Thank you, Liz! I'm hoping the same but also working very hard to not get my hopes up. Just trying to enjoy the drafting process for now and just have fun.
Oof, this is all so real. I see you're with Suzie now? She seems like a dream. I hope you're feeling at home at New Leaf!
AND, I've been co-writing a book with a friend for about a year now and the process is wildly different than working solo. We're on revision four (both of us unpublished and un-agented), and I'm curious to know how you two are approaching the work. No rush or pressure, of course!
I share the sentiment that co-authoring is wildly different than working solo. I'd love to cover this topic in a future post. Thanks for that suggestion!
And yes, I'm with Suzie now. It's been fantastic so far, and I feel very fortunate.
I've been feeling exactly the same way but not in a published sense. I got my Bachelor's in Digital Media and Web Technology and yet here I am, still an Administrative Assistant because not one single person will give me an opportunity. I can't work an unpaid internship as I have to work a full-time job because I'm a mother and a wife and we have bills. I'm also in school again to get a certificating TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Language) because I loved volunteering. But every single day I come into this office, I feel I get more and more depressed. Did I mention I turn 39 this month? :(
Hey, writing to say you're not in alone <3 This is unfortunately common sometimes. Please don't give up. Keep looking for opportunities. Simply telling others that I'm looking for work has worked wonders, and has led to some of my favourite work opportunities that I have now. Maybe that could help? Cheering you on!
Ugh, I'm so sorry! It's incredibly frustrating to feel stuck because of finances/bills and unable to move forward with your passions. I am rooting for you! I think it's great that your pursuing other avenues too, such as a teaching certification.
Hi, Erin! Glad to see you are back. I hope these months have allowed you some rest and the grieving you needed. As you say, nothing bad lasts forever and I am sure brighter days are ahead. Take your time ♥
Thanks Laura! I definitely needed some time/space, and there's no guarantee I won't need some again in the future. But that's fine! I can step away and come back as needed. For now, I'm happy to be back though :)
Oof. I feel all of this! Congrats on your tides of hope, and thank you for acknowledging all the slumps of grief one must wade through to get there. Happy writing!
Thank you so much for sharing this part of your writing journey too, Erin. You are very kind to help encourage others, and I am glad to hear you're finding what helps you and treating yourself with grace, and finding joy in your writing.
If now is not the time, please disregard this: could the other story be online, or come out later? It sounds like it's so meaningful to you. This doesn't have to be now!
I relate to adjusting a newsletter schedule so as to maintain a healthy balance/harmony. I support that.
At least for now, I'm just going to sit on the story that didn't sell. I still believe in it so strongly, that my goal is to revisit it in a few years and see if a revision or overhaul can give it another chance. If that still leads to dead ends, who knows. Maybe I'll consider releasing it on my own.
You are always an author even when you currently aren’t on contract. Authors write! Publishers just publish. One process is creative while the other is only commercial.
I wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment! (I actually did an entire post on it awhile back when my daughter noticed I hadn't published in awhile and asked me if I was "still a writer.") I need the reminder often though and really appreciate your comment.
Happy to be hearing from you again here. I wish nothing the best for you with your new projects. You have at least one forever reader here, patiently waiting for whatever comes next. :)
if you feel called to write about it, would love to hear how you approach writing multiple large projects at the same time and staying motivated without the external pressure of deadlines.
Have you read Wintering by Katherine May? It’s an excellent book that talks about a lot of the stuff you’re referring to. And I will be sending all the publishing vibes your way. All the best with the new books.
I vibe with this so hard, especially related to current events. Historically I'm emotionally resistant to feeling hopeless about our future, but the events of the past few months... whew, it's hitting me hard and personally, in ways I've never experienced before. That grief and dismay has eaten up a lot of potential creativity... but by this time I know that creativity comes on a cycle. I had faith it would pick up again, and it has.
It sucks to not be the kind of person that can stay consistently productive, but we have to work with what we have. I'm so glad you can recognize your own cycle and hopefully give yourself grace and patience while you maintain the faith and hope that it will come back around... because it always does <3
Thanks for these reminders, Erin. True and tough to hear. I hope things come to fruition with your current project!
Thank you, Liz! I'm hoping the same but also working very hard to not get my hopes up. Just trying to enjoy the drafting process for now and just have fun.
I relate to this so much, Erin. Thanks for writing and for acknowledging the hope AND the grief; it's so real. And keep writing :)
Hope and grief go hand-in-hand in publishing it seems. Oof.
Glad the post resonated with you! :)
Oof, this is all so real. I see you're with Suzie now? She seems like a dream. I hope you're feeling at home at New Leaf!
