Is My Writing Driven by Love, Money, or Survival Bias?
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Chapter 1: The Challenge of Finding Authentic Motivation
These days, I find myself bombarded with inspiring stories of resilience and increasing subscriber counts across various platforms—be it Medium, Substack, X, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok. This phenomenon, often referred to as "success porn," is incredibly appealing, and even I, typically a skeptic, find it hard to resist. However, the abundance of these narratives overshadows the stark reality: research indicates that 80 to 90% of individuals who embark on their creator journey will abandon it within a year.
Many of these writers quietly fade away, leaving the communities they once engaged with without a word. Essentially, they exit the online creator space without any fanfare. Unfortunately, those who fail rarely share their stories of disappointment, which fosters a perfect environment for survival bias to take root. I can't help but ponder whether my continued presence in this space is a result of this very bias. Allow me to elaborate.
Section 1.1: Understanding Survival Bias
Survival bias, or survivorship bias, is a cognitive misstep where we focus on the successes that made it through a selection process while ignoring those that did not. In simpler terms, this means that individuals may develop an unwarranted sense of optimism in a particular field because failures are conveniently overlooked.
A fitting analogy is the Great Cat Study of 1987 (HERE). This research found that cats falling from heights of over six stories were more likely to survive than those falling from one to five stories. The study suggested that cats reach "terminal velocity" after five stories, leading to a more relaxed state during falls from greater heights, which might result in less severe injuries—a phenomenon humorously dubbed "highrise cat syndrome."
However, the obvious truth is that if a cat survives such a fall, it's an exceptional case worthy of celebration, while those that meet a tragic end are merely buried in silence. This illustrates survivorship bias perfectly; we only hear about those remarkable feline survivors.
Section 1.2: Am I Just Another Casualty in the Writing World?
By one significant measure of success in the online writing arena, I've managed to persist for over a year, placing me among a select group. Yet, when it comes to another crucial metric—earning $12,000 in my first year—I have fallen short. I haven't even made enough to cover my rent. So, is it time to reconsider my path? Am I failing to acknowledge the multitude of writers who have dropped out?
Yikes. Could my ongoing journey as a writer be solely a product of survivorship bias? It’s a possibility. Writers who fail often go unnoticed; they don’t receive accolades on platforms like Medium or Substack. Celebrating failure is rarely a priority.
Conversely, I've dedicated countless hours to studying and adopting the habits of successful writers, as they are readily accessible. But does this ensure my own success? Not necessarily. Many of us invest time and energy seeking better strategies, and it would be naive not to encounter individuals offering their versions of a successful blueprint. Yet, despite these efforts, many still fail and disappear from the creator economy—just another unnoticed casualty.
Chapter 2: Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation
Recently, I've delved into the work of Lawrence Yeo, a remarkable writer who explores the motivations behind writing and creativity. True creators are driven by a passion to share their thoughts and beliefs. Is this motivation what fuels my writing? Am I truly aligned with this mindset?
Reflecting on my journey, I realize that I initially approached writing with the goal of making money. Like many others, I sought to find a path to financial success through my writing. However, I soon discovered that many successful writers transition into becoming advisors, peddling advice on how to achieve similar success. This often leads to formulaic guidance rather than fostering creativity, and it became overwhelming.
I recently stumbled upon a perspective that cautioned against taking advice from those who profit by teaching others how to profit from writing. This realization hit me hard as I was becoming increasingly invested in such ideas. It prompted a deeper examination of why I began this journey in the first place.
This reflection brings us to the crux of the matter: the distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Those motivated by external rewards are more susceptible to burnout, while those driven by an inner passion tend to find fulfillment in creating meaningful content over time. So where do I fit within this spectrum?
While I initially had extrinsic goals, I found my writing lacking joy and ultimately faced burnout. Recently, I've been shifting my focus toward producing higher-quality content, and I feel a sense of progress in this direction. Though I still need to pay the bills, I recognize that if financial gain becomes my sole focus, I risk becoming just another statistic—another casualty in the writer's graveyard.
However, if I can align my writing with intrinsic values, survival bias becomes far less significant in determining my success. Success should not be defined by the incessant flow of success stories I encounter daily. I aspire for my writing to reflect my identity and curiosity—qualities I admire in authors like Walter Rhein and Lawrence Yeo.
In conclusion, is it love or survival bias that propels my writing? Most days, I lean towards love. Yet, I acknowledge that on days when inspiration wanes, I can easily slip into the mindset of survival bias.
The Lesson:
Survival bias is inconsequential if your writing is motivated by the right reasons. Discover your intrinsic motivation and let it guide your writing journey. I understand this may sound cliché, but I encourage you to explore its relevance in your own experience.
Today, I woke up eager to write about my progress. I'm feeling a shift towards intrinsic motivation, and it brings me genuine satisfaction. Thank you for reading.
This video, titled "The World No.1 Happiness Expert: Single Friends Will Keep You Single & Obesity Is Contagious!" provides insights into the psychology of happiness and motivation, relevant to our discussion on the driving forces behind creativity and writing.