The Writer's Block

by Alyssa Ast

As writers, we all posses different skills. As our careers grow, we acquire skills that newbies don't have. Often we are asked to help newbies for different reasons. Help them touch up their website, criticize their work or even help them learn a new skill to promote their writing career. I don't know about you, but I normally say yes when I'm asked for help because I remember being in that exact same spot just a short time ago. It's a way to give back, in my opinion. However, I don't always have the time to help, and as a result, I often become irritated with the amount of help some newbies ask of me. Some don't seem to understand, that although I don't mind helping, I do have other work to do; and therefore, I'm limited on the amount of time I can spend helping them out.

When Helping Becomes Too Much
For a while, I was being asked to help others so much I thought I would begin charging for mentoring, but it just didn't seem right. Yes, I do lose a lot of time, and my work often suffers when I do help the newbies, but to charge them for my time just doesn't seem to sit right. Yes, I take an income loss in some way helping out, but there are many writers who have helped me along the way and didn't charge me a penny--although, they probably could have.

I guess the main problem is, there needs to be a line drawn between helping and when helping becomes too much. I don't mind answering questions from time to time and pointing people in the right direction. But, when the emails begin causing me aggravation because I'm constantly being ambushed by them when I don't have the time, helping becomes too much.

I understand writers have questions and want their career to move forward, but there needs to be an equal understanding that my time is valuable. When asking for help, you need to be careful you aren't taking advantage of that help by just pushing it too far. If you can find the answer on Google, like you can almost always do, avoid sending out that extra email for the answer.

A career won't more forward without any effort involved. Hard work must be put into it. Next time you feel the need to ask for help, make sure you really need the help and aren't just taking the easy road because you know you have someone who will answer the question for you, allowing you to have a few more minutes to your day.

I think it's a consideration issue, or maybe a professional etiquette to only ask for help when you truly need it. And be sure not to take advantage of that help, because it is after all, free advice for you, but not for the writer offering it.

How do you handle situations when helping others becomes too much? Do you grit your teeth and deal with it, or do you just have to say, "I'm sorry, but I don't have the time?"

Happy Writing!

When Helping Becomes Too Much