Capturing Chaos

When you start writing on the internet with no clear goals in mind, it’s easy to slip into a comfort zone that eventually becomes a trap. We tend to stay with what’s familiar and easy, avoiding even the thought of change. Even if we do sense that we could be doing better, we’re not sure what the alternatives might be or what challenges we might have to face.

I’ve spent years writing online, making a little money here, a little money there, and sometimes no money at all. My writing improved; I learned the difference between traditional writing and content writing intended for internet readers, learned how to create a snappy title and an enticing opening paragraph. People let me know that they admired my writing, and maybe that’s why it took so long to venture out of my comfort zone into a world where the standards of judgment are very different.

Two features common to most of the low-paying writing sites are strong support for community, and little or no editorial oversight. Those can be very important to beginners who aren’t sure of their skills, but undiscriminating approval, however much it may boost your ego, doesn’t do anything for your growth as a writer. The very opposite is likely to happen

The warm bath of mutual admiration that exists on these sites, together with the ability to publish even the most amateurish garbage, sets many people up for later disappointments. They start submitting their work to sites that pay better, or to print publications, and are rejected, over and over again. They’re angry and confused; their self-esteem has been attacked, so they turn back to their supporters and find the sympathy and indignation that restores their self-image.

Growth means change, and even pain. It requires that you look honestly at yourself and what you’re doing. It requires that you learn what you need to learn, and do the work and make the mistakes that are an unavoidable part of learning. It isn’t comfortable, but nothing worthwhile is.

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