Some writers like to do one thing, writing-wise, and focus all their attention on it. Maybe they want to be a romance novelist, or a freelance writer, and that's where all their writing energy and time goes.
Others like to switch between two (or more) different areas. They might be a freelance writer who's working on a novel at weekends, or a novelist who also enjoys writing short stories and poems. Or maybe they have a blog, plus they're working on a non-fiction book.
Neither is "right" ... but each has distinct advantages (and drawbacks).
Sticking to One Area Of Writing
If you focus all your energy on one area of writing, you'll find that:
- You develop your skills quickly.
- You can build a strong reputation in your field.
- You'll likely reach your goals faster.
But...
- You might get bored, or go through long periods when you're not writing at all because you don't feel motivated.
- You might miss out on finding an area of writing that you enjoy even more!
Branching Out to Several Areas of Writing
If you spend time working on several areas of writing, you'll find that:
- You can switch between different projects depending on your mood or energy levels.
- You'll have more chances to discover what works for you and what you enjoy.
- It's easier to manage both "making money" and "doing what you love".
But...
- It'll take longer to reach your goals, as you'll be moving foward in several different areas simultaneously.
- You might end up starting things enthusiastically only to later abandon them.
Which is right for you? Personally, I'm happiest working on a mix of different things: freelancing and ghost writing, blogging, and novel-writing, with the occasional short story thrown into the mix. But you might prefer having just one area of writing to concentrate on, and that's absolutely fine too.
If you feel like you don't have the balance quite right at the moment, why not see if you could change something? Either commit to one core project or area of writing as your focus for the next few months ... or block out some time to experiment with something new.
