As you know, I totally sympathize with your sad pitch-to-acceptance rate ... I had this 1 pitch that I've pitched to SIX different publications since November, only to be ghosted by all but the last one (so yeah! assignment!). It is demoralizing nonetheless.
And to your point of trying to balance the enjoyment of writing to the fact that it's your livelihood, I also empathize. I think this is the reason I've kept my good-old-fashioned blog without monetizing it since 2008. It's the only place where I can write what I want when I want! There are no expectations, and that feels freeing.
As you know, I totally sympathize with your sad pitch-to-acceptance rate ... I had this 1 pitch that I've pitched to SIX different publications since November, only to be ghosted by all but the last one (so yeah! assignment!). It is demoralizing nonetheless.
And to your point of trying to balance the enjoyment of writing to the fact that it's your livelihood, I also empathize. I think this is the reason I've kept my good-old-fashioned blog without monetizing it since 2008. It's the only place where I can write what I want when I want! There are no expectations, and that feels freeing.