Does Taking Emotion Out of the Equation Help With Writing Productivity?

Do puff pieces and success go hand-in-hand?

I take a long time to finish writing. I can work on the same piece for days, weeks, or months and still never be happy enough with what I thought was the final product. What I’ve recently come to realize may be counterintuitive to what most people say is the “right” thing to do.

Everyone says to write from your heart, which I’ve always done. I’ve never needed any advice to help me along that path, it’s simply what I do. I didn’t think I could write from any other aspect. However, I’m finding that doing just that might be what’s hindering my productivity, honestly. Sounds ludicrous, I know — but hear me out.

Growing up, I drew. I’d draw as soon as I awoke, jumping out of bed and onto the floor to sprawl out on my tummy and draw. I’d draw in the car on the way to school, I’d draw at school if I finished my assignments early, I’d draw when I got home instead of doing my homework.

As childhood turned into teen years and younger adulthood, I drew some more. I drew before work, I drew on my lunch break, I drew after partying all night. Some of my best drawings were done at two or three o’clock in the morning, sitting atop the closed toilet seat lid in the tiny bathroom. My mom and I lived in a small, one-bedroom condo, and the bathroom had the best lighting and the flattest countertop for my sketch paper to lay upon.

I spent so much time on every single detail of anything I drew. Same went for my paintings. And my writing.

Everyone in my life would tell me how I needed to be selling my art. I needed to hire myself out for window displays. I needed to sell my drawings to tattoo shops or sit on the pier and charge people for portraits. I needed to allow people to pay for my work.

Sure, I’d always appreciated it when someone would tell me that because I knew it came from a good place. Statements like that were always really encouraging as far as others’ confidence in me as an artist. It made me feel like I may actually have the tools needed for some kind of future in the art world, which was always what I’d expected to do when I grew up. Something to do with art, or music. That was it. That…

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