I know something about being a commercial writer by day and a novelist by night. Below are a few strategies that might help you live the life of a part-time artist with grace and equanimity (when you're tempted to take leave of your senses).
Trust. It takes time. It's a journey. Trust yourself that you will never quit until you get it right. Trust that the forces of the universe will align to give you exactly what you need, exactly when you need it. Trust that you'll know when its done and you will give it up to the world when it is time.
Stop the Stinkin' Thinkin'. By this I mean stop those annoying tapes that repeat in the back of your mind, tapes with messages like: This is such dreck! I can't write. I'll never finish. No one will ever want to read this. And the opposite Stinkin' Thinkin': I've got this knocked! Damn, I'm brilliant! Notice that they're both Stinkin' Thinkin'. Just do the work. Just be in the work. Don't think about the work.
Don't talk about it too much. Just write it. Writers have talked themselves out of stories by telling the story to too many people before they write it. Don't tacitly ask for permission to write your story. No one but you can give yourself permission to write it.
Stay in the now. Something is always happening. Notice what is happening inside you and around you. Turn off the observer-artist that wants to stay aloof and only observe. As much as possible, be part of what is happening around you.
Don't hold onto your artistic writing too tightly. Avoid getting all your identity from your artistic writing while, to yourself, you trash your day job. Find the love in all of what you do. I believe my artistic writing informs my commercial writing and the other way around. So it's not: I'm an artistic writer who happens to be writing marketing communications. It's: I'm both the artistic writer and the commercial writer. I get enjoyment and identity from both.
Don't forget to have a life. Sometimes the best thing you can do to finish your story is to go see a movie with a friend.
Next month: More advice on how to clean up your copy.
