What we give up

I didn't work on my fiction this morning. I was just too tired to dive into world-building. For the last three days I've been editing a dissertation chapter for a client. I have a real, full time job (scientist by day and all that), so I have to do my editing early in the morning or in the evening. The pay is pretty decent, but I admit I get frustrated with myself for accepting jobs that edge out my own writing time. 

I started my editing side-business as a way to prove to myself that I could earn money outside academia (ironically, I mostly edit academic dissertations). At the time, I wasn't super happy with the direction my work was taking and I briefly considered the possibility of freelancing. I learned almost immediately that freelancing wouldn't be the answer to all my problems, and like all jobs has its own downsides, intermittent work probably being the biggest issue. So it was a good thing I didn't quit my day job! Especially since I managed to fix the problem I was having and have been pretty happy of late with the direction my research has been taking.

In any case, I continue editing on the side for the extra cash flow...but really, I don't need the extra cash. I'm starting to question whether its worth my time. The cash lets me buy a new dress for summer without feeling guilty that I'm cutting into our family's budget. But one job = one dress, and how many dresses do I really need? Or shoes? I'm getting old enough to realize I don't want more material processions, I just want the right object for the right time (i.e. two dresses to rotate for the season, and one pair of sandals to replace the ones that I have wore out from two summers ago). I have that now. So do I really need to take more on more editing jobs?

I've started turning new clients down, since they almost invariably fail to follow through with their initial requests anyway. This is probably for the best.

Because I was too tired to think creatively this morning,  I worked on a blog post instead. The thing is, good content takes time to write, and that post is going to take at least three mornings to complete (which again - cuts into my fiction time!). I follow a few blogs that I'm too ashamed to even list here, because they are just garbage. They post every day, but the topics are shallow and consist of maybe two paragraphs of writing. I learn nothing.

So I'm figuring out what I want this blog to be, and I think that means fewer posts with better content. We'll see. What do you think? Do you have blogs you follow because there's always something to read? Even if its froth? Or do you like blogs that post less, but post better? I still follow many blogs that update maybe just a few times a year - but I love it when they do. If anyone ever reads here, I hope this space will provide that too.