Reflections on Choosing Content Writing as a Career: Are You Regretful?

Thank you for the A2A! While some might find themselves regretting the path of content writing, my own experience has been quite different. Despite the occasional doubts, I find myself content with my current role in business development and partner account management. This leaves me free to explore writing whenever I wish, without being confined to a specific company.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.

No matter what you do in life, you will always regret certain things. You will regret certain decisions that you would wish to change. It is in human nature. -Robert Frost

Decisions regarding love, marriage, relationships, jobs, and careers can be among the most difficult people face. It is natural that a few decisions might be wrong due to external factors that influence our choices. We often prioritize external validation and societal expectations over our innermost desires.

Reason for Decision-Making in Life

- We don’t live our whole life listening to what our inner-self says.

- We are often influenced by external factors.

Actions to Take

Either change our decision and go back on it. Work to prove even the wrong decision as right.

Although I could have been many things, I wished and longed for many things but couldn’t have them. Yet, I easily found myself in content writing. The work profile suits my personality type, and it pays me a decent amount of money. Until now, there has been no regret. However, complacency is not an option. As a human, we have no idea what the future holds—whether I will end up doing something else after a few years or keep doing this and achieve more in the same field.

Regrets and Realities of Content Writing

Each day of my life, I repent having chosen content writing as a career. If I could turn back time and change something, I would certainly change my choice of career. At least I could have gained something if I had not picked content writing later in life. Unfortunately, I didn’t have many peers who could guide me and tell me that I would prosper in something else. But if you are looking for some concrete reasons for avoiding this choice of career, here they are:

1. Bad Financial Returns

- Money is the first priority of a job. If you are providing services in return for peanuts, you are done for.

- Freelancing is not a wise option, and you will have to master the art of living paycheck to paycheck.

- The salary growth is also bad. After a decade of work, you will get six lakh per annum, which is if you live in Bangalore, Delhi, Gurgaon or other tier-1 cities. Otherwise, you are doomed.

- Or you need to have a bestseller on your hands.

2. No Future Prospects

- If you have to go to la-la land, it is advisable you drop writing altogether. You have learned that financial prosperity cannot be achieved through writing.

- Then what do you do? Either you jump in a market where you can actually monetize it properly or take up a skill that can act as a cushion where you can fall back upon when you have little to no work.

3. A Hiccupy Ride

- The number of offers is always fluctuating. Sometimes you will have a good run. Other times it might be dry. So be prepared to face all sorts of challenges.

4. Need for a Second career

- Apart from a writer, what else can you become? Teach yourself code or become a coach, whatever keeps the money flowing in.

- Remember, it is better to be rich and less talented than to be poor and exceedingly talented.

5. Limited Qualifications

- All you can do is opt for a Master of Arts or a course in writing. In India, you do not have many options.

- So, what is the remedy? Either become a coder and learn to make programs or apps, or become a graphic designer. Explore in some side hustles and you would have a comfy part-time income. Try to make it big. Or better still, establish yourself as an author and pen something big. But that is if it is in your destiny. A more logical approach is to go to Mumbai and take up a course in screenwriting and work as a freelancer for movies, soaps, and comedy shows. The gigs pay you enough to survive in the city.

Ultimately, the key is to listen to your inner voice and stay true to your aspirations, even if they may feel like a difficult path. The choice to write can be fulfilling, but it does come with its challenges. However, as Robert Frost said, 'Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.'