Married to My Job
I was tagged a few days ago by Gayla at Mom Gadget to participate in a meme about productivity. I have been thinking about what I wanted to say, and it occurred to me that productivity is just about my middle name these days.
From the summer of 2003 until this past November, I lived in a dream state. I spent a year writing a YA novel, then I spent my time learning about the publishing industry, hanging out on writer’s message boards, playing at being a writer, writing poetry, short stories, essays, and a few articles here and there, getting a bunch of publishing credits under my belt. My hope was to be a great ‘writer.”
I didn’t make any real money to speak of, my husband paid the bills, so I didn’t worry about it. I had basically, if the truth be known, browbeat him into to supporting me. He kept telling me that I needed to get a job, but I was in denial about so many things. My son was in trouble with drugs and would soon no longer be with us.
My marriage was in trouble too, but I didn’t want to acknowledge that fact. Actually, I am not sure I even knew it. You know how they say that things can change in a New York minute? Well that’s what happened the day after Thanksgiving of last year. My husband informed me that we was in love with someone else and was leaving me. I was devastated, but my first thought was of course one of survival. How was I going to take care of myself?
I had signed up with Payperpost a few months before that and was making a little cash, but once Shane hit the door I hit the computer. Hard. I did all the paid posting I could, for PPP and other companies. I worked to get my PR up so that I could take better paying opps and also because I fell in love all over with my blogs and became proud of them, plus it felt good to be helping other writers who were also struggling to make ends meet. I started writing for Associated Content. I began taking other low paying content writing jobs, counting my pennies, holding my breath. I have been working like a demon ever since, practically married to my job. But I haven’t thought about it, I have just worked, grateful that I had the ability to make a living online. All I could concentrate on was the fact that I had to take care of myself so I wouldn’t lose my apartment, and thus my freedom, and eating is always a good thing. 
I was finally able to start paying my own bills within a few months. Then last week I won that $1000 from PPP and I was ecstatic. I felt like it was a gift from God for all my hard work. Then yesterday I was hired to write for a site called The Go-To Girls where I get to talk about my experiences with online dating and offer advice on sex and relationship. (Got plenty of experience, been there, done that, got too many t-shirts, as I said in my first article I just finished writing.)
With all of this good fortune and the hard work I have done, things are settled into a comfortable monetary place so that I am actually able now to write Monday through Friday about 7 hours a day if I want and still make a good living. I can get up at 6 and work until 2 and be done. I love that.
It’s been a rough road, but you know what? I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Even though I have often worked seven days a week these last few months I am glad I was forced to wake up and smell the coffee. I love working. Up until the summer of 2003 I had been a career woman all my life. It is who I am, and I feel like my old self again most of the time.
So, in conclusion, my thoughts on productivity is that it is essential to good mental health. And being self sufficient is something I will never relinquish or give away again.
I want to tag a few people today to hear what they have to say about productivity. Those people are:
Laura Spencer at Writing Thoughts
Lillian Ammann at A Writer’s Words, an Editor’s Eye
Thanks for listening to my missive. Please take the time to check out what these fine writers and bloggers have to say about productivity.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
By the way, I want to say that I’m really sorry to hear about the troubles you’ve been through.
It sounds like you have a plan and that things are now starting to pick up for you.
Thanks for tagging me. I have another meme to do and will get to this next week.
I’m glad to hear that things are going well for you now after what you went through. Once again it shows that all things work together for good to those who love the Lord. Out of a devastating experience, you have grown and accomplished much.
This is a very powerful story Denise, and well told. Congrats on your new Go to Girls gig. You’re drive and enthusiasm is an inspiration.
You’ve put an interesting spin on this meme with your evocative insights into the key part motivation (regardless of where it comes from) plays in productivity. I agree that motivation is a driving force. I’ve been tagged for this too, so you’ve given me some ideas. Thanks!
Yvonne
Hi Denise
I’ve tagged you for the Technorati Favorites Meme… It’s well worth doing. I also emailed you.
Yvonne
[...] Denise at Freelancing Journey recently tagged me for a group writing project on productivity. The writing project was started by Ben Yoskovitz at Instigator Blog to compile the “Ultimate Guide to Productivity.” [...]
[...] Gayla over at MomGadget wants to know why I blog. Denise at Freelancing Journey wants to know what I think about productivity. Mihaela at eWritings Online Public Relations asks me about my goals, dreams, and ideals. [...]
Interesting meme! Thanks for tagging me. I’m currently behind on memes, so it may be a little while, but I will get to it.