Creative Conundrums #11: Corporate Jobs Vs Creative Jobs (Or Both)?
A Writer's Corner series dedicated to challenges and worries throughout the creative process, doubts, queries and everything in between.
Reduced Substack Engagement, Exercising the Writing Muscle and Past Instalments of Creative Conundrums
By no means am I throwing in the towel on Substack (seeing as I have only just reappeared out of my hibernation hole), but has anyone else witnessed a plunge in their engagement?
It may be that Writer’s Corner subscribers have finally given up. I cannot blame them, for I have been missing in action for the best part of a year. I can understand why someone will prioritise other publications, publications that have been consistent in the quality and quality of their outputs.
The reason may be personal: I have noticed that a few authors, whose Newsletters I follow, have themselves been inactive on the platform. Have they made the decision to leave Substack? Other circumstances may present an obstacle in collaborating as they used to. Who am I to talk when I am behind on everyone’s posts! I have a huge backlog of articles to read, and I have not even commenced this mammoth task.
Lastly, several writers have now pay walled content that was previously offered for free. Changes are inevitable and evolving the approach to our craft and switching things up, if the desire or need arises, is totally normal. However, with paid content on the go, I suspect, comes an extra layer of responsibility to subscribers and a resultant inability to read and comment on other people’s work.
If you happen to read this article, could you share your experience with engagement levels recently, e.g., have you seen a change, how have interactions with your readers been for you?
Against all odds, I will keep writing. Even if no one reads, I shall show up at the desk (pep talking, are we?). It is another mechanism to stay consistent and treat this venture with the level of seriousness it demands (learn from last year’s failure, dear ol’ me! One word: accountability). The writing muscle is exercised and every little helps (we love a Tesco tagline!). Happy days!
As usual, I have provided you, existing and new subscribers of Writer’s Corner, with links to previous instalments of Creative Conundrums. Post #1 and Post #2 are inter-linked, otherwise the Creative Conundrums can be read in whatever order you see fit.
Creative Conundrums #2: Individual Publications or Publication Sections?
Creative Conundrums #4: What Are the Substack ... Things Called?
Creative Conundrums #8: Creative Writing Courses Vs M(F)As in Creative Writing
Creative Conundrums #9: First Draft Exposure Vs First Draft Secrecy
Creative Conundrums #10: Literary Competitions Now Vs Literary Competitions Later
What is Creative Conundrums?
“What is Creative Conundrums”, you ask yourself. It is a series – if someone has a finer term for it, I would steal it in a heartbeat – dedicated to questions of creative nature, worrisome thoughts, plaguing insecurities, and day-to-day challenges that I wrestle with.
Over the years, I have realised that much of what we often consider to be unique to our personalities, for example the tendency to be indecisive, or circumstances, say, our education background or job, resonates with others louder than we have ever imagined.
Creative Conundrums will, therefore, serve two purposes:
Aid me in un-baffling myself through endless rambling and mind backflips, and
Provide solace to you in the realisation that you are not alone in your troubles (Fingers crossed, sound practical advice will be a welcome by-product).
Moving on to Creative Conundrum #11.
Creative Conundrums #11: Corporate Jobs Vs Creative Jobs (Or Both)? Context
‘This girl – I think I should refer to her as ‘woman’; she is not that young! – goes on and on about the corporate world and full-time jobs. Moan. Moan. Moan. What is it she is complaining about now?’
Hi there! True that. I do talk about the corporate world (what does ‘the corporate world’ even mean?), white-collar jobs, huge monitors (often multiple standing next to each other), stiff necks and creaky backs. The lot. This article will not be any different. I am a broken record. I am stuck on a song and, despite how amazing the song may be, I cannot move forward. It is frustrating; for you, for me. But with your friendly advice, I will gain the wisdom required to free myself.
For me, the bottom line is that the corporate world (the version of it that I inhabit has Highlight Reports, Risk / Issue / Assumption / Dependency Logs, tiny Budgets to accomplish massive objectives, Senior Stakeholder meetings supported by 30-page decks that may get torn to pieces in the first five minutes of the call) is in direct opposition to the creative world (the version of it that I inhabit makes use of complex, yet beautiful and flowery language; it discusses the human condition with its highs and lows, and interprets the efficacy of allegories and metaphors; it tries to bridge the gap between person A and person B, and make them realise that literature is a universal tool they can employ to relate to one another and feel less alone).