AND, I've been co-writing a book with a friend for about a year now and the process is wildly different than working solo. We're on revision four (both of us unpublished and un-agented), and I'm curious to know how you two are approaching the work. No rush or pressure, of course!
I share the sentiment that co-authoring is wildly different than working solo. I'd love to cover this topic in a future post. Thanks for that suggestion!
And yes, I'm with Suzie now. It's been fantastic so far, and I feel very fortunate.
I've been feeling exactly the same way but not in a published sense. I got my Bachelor's in Digital Media and Web Technology and yet here I am, still an Administrative Assistant because not one single person will give me an opportunity. I can't work an unpaid internship as I have to work a full-time job because I'm a mother and a wife and we have bills. I'm also in school again to get a certificating TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Language) because I loved volunteering. But every single day I come into this office, I feel I get more and more depressed. Did I mention I turn 39 this month? :(
Hey, writing to say you're not in alone <3 This is unfortunately common sometimes. Please don't give up. Keep looking for opportunities. Simply telling others that I'm looking for work has worked wonders, and has led to some of my favourite work opportunities that I have now. Maybe that could help? Cheering you on!
Ugh, I'm so sorry! It's incredibly frustrating to feel stuck because of finances/bills and unable to move forward with your passions. I am rooting for you! I think it's great that your pursuing other avenues too, such as a teaching certification.
Thanks for this beautiful post, Erin. Wishing you the best with your exciting new projects!
Thank you, Sarah!
Hi, Erin! Glad to see you are back. I hope these months have allowed you some rest and the grieving you needed. As you say, nothing bad lasts forever and I am sure brighter days are ahead. Take your time ♥
Thanks Laura! I definitely needed some time/space, and there's no guarantee I won't need some again in the future. But that's fine! I can step away and come back as needed. For now, I'm happy to be back though :)
I relate to this so much. Glad you’re back 🩷
So glad the post resonated for you. 💗
Oof. I feel all of this! Congrats on your tides of hope, and thank you for acknowledging all the slumps of grief one must wade through to get there. Happy writing!
Thank you so much. I'm glad to be on the upswing now!
Thank you so much for sharing this part of your writing journey too, Erin. You are very kind to help encourage others, and I am glad to hear you're finding what helps you and treating yourself with grace, and finding joy in your writing.
If now is not the time, please disregard this: could the other story be online, or come out later? It sounds like it's so meaningful to you. This doesn't have to be now!
I relate to adjusting a newsletter schedule so as to maintain a healthy balance/harmony. I support that.
Wishing you the best!
At least for now, I'm just going to sit on the story that didn't sell. I still believe in it so strongly, that my goal is to revisit it in a few years and see if a revision or overhaul can give it another chance. If that still leads to dead ends, who knows. Maybe I'll consider releasing it on my own.
You are always an author even when you currently aren’t on contract. Authors write! Publishers just publish. One process is creative while the other is only commercial.
I wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment! (I actually did an entire post on it awhile back when my daughter noticed I hadn't published in awhile and asked me if I was "still a writer.") I need the reminder often though and really appreciate your comment.
I think you are brave AF! And I’m hopeful and excited for all that is to come with your new projects! XO
Thank you so much, Julie. Bravery, resilience, grit, stubborn determination... this career requires so much of us! 🖤
Glad you took the time and are getting back to it!
Thanks, Bill. I'm glad to be easing back into things :)
Happy to be hearing from you again here. I wish nothing the best for you with your new projects. You have at least one forever reader here, patiently waiting for whatever comes next. :)
Thank you, Megan!
if you feel called to write about it, would love to hear how you approach writing multiple large projects at the same time and staying motivated without the external pressure of deadlines.
This is a great idea; thanks for the suggestion! I'll definitely keep it on my list of topic ideas for the coming months :)
Have you read Wintering by Katherine May? It’s an excellent book that talks about a lot of the stuff you’re referring to. And I will be sending all the publishing vibes your way. All the best with the new books.
I have not, but it sounds fantastic. Thanks for the suggestion!
I vibe with this so hard, especially related to current events. Historically I'm emotionally resistant to feeling hopeless about our future, but the events of the past few months... whew, it's hitting me hard and personally, in ways I've never experienced before. That grief and dismay has eaten up a lot of potential creativity... but by this time I know that creativity comes on a cycle. I had faith it would pick up again, and it has.
It sucks to not be the kind of person that can stay consistently productive, but we have to work with what we have. I'm so glad you can recognize your own cycle and hopefully give yourself grace and patience while you maintain the faith and hope that it will come back around... because it always does <3
It truly always does come back around, doesn't it? And yet, when you're in a dark spot, it's so hard to remember this and/or believe it to be true.