To Write or Not to Write

For me writing is a creative outlet that I enjoy and that I can do at my own pace. I’ve written a few articles for friends’ blogs, ghost written some, and provided content for larger articles. While that was fun and I have been encouraged to broaden that aspect of my writing, the last thing I want to happen is for writing to become work. I spent over 35 years working and I don’t want to do it ever again.

Being paid to write is great, but that monetary reward comes with a price – the timeline and constraints of the entity paying for those words. I was very excited with my first paying writing gigs and I enjoyed creating articles on topics I like. That was easy writing with little pressure but when a friend suggested I look into opportunities to provide content for blogs, websites, etc. which could provide a few paid gigs each week I had to take a step back. Getting paid to write is great but being obligated to churn out material on someone else’s timeline not so much. Hell, I retired to get off the hamster wheel and I don’t want to get back on. That’s a big reason why I enjoy writing my blog posts. I can do them at my own pace – this is the third I’ve written this week – and can pick what I want to write about when the muse hits.

That’s not to say I don’t want to stretch myself and explore opportunities. Back in December while at a south Jersey winery for my wife’s birthday, we connected with the bartender. As the evening progressed, whenever there was a lull, he would come over to talk about music and local musicians. When he mentioned the name of a phenomenal but not mainstream band, some of whose members I know, the conversations steered toward NJ bands and the Jersey Shore music scene. He was quickly off and running, displaying an amazing knowledge of the musicians and the venues going back to the 1980’s. Listening to several of his stories over drinks, I heard myself say “you should write a book” to which my wife replied, “YOU should write a book”. We’ve embarked on that project of capturing his stories so I can put them into a written form of some sort. Scary as I have no idea how to do that but exhilarating to have such a challenge and to learn about a life well-lived as part of the NJ music scene. This will be a long-term project but once we have some material I will post samples.

Lest you think writing and lazing around is all I do now, there are a few other things besides bike rides, disc golf, softball, and hockey. I’ve been working as an advisor with a local cancer support organization as they roll out and expand a web-based program for almost 2 years now. It’s been amazing to see how far they have come with the program in that time and very rewarding – and humbling – to be part of it. I also take every opportunity to can beer at our local brewery. Not something I would want to do every day – especially at my advancing age – but canning days are fun, provide a lot of exercise, and connect me to others at the brewery. The gig also pays in beer – BONUS! Those are two more examples of things I enjoy because they are not work.

Whatever you enjoy doing, keep it fun. You worked (or still work) at a job for so many years, don’t let a hobby become “work”, it’s supposed to make you happy and provide an outlet. I’m not ruling out expanding my writing portfolio, but for now having this creative outlet is all I want. As long as it’s fun, I’ll keep writing. Hopefully getting better at is as I go! Thanks for the positive feedback I’ve received from many of you; thanks for continuing to read my stuff, and please share it with friends.

www.RetiredandInspiredat55.com 5-09-2022