Should Writers Stay In Their Lane?

Summary

The article discusses the balance between creative freedom and productivity in writing, emphasizing the importance of finishing work without stifling passion.

Abstract

The author reflects on their experience writing fantasy fiction, highlighting the enjoyment derived from pursuing personal passions in their work, such as with the LitRPG story "Sparta Online." The article acknowledges the motivational benefits of autonomy, citing self-determination theory, but also the necessity of focusing on completing projects to avoid becoming a writer who never finishes anything. It suggests that the satisfaction of completing a project is contingent upon the writer's genuine passion for the initial idea. The author encourages writers to narrow down their ideas to increase productivity while maintaining creative freedom.

Opinions

The author values the freedom to explore new ideas in writing but recognizes the need for discipline to complete projects.
Autonomy is seen as a key motivator for writers, supported by psychological theories on motivation.
There is a concern that without a push to finish

Freedom versus productivity

I’ve spent several years writing fantasy fiction, and had a lot of fun doing it. Often, I’ve been led by my own passions, for example when I wrote Sparta Online, a LitRPG story set in ancient Greece.

However, at some point you need to put new ideas aside, and get something finished. You don’t want to be a writer who never completes anything!

This leads to a dilemma: freedom to explore vs. productivity.

I think that a push to finish your work will ultimately prove highly satisfying— as long as your initial idea was something that you are truly passionate about.

Read on:

Should Writers Stay In Their Lane?

Freedom versus productivity

Want to Write More? Narrow Down Your Ideas

A psychology-based strategy for creatives