A Working Writer

It's been awhile...

Don't think this means that I've been slacking off....on the contrary, I've been busting my chops! I have been writing like crazy, studying the craft of writing, setting up my website, researching potential markets, networking, submitting my work to regional parenting publications, searching online writing job boards, and applying for online writing jobs. I've been hustling like I've never hustled before!

And you know what? It's starting to pay off. I am learning ways to improve my writing. I'm getting into a better rhythm. I'm finding markets to which Ican sell my work. I'm making some great friends and finding a real support system. I'm actually getting published. Who ever would have thought that after all this hard work, I would actually get to reap the benefits?!

Granted, I'm nowhere near my target monthly income goals...but it's a start. And you gotta start somewhere, right? So I guess it's definitive now. I am a writer. Yay!

But the crazy thing is, now that I'm finally doing what I set out to do, I don't really get to take a break. Instead, I'm trying to figure out ways to work faster, get more done, and still find time to enjoy my days with my hubby and kids. In fact, that's been the hardest part, lately -deciding when to stop working and just have fun with them. I'm actually at the point now where I feel guilty if I'm working because I feel as though I'm losing out on precious time with my babies.

I just keep telling myself that it's not forever, that soon I will be established enough in my career that I won't have to spend SO much time away from my children. That's my goal - to make enough money from writing so that we have enough, but not so much that I lose out on time with my kids. After all, that's my whole motivation for all this hard work - to help take care of my family. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to write...but writing for fun and writing to bread on the table are two different things for me right now....because I could do fun writing in my spare time whereas I have to continually carve time out of my day to do work writing.

I now have to get back to a project, but just wanted to touch base (let you know that I'm still alive), and say that there's no doubt about it - I am officiallly a writer. :) Good luck to all you other writer mamas out there! One thing I have learned, lately, is to keep setting small goals for yourself, and before you know it, you will have accomplished great things and be one step closer to your destination.

By the way, if you get a chance, could you check out my website and let me know what you think? Thanks!
~Sarah

"How far you go in life depends on you being tender with
the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with
the striving and tolerant of the weak and the strong.
Because some day in life you will have been all of these."

-- George Washington Carver