My last day for the day job was in early April. By that count, it’s only been a few months that I’ve been doing the full-time writer thang.

But before I quit, I had a three month sabbatical. So by that count, it’s been about six months that I’ve been writing full time.

As of this month, I’ve noticed that I’m finally feeling more calm. I have a much better sense of the flow of my days. It wasn’t that I was panicked, exactly. But I hadn’t settled into the “new normal” as it were.

It’s funny how sometimes I feel as though I have a lot more time to do things, and sometimes I feel as though I have less time than ever.

Am I being as productive as I’d originally planned on? No. However, I’d also heard from more than one source, and seen it in action, of writers who went full time and their productivity took a nose dive. I’m producing more than I was when I was employed, and so I count that as a win.

(Possibly my expectations had been unreasonably high. Or maybe I still need more time to grow into my goals. Just saying.)

Am I still worried about money? Absolutely. Not making what I need to, yet.

However, now, after several months of data, I know that my estimates of what I thought it would cost for me to live like this were mostly accurate. I was under a bit, but not much. Not a life-changing amount. So that is also good.

I continue to have to change my language to reflect what’s now important. I continue to write down my priorities, so my brain will recognize that yes, I’m doing the right thing.

Because the writing used to be after the day job, and now I have all the time in the world to do it, I don’t protect the writing time as fiercely as I should sometimes. Mostly I’m pretty good about it. Driven. But I have let life get in the way more than I’d like.

All in all, I love this life. I never, ever want to go back to a day job. I love what I’m doing too much.

I just have to remember to stay focused, keep producing, keep butt in chair and fingers on keyboard.

And to have fun. Giggling required.