a resume at the age of 48?? Certainly not me. I'd rather hustle my ass off and try to make one of my passions work.
I feel like the pressure comes from around me. The other day a neighbor dropped by to visit. As it happened the whole family was out in the yard playing with our chickens and kittens. During the course of the conversation, I mentioned that I was a writer. I might as well have said I enjoy fine food and drink for all the notice that was given. My point was I have to write after everyone goes to bed. During the day I am so busy trying to attend to the needs of my family there is no time to write. When people look into my bedroom/office during the night they will probably see me sitting quietly at my desk for hours staring at my computer screen. "What are you doing," they might ask, "checking your eyelids for holes?" No matter what you are doing it never seems like to others that you are working.
Like Melissa, I am fortunate as a writer to be able to spend my time on the writing process, without concern for producing an income, as I am already 83 years old and comfortably retired. It is not unusual for me to spend 16 hours straight to write a five-paragraph essay with almost all of the time spent staring at a blank sheet. Finally, when my process is complete, I spend the last few minutes watching as my Muse takes over and bangs out the work.
Writer.
I write about time so nobody, and I mean nobody wants to read what I have to say. And that's OK!
Great topic and I think the answers vary widely depending who you talk to. I've never felt the pressure to hustle until recently when I permanently lost my job after a year of Covid lockdowns.
Now I DEFINITELY feel the need to hustle. Who wants to put together a resume at the age of 48?? Certainly not me. I'd rather hustle my ass off and try to make one of my passions work.
I feel like the pressure comes from around me. The other day a neighbor dropped by to visit. As it happened the whole family was out in the yard playing with our chickens and kittens. During the course of the conversation, I mentioned that I was a writer. I might as well have said I enjoy fine food and drink for all the notice that was given. My point was I have to write after everyone goes to bed. During the day I am so busy trying to attend to the needs of my family there is no time to write. When people look into my bedroom/office during the night they will probably see me sitting quietly at my desk for hours staring at my computer screen. "What are you doing," they might ask, "checking your eyelids for holes?" No matter what you are doing it never seems like to others that you are working.
Like Melissa, I am fortunate as a writer to be able to spend my time on the writing process, without concern for producing an income, as I am already 83 years old and comfortably retired. It is not unusual for me to spend 16 hours straight to write a five-paragraph essay with almost all of the time spent staring at a blank sheet. Finally, when my process is complete, I spend the last few minutes watching as my Muse takes over and bangs out the work.
Writer.
I write about time so nobody, and I mean nobody wants to read what I have to say. And that's OK!
https://dondeemhead.medium.com/interview-with-dr-andrew-thomas-d7c24640a781