For the next class, please journal about what you believe to be your strengths and weaknesses regarding work/writing. Below are a list of questions to help you get started, but feel free to diverge if I’m missing anything. Also, feel free to write in whatever form/tone you like (humor, sarcasm, seriousness, etc.). Feel free to imagine your responses in story form, if you like, as long as you address the basic ideas inherent in the questions below:

• Working independently: what strengths and weaknesses do you possess when it comes to working independently? Are you good at creating your own tasks? setting deadlines? meeting those deadlines without someone pushing you (or without having someone to answer to)? are you motivated to constantly seek new opportunities?
• Working with and under others: do you need structure in your work environment? do you work better if someone else is setting deadlines for you? Do you prefer to work with people (or by yourself)? when working with other people, do you tend to lead or follow? what are some of your pet peeves, when it comes to working with a group of people and/or under someone else?
• Writing flexibility: do you mostly write within one genre? or do you believe you have skills that enable you to cross over to a number of different genres? what are your writing strengths? weaknesses? Think about the various kinds of writing we’ve discussed in class and think about whether you would be successful at those differents kinds of writing.
• Atmosphere: what kind of atmosphere do you need to be in to write successfully and enjoy your work? Do you need complete silence and the ability to be alone? Are you able to write in areas that are busy and teeming with people? What kind of people do you like working with? People who are laid back, funny, intellectual, etc.?
• Financial goals: we would all like to make millions of dollars, but what would be the absolute least you’d settle for (and you don’t have to put an actual amount – but rather speak in terms of what you’d be happy with in terms of goals . . . i.e., “enough to rent a small apartment and have a few perks every now and then” or “I would have to make enough money to buy a house and travel”).
• Time: what amount of time do you need to dedicate to the writing that you MOST want to do?
• Interests: what do you like to do when you are not writing? movies? sports? comics? playing video games? hanging out with friends? Make up a list of activities that you most enjoy and be specific.

THEN, in list form, write out some of the potential jobs and/or freelance gigs you could imagine getting paid for (and being happy about), while pursuing your ultimate writing goals. Also, reflect on the kinds of jobs and/or freelance opportunities you absolutely are NOT interested in.