As a freelance writer, I know that I would love to devote all of my time to crafting my art. However, I am also in need of funds with which to pay my bills and live in general. Thus, I am occasionally forced to accept jobs that are seemingly dull and without creativity. For example, I have written articles in the past that pertain to vacuum cleaners and domain names. Neither made for very interesting writing.
Such jobs have been known to give way to periods of frustration. This stems from writing about what is at-hand rather than that which is important. Frustration often leads to lost time and lost work, which in and of themselves can evoke further mental anguish.
During bouts of discouragement, I try to take time to write about that in which I am passionate. With unsavory assignments, I have been known to rise early in the morning and take time to indulge myself with freestyle writing. During this, I research and write about what I choose. This is all for my personal gain, but it gives a heady sense of freedom. After I have relaxed a bit, I delve into the actual assignment work that needs my attention.
You can use this technique and simply pick any fresh topic you like. Take a few moments, or hours, and push aside the assignment in front of you. The best way to combat a frustrating job is to write about what you enjoy while also working on the not so enjoyable projects.
Keep a journal, submit a personal piece for online publication, or start a story/poem/screenplay. You can work on these creative efforts during your free time or when you are most frustrated. These will help to maintain your sanity and provide a sense of accomplishment.
You can also overcome those assignment(s) you dislike by reminding yourself of the good that comes from writing. A sense of freedom, the ability to research a number of worldwide subjects and the chance to openly express ourselves. For me, this is what writing is really about; the assignments are just money.
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