As a writer for Odyssey, I have one article due a week. I also am required to share my weekly article on social media. Ideally, these articles are something that I've put thought into, that I care about and, therefore, that I am eager to share. However, an article a week is often torturous as I wait until Saturday morning to rise and write, and nothing is good enough to have my name attached to.
To be frank, much of the content I see on Odyssey is embarrassing. I feel for the writers for a minute when I think of them looking back on their work in five years and regretting making their complaints about their ex-boyfriend a public article. This being said, these thoughtless pieces that are less an article and more a diary entry can be tempting when I check the clock and have a mere half hour before my submission is due.
I don't think people put enough weight on the works that are attached to their names. I've written a handful of articles that I dread anyone reading because they were thrown together at the last minute, written about topics I couldn't care less about. I've already looked into ways to delete these, and I don't think that's an option which is terrifying.
The hours I stare at my computer screen without ideas before writing anything have become numerous due to my need for topics that I can write honestly, knowledgeably and passionately about, but also due to the limitations that are put on me by my audience. The fact that these articles must pop up on all my Facebook friends' timelines for them to click on and critique me limits me greatly.
Which is ideal, producing content but not content to be proud of or not producing content at all, depends on the writer. I'm the kind of "writer" who writes in my journal only when I have something to say. I'm also the kind of writer who reveals too much of myself when I write on something I care about. These two factors make weekly public articles a challenge. Regardless, I believe in establishing a writing discipline as a step toward improved writing, so maybe the suggestion is simple: write more. Then, from there, the option is available to be choosy in what is allowed to be read.
