Do the Hustle
Man, I’m tired. Is anyone else tired? It seems like I work harder and harder for less and less. I know I’m not the only one, but I’m not sure how wide spread this experience is.
Mind you, I have chosen a more difficult path than some in the form of a creative career. The first rule of being an author is don’t quit your day job. Since my day job involved volunteering with multiple organizations my kids were members of and tending to the house, it wasn’t like my day job brought in an income. And I have an incredibly supportive husband, and I don’t just mean financially. He’s also quite eager for me to pursue my dreams of supporting us with my writing. I’m luckier than most in that way.
Yet, I’m pretty practical when it comes to expectations. It’s much of the reason why I didn’t continue to write when I was young: I didn’t see a future in it. Therefore, I made a back-up plan—starting a publishing company. Based on my love of giving back I’d developed after years of volunteering, I wanted to help other authors publish their books, invest in their success, and bolster my own bottomline in the process. After earning my MA in Publishing from Western Colorado University—it’s a great program you can check out here—I set out to make Cursed Dragon Ship Publishing a reality.
As a single income household with two kids, we didn’t have much financial liquidity to support such a venture. That lead to my freelance editing business. Though—as my husband likes to point out—my rates are ridiculously low compared to market value, I understand how expensive hiring a professional can be, especially for new authors who need my help the most. So I keep my rates reasonable and use all of that income to support the publishing company that produces quality books, including mine, until it can stand on its own two feet or tentacles or limbs of some sort.
Now, I did stop most of my volunteering, but not all of it. We’re still boots on the ground at Wings Over Houston and multiple conventions. However, the overall time sink is much less than it used to be. I only do the bare minimum of the house responsibilities, because who has time to vacuum when I have a book cover to approve. And my kids are young adults now. I’m no longer responsible for their physical well being—though it feels like the care of their psychological well being has increased.
In other words, I kind of did quit my day job. And took on a host of more responsibilities.
All of this to say, I’m tired. How are y’all doing?
I’m tired too, unfortunately. Sorry to hear you are too. I know it may get you down, but I’ve been so impressed with all you’ve done in so little time. You rock the socks, Kelly!
I hope things get better.
Your kind words were exactly what I needed today. I hope things get better for you as well.