Sometimes life throws curve balls. You have to just get out of the way and go with the flow. I usually don't get very personal on this blog because it's not about my life away from writing and great YA books. Today is the exception because I have big news that has to do with my personal life and writing.
If you've followed this blog for any amount of time, you know that I write YA fiction and have been doing so for about 5 years. Not a long time by some people's standards, but I've taken it seriously in hopes to making a career out of writing. Last year, I queried many agents in hope of finding someone who loved my story as much as I did (after around 12 edits). I came close, but not close enough. In the time of writing the first draft and the following 12 edits of that story, I was off of work (as the company I worked for closed) for about six months time. I loved being a full-time writer, spending my days in the library, on my deck outside or at Panera working 4-6 hours a day. It was the best time of my life, despite feeling as if my head would explode from the story swimming in my head 24/7. In a way, that was the most complete I had felt ever. I was proud of how hard I worked and how I kept myself motivated when I had nothing hanging over my head.
Unfortunately, that time came to a close when my unemployment ran out and I received a job offer. That was two years ago. Since then, I have slowly lost motivation, not because I thought my writing wasn't good enough or I didn't have ideas. In fact, I have two novels in different stages of work. One is a few chapters shy of being a first (rather rough) first draft, while the other is in it's infancy. The problem was I was slowly being sucked of all creativity from my job. I took the position thinking I would be there for only a few months before I found something more suited for me...again, that was two years ago.
To be honest, I didn't realize how bad my situation had become. My husband and I have been talking about my dream, to try to write full time again without the worry of having to find a job constantly in the back of my mind. Our talks changed from "one day" to "maybe you should try it". Even as of a week ago, I thought we were still milling it over as "one day" I would quit and focus on my writing. I was unhappy at my job, but isn't everyone? I thought it would never happen, because how many people get to pursue their dream? Not many.
I started to talk my situation over with family and friends. To my surprise, everyone was supportive and thought that it was time to move on, leaving my job behind me. How many moms, no matter how old you are, would support quitting a stable job to write (and not get paid)? That's when I realized how much this job changed me. Everyone around could see how much I was suffering and how I pulled away from things that made me who I am, except me.
I'm writing this post to share my big news with all of you. As of June 18th, I will be a full time writer, living my dream and hopefully one step closer to getting my work published. It's a big step, I'm nervous as hell but I can't pass up the opportunity. Who could?
I'm sure I will be sharing my scary new journey into writing full time on the blog. I hope some of you will find it interesting, but I know all of you won't. Please let me know, so I can mix it up a bit, throwing in a few book recs, etc. There will be good days and bad, but the bad can't compare to a bad day working a soul-sucking 9-5.
Next step, packing my belongings at work, cleaning off my desk at home and deciding which WIP to dive into. Someone pinch me!
Questions for Aprilynne Pike!
15 years ago
