I blog about inspiration both here and over at Book View Cafe. Feel free to comment either here or over there!
This week, I’m afraid, is again going to be about a different type of inspiration.
However, this week was also very different.
I hadn’t planned it this way. It was my choice.
This week turned out to be the last week I worked my day job.
Let me explain.
I went on sabbatical for the day job for three months, visiting New Zealand and New Orleans, as well as writing a bunch.
I went back to the day job, assuming that I would adjust eventually.
By the end of the first week, I was not adjusting. Period. My fiancee had to talk me off the ledge more than once.
By the end of the second week, I was in hell.
At the start of the third week, I gave one week’s notice. I had only been back at work for two weeks. Better to not get deeply entangled by leaving quickly.
So Friday was my last day.
I have now officially changed careers. I am a full-time, professional fiction writer.
Another way to look at it – For the last few years I’ve had four jobs: Fiction writer, publisher, inn keeper, and day job. I’ve finally dropped one of them!
This does not mean I’ll have more time. What I learned while on sabbatical was that while I wrote more, I also ended up doing more. I suspect this is going to be my life for a while – reading, writing, publishing, and working. Then working some more. Then working a bit more. Maybe taking a break, then working even more.
I’m so excited about my change of careers. And nervous. And overjoyed. And anxious.
I have no regrets about my decision, though. It was the right choice.
In general, I work at being practical and responsible, not a flighty artist.
This time, the artist won. I had to go. I couldn’t stay.
So how does this tie into inspiration? Once I made the decision to go, boy did I get focused. I wrote, worked day job, did publishing stuff.
Despite this being an emotional roller coaster, I’m writing. I have deadlines, beta readers who are expecting the next novel. Short stories to submit to anthologies. So much to do!
Monday morning starts “the new normal.” I’ll get up at 7 AM, walk at least a mile to wake myself up, then write. Eat breakfast, then write some more. Take a break, then write some more.
I can’t tell you how excited I am about this next phase of my life. How inspired I feel. The sky’s the limit – and the only person who can hold me back is myself.
So what big change have you faced recently? Has it inspired you to do more?