Where are you putting your energy these days?

I’m a little conflicted over where I’m putting my writing energy, specifically. On the one hand, it’s good to write no matter what you’re writing. On the other hand, writing fanfiction doesn’t exactly advance my career.

But, I’m putting my more analytical, teacher energy towards other things that would help advance my career. So I suppose, it’s evening out alright.

Short one today, friends, it’s been a long week! Let me know where you’re putting your energy these days in the comments.

Love and gratitude, as always.

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I miss teaching.

I’ve taught in a variety of ways throughout my life, and for the first time, I’m really in a job that involves no teaching whatsoever. As a teen librarian, I was able to do class visits and teach about researching with databases or writing poems (I talk about some of these things on my Patreon, unlock for only $3!). While I love my outreach job, my focus isn’t on schools or young people anymore. I’m more of a generalist now, both in the populations I serve and the outreach I do–I’m mostly tabling at community events, not taking over classrooms to explain how to do something.

For years I’ve been trying to crack some sort of writing mentorship or creative writing classes thing just as an independent writer, but imposter syndrome really sneaks up on me every time. I keep waiting for the next milestone in my writing career to feel like I’m actually qualified to teach other (even though I literally taught Intro to Fiction at an Ivy League university while getting my MFA). I feel like I haven’t proven myself enough when it comes to calling myself a writer.

So, that’s one of the many, many things I’m working on about myself right now–trusting that I do, actually, have some authority in this area, and there’d be no harm in trying to develop some courses.

Much love and gratitude.

Read my writing here.

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How do you decide a piece (or art project, or business proposal, or whatever it is you do) is ‘ready’?

Figuring out when things are ‘ready’ is something I struggle with a lot, especially because there are so many different levels of ‘ready.’ A piece can be ready to show to a friend, or ready to submit to a lit mag, or ready to be published to my Patreon, and all of those moments can feel different. But, when it comes to things like short stories and poems, I tend to have a really good feel for when it’s ‘ready’ for all of those stages. The thing I can’t seem to crack is my novel.

I’ve been working on this novel for six years now, which feels absolutely insane. It’s been a very slow and winding process, partly due to the pandemic and things like getting a stable income (achieved, yay!). For a long time, I kept thinking if I could just crank out one more draft, it would finally be ready to show people. Then a couple of months ago, I hit a horrible wall trying to review my novel into a third complete draft. I just couldn’t bear to look at it anymore. And I realized, I’d discovered a new ‘ready’ for myself. When I can’t bear to do any more editing because I’m so lost or so upset with the novel, it’s time to show it to someone. So that’s what I’m doing.

Is there a project you’re absolutely sick of, or that you can’t figure out how to move forward with? Maybe it’s time to share it with someone who’s opinion you trust, but who will also be gently with you. After all, sharing work is very vulnerable. But sometimes, you have to take the leap.

Love and gratitude.

Read my writing here.

Support me on Patreon here.

Subