My Writing Experience: Week 32 Update

In January of 2017 I posted a personal update of how my journey to become a writer was going so far. That was week 16 after I had left a job I loved to take a stab at a new way of life. It was a relatively arbitrary week. 16 seemed like a nice round number. Plus, it was the first post of the new year and a great way to kick off 2017.

At the time, I had absolutely no way of knowing the symmetry of the situation. But as fate would have it, week 16 was a halfway point for this phase of my life. This week, week 32, I’m working furiously to set in motion / finalize / work ahead on a bunch of things because my life is about to change again. On Monday I head back to the grind of a full-time job. I’m excited, I’m nervous, I’m proud, I’m anxious: all of the normal feelings one has when starting something new. 

Some of you may be asking why I’m going back to work. There are so many answers to this question, money being the blunt and obvious one. But, if it was just money, I wouldn’t be doing it. Truth be told, I miss it. I miss working collaboratively on projects. I miss having that dedicated focus to working on something larger than myself. I miss being challenged by work and truthfully, I miss not having my production levels be 100% self-motivated. I have spent days, weeks imagining editorial deadlines that were all in my head. It worked, but part of me is looking forward to someone telling me, “I need this by Friday,” and having that actually meaning something. 

Also, a little hard to admit, but to be nakedly honest, I miss having an answer to the “where do you work?” question. I will always say I’m a writer. I will always be a writer. I have so much hope for the book I’m trying to get published. But, I can be a writer and have a different day job too. And that will feel good. I like my new answer to that question. I’ve learned that about myself. 

So, at 32 weeks (16 +16 folks, in case that wasn’t clear… a note more for myself than anyone reading this because I’m still wigging out at the unplanned numerology of it all) I thought it was about time to do another recap. 

A, “so how did I do during my time off?” recap. So, here we go. 

• I finished my novel The Cube. From editing to proofreading to actively sending out query letters. I legit accomplished my goal. I left my job with a dream of writing this book and I did it. And I love it. And I know it may be years before I see it on bookshelves, but I’m still determined to figure out the whole publishing arm of this journey. Because The Cube is done. I did it. BOOM.
• Side Note: There are some great graphics that are now incorporated into the book, thanks to a friend of mine. It really ups the look and feel of the book overall, so I’m stoked about that! And speaking of friends, my partner in crime, Laura, is so amazing. I will never be able to thank her enough for being along for the ride. 
• Second Side Note: I think sending out query letters should get another, standalone bullet here. I’ve posted about this already, but man alive!
• Next week I’m set to post Chapter 8 of my online book series Amache’s America. I have a general outline of how many more chapters I have left, but the story has zigged and zagged in fantastically unexpected ways so it could go on longer than I originally thought (which is a really awesome thing). 
• PS: I love posting every two weeks, allowing myself to breathe with the story. I love writing in a shorter format and in the unique series-based style, hoping each chapter end will hook the reader to come back in two weeks. 
• PPS: I also really love the people I’ve met through the Channillo.com platform. Really, some of the nicest folks around. 
• Monday I will post week SEVENTEEN of my #WritersQuick5 series and I have more authors lined up through May into June. I started this to engage with fellow writers. To help them promote their work and for all of us to generate a little more content. I wanted to learn and collaborate and the little-interview-that-could has achieved all of that. It has been such a wonderful experience. I honestly hope it continues for a long time to come.
• I’ve started volunteer work with the Chicago Writers Association, most recently reviewing some submissions for panel presentations for our next event (coming up May 13, register now!)
• I’m working on my next book, The Samurai Prophecy. If possible, it’s even more rich and complicated than The Cube, which I didn’t think was possible. This one might take me awhile, but that’s fine by me!
• I’ve posted several blog posts about writing that have been well-received and I’ve really appreciated the feedback from folks… and the positive affirmation that being open and honest with my process has meant something to my friends and family. 
• I’ve kept up with my website and social media feeds, and have really learned a lot about the kind of online presence I want to have (aka - positive, supportive, and informative)
• And, I’m signed up for a new writer’s workshop in June that’s all about publishing. I hope to learn a lot. 

And on a personal note:

• I’ve finished two quilts. Both are ones I now use every day and I’m currently working on two more as gifts for others. 
• I’ve felt more present at my daughter’s school and life. She’s the best seven year old a mom could ask for and this was such a special year to get to spend more time with her. 
• I’ve also felt more present with my husband. We’ve really upped our support of each other over the last eight months. He’s had some great professional accomplishments this year. I’m really proud of him. 
• Overall just more time with friends and family. That’s been really great. 
• I’ve kept up my gym habits. I’m still addicted to boxing and TRX and I will dearly miss my mid-Wednesday morning Total Body Training class. The next few months will really challenge me as I see if I can start before-work workouts. Yikes.
• I’ve kept up my local and US travels, most recently on our annual family trip to Florida.  
• Seriously though, as great as that was (and it was awesome) Chicago really is the best city on the planet. So much to do here. I have loved exploring my own city!
• Oh yeah, and state parks are rad.  
• I’ve done some local volunteer work and activism. 
• And although the sheer number of political podcasts I now listen to seems like an accomplishment, I will at some point have to admit to myself that it’s actually not, lol. 
• I’ve spent a lot more time on photography, really trying to see the day-to-day world around me
• I think I have officially re-arranged every closet and cabinet in my apartment. Especially this week. I’m in some sort of pre-going-back-to-work cleaning frenzy. I am guessing my apartment’s current state of cleanliness will last until, maybe, next Wednesday. 
• Plus, you know, there’s the whole job search and interview thing. That’s always “fun,” right? Talk about a time consuming process! But, overall worth it. I’m really looking forward the new experiences that await. 

All-in-all, this eight month “cubical sabbatical” was everything I could have hoped for. I opened myself up for some major soul-searching. I learned a lot about my personal motivations at this stage of my life. I gave myself grace for the days I wasn’t very productive and I let myself feel proud when I had major accomplishments. Of course, I am me, so I still feel like I could’ve (would’ve, should’ve) done so much more, but maybe that’s what this re-cap is for. Not to let all of you know what I’ve done, but to have it for myself for a few weeks or months or years from now. So that when I look back at this period of time, I don’t just think, “hey I took some time off, well isn’t that special?” No, instead I will look back and think, “I took some time off and DAMN I accomplished a lot.” 

And, I’m pleased to say I’m confident it’s not over yet. I’m still going to query and query and query my book. I’m going to attend local events and stay engaged with other writers. I’m keeping up #WritersQuick5 and Amache’s America. My hope is that my writing will remain what it always has been - a safe haven, reprieve, and blessing from the craziness of world around me. And that after this time, my return to more a traditional workplace will bring with it new perspectives, a new appreciation, and the fresh eyes of a writer. 

I’m sure a blog post about what it’s like to balance work and writing is forthcoming (I can tell you’re all excited for that already, lol). 

32 weeks. What. A. Journey. 

Thanks for coming along with me.