I can picture corporate me and creative me in their respective blue and red corners. The warm up routine is on: jumping on the spot, punching the air in simulation of what is to come. This is corporate me; the nicer, gentler creative me prefers to stretch. Corporate me has been on a winning streak for years. Creative me has only emerged from behind the parapet. She is timid, easily beaten down, and back in her box she goes.
These two were, are and will not be friends; they are hardly acquaintances who fight for attention, time, dedication from their master. Me.
I foresee changes in 2024. I manifest them. Creative me is no longer content to sit idly, and clock watch; I do not want her to either. Not anymore. But changes, sustainable changes any who, are slow to materialise.
The reality is that, during the week, I find it hard to recalibrate my brain and think creatively. The switch from rigid, fact-obsessed, clear, and concise narrative to intangible, metaphysical discourse is almost impossible to achieve. I do not often hear people flag this and, therefore, the likelihood of it being a ‘me’ issue is high. Others may be perfectly equipped to cope with this, but not me. Tiredness eventually settles in, after I have made several attempts to turn some cylinders off and fire a few others. Writing is, once more, deprioritised.
In a similar vein, I am not overly convinced by the hustle crowd; I am not certain it is possible (without impacts to physical and / or mental health) to sustain a routine according to which one does Morning Pages, writes for an hour after Morning Pages and before work, works X hours a day, reads fiction and non-fiction books, completes assignments for a course, posts on Substack and other platforms, gives other writers’ creations the devotion they deserve and, when this is triumphantly done and dusted, feeds oneself, showers, cares for the dogs and / or children, spends quality time with partner and sleeps. Friends? Pffft.
How sustainable is combining a ‘main source of income’ job with a ‘side hustle’ (I hate this term!) or a passionate project? People have done it. Some of their circumstances, while not identical, have been like mine. For how long, can a person function in a bubble where a. their schedule is jammed (with both professional pursuits and dreams of a creative nature) and b. their day-to-day job demands, say, boring stringent language, but their passion (be it paid or for pure fun) requires them to use it in a completely different capacity?
At the bleak prospect of (my) personal incompetence how can I choose? It is an unbearable choice. What is it exactly: do I pay the bills or do something that brings me happiness?
Creative Conundrums #11: Corporate Jobs Vs Creative Jobs (Or Both)? The Actual Conundrum
I am not at the point of choosing, friends. I am very much staying put, for I have a house mortgage to repay (I will have a head full of grey hair before the last repayment is through).
Yet, some of you may be at the crossroads now. If you must make a decision, here is a rapid-fire list of pros and cons to a corporate job and a creative job (it is not at all exhaustive; it is subjective and will depend on where you are in your career and your art).
A corporate job pays the bills. It brings in steady money, especially if you are a permanent employee (self-employment carries risks with it). A corporate job can offer you stability and allow you to climb any career ladders you have in mind. For the ambitious folk, you can work on development plans and ensure you grow in your chosen field. You get the opportunity to work in a team and befriend people you may normally overlook.
On the other hand, and this is down to the individual, it may equate to little or no enjoyment; if red energy dominates your personality, the bureaucracy that encircles everything you would like to tick off your To-Do list is difficult to ignore.
Your work vs life balance may not exist. A corporate job is selfish: it leaves no (spare) mental capacity for intellectual hobbies. The lucky winners are those of you, whose artistry is expressed via images; you may find painting or drawing or photography actually helps in putting the challenges from the work day to bed.
Supposedly, a creative job is better for work vs life balance, in part because it supplies more freedom to do your work as and when you please. It is likely the fulfilment on personal level will be stronger resulting in or from less stress. Where does this leave you? Happier.
The drawbacks of a creative job are the opposites of the corporate job’s pros! A drop in income is not inevitable but likely (at least at the beginning). You will face less stability as a self-employed person (assuming this is the route you go down) and self-employment admin, for example, filing your tax returns will be a thing now (you will not have to worry about that as an employee of a company; HR do it all for you!).
Creative Conundrums #11: Corporate Jobs Vs Creative Jobs (Or Both)? Thoughts
I would like to believe that readers of Writer’s Corner come from all walks of life. As unique as each of us is, I cannot be alone in dealing with such a dilemma. Step up, step up! Do not be shy.
A few prompts to spur you on if you decide to let me and my readers in on your secrets:
Have you been in a position where you have had to combine a corporate job with a creative endeavour? Secretly, you know you will be happier with a life of a creative…
If so, is that your current arrangement?
If not, did you stick with the corporate job or did you decide to take the plunge and pursue something different?
What helped you make either decision?
If you could use time travel, what would you do differently?
Your continuous support is always appreciated!