Hi ologsinquito,
I don't really write much at all anymore to be honest, I spend more time reviewing work than writing it, more time planting seeds than writing- I don't think I'm a writer at the core, I'm a businessman/entrepreneur more and could never be happy solely as a writer even if it made money- It's not what drives me, but if I write at all it's at Wordgigs or for my boss, my projects/blogs etc...
I never circulated through any of the writing mills (I work for one actually which bars me from using any others (at least they let me write there too and I consider them the best out there for what they do and consistency. (not hiring at the moment). Some of our fellow wizzlers have been writing there for a year now :)
I'm currently breaking the cherry on an idea I think is largely untapped- "Writer Motivation" Software :) like an aol interface but only for writers and with special writer based bells and whistles to maintain motivation (timers, digital coach (to keep you on track) and music I'm working on producing that would create a scaffolding for feeling motivated and creative (like music you hear on the game show minute to win it actually but tailored to the time frame the writer wants to write- I can't say more but this thing is going to be cool and complicated to create, but will be something we all need! Motivation tools! I'm currently feeling out and interviewing "life" to distill all the amazing things that drive a writer, what blocks him/her etc... I'm building this all into an idea/concept that will start out as ways to test ambition but will ultimately become software you can layer over any site to add motivation to the equation- does anyone know of anything like that out there right now?
Other than that I've been building my Mastery skill set, I found the most amazing book about how to master anything, it tells stories of history (that are fascinating so you remember the data!), it's 18 hours of audio book listening which I do everyday, I think this book would explain to everyone who writes here WHY they haven't made money- they simply have yet to "Master" the craft :)
I'm babbling :)
Merry Christmas everyone!
J-