For me, writing has
become not just a vocation but a business. It’s challenged me to adopt many
different hats over the years. Writing is not just about reading, writing,
editing, submitting, then repeating same. As you probably know, it’s about
marketing, promoting, and building a brand, which isn’t always (and shouldn’t be) done from the comfort of home. It’s about getting out there and selling and
making future plans and recordkeeping, and updating my website. It’s about continuous
research for stories and research for new selling and marketing opportunities.
In the past eight
days, here’s what I’ve done:
Finished editing my
novella
Submitting novella
and receiving contract (this was unusually fast--stay tuned for more news)
Giving a workshop
last Saturday while preparing material for another workshop next Saturday
Selling books at a
small literary festival yesterday
Networking on social
media and in person
Updating website
Reviewing the contract
Writing and posting
two book reviews, plus my weekly blog
Editing short story
to take to critique group.
Jotting down notes
for new stories.
Record keeping
And this is the stuff
I remember. On top of a part-time day job, housework, cooking, and errands, it’s
a busy life. Not every week is as crazy or as productive, or as exhilarating or
exhausting. Sometimes those hats I wear become skewed or even topple to the
ground. But I pick them up and start again. I’m a writer. That’s what I do. And
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
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