I have recently stumbled upon an effect of making a living off of writing.

The work I am doing is for subject matter I’m not necessarily into. After completing any given assignment, I can feel the need to reset. In this way, it is very much like a traditional job, where the time off between work hours is valuable. It is draining work, but I think that’s the price that has to be paid for any work.

It still doesn’t drain me nearly as much as the non-physical work I used to do for a living. I would run out of steam in that business in about 30 seconds. At least while I’m writing I don’t run out of energy, just afterward.

This pause does make me seriously consider the assignments I’m willing to take on, and the amount of clients I’m willing to engage with. I think for the sake of my sanity it can’t be more than a few.

There is also a double-edged sword quality to this drop in energy level. I find it a lot harder to come to this and other spaces to work on my personal projects. I am still in the process of trying to find the right balance because right now it is all in or all out and no in between.