Working For Yourself is All About Winging It

by Katrina Martin

No matter how much planning you put into striking off on your own to pursue a creative dream, you'll always be winging it a little. Some of us follow this path with the idea that we "want to write" or "want to paint" or "want to take photographs" while others have a long laundry list of goals they expect to meet in six months.

I lean a bit more toward the anal list maker side, but I have an element of free-spiritedness in me as well. From what I've seen so far, having a balance is best. For instance, it may seem tempting to be completely uninhibited and just say you're going to "follow your dream." But let's face it--a little practicality is required. You have to pay the bills. You do need some kind of plan.

On the other hand, don't let your plan become so rigid that you don't allow for unexpected events. For example, this week I had a blog topic for each day already planned (like I said, I'm anal). But then life happened and I wrote on completely different topics. I also created a list of New Year's resolutions and goals that proved far too unyielding. What if someone wants to pay me to write a series of five feature stories and I had that time slated to work on poetry? I would definitely drop my poetry plans to take paid work. Doing this job takes flexibility.

It also requires the ability to roll with the punches. One month you might have 15 assignments and life will seem good. The next month you may have one editor respond. That's life. By the same token, creativity comes in waves. Learn to surf. Some days you'll ride the pipeline like a pro, staying up late to finish your latest and greatest project. Other days you'll spend all your time lying on your surfboard waiting for that one spectacular wave. You never know when that wave is coming your way, but remember this: catch it with all your might when it comes. The times you're left floating, wait patiently. Have faith that another wave is rolling your way.

No one knows everything that will happen when they set out to follow their dreams. Much of it is a mystery. But half the fun is in the learning and in the unknown. Plan when you can, but don't restrict yourself. And remember that sometimes your best work will come from winging it.