Are your creative projects livestock or pets?

Livestock helps a person make a living. Cows need to make milk, chicken eggs, and sheep wool. These animals were part of a business decision. While a farmer may grow fond of their livestock, there will eventually come a day when the farmer needs to send them to the butcher. It’s business. A pet is essentially part of a person’s family. Dogs and cats don’t need to help make money in order to earn their spot; they just need to be loved. When one passes away, it can feel as painful as losing a family member. It’s personal. These two classifications—livestock and pets—tell entirely different stories about animals. It’s why the idea of eating dogs can seem disgusting, and the idea of having a pet cow seems so whimsical. It’s also a useful metaphor for thinking about your creative projects. For example, if you’re an author working on your book with a publisher, don’t be surprised if they treat it like livestock. It’s just another book to them, and it’s how they make a living. If you want to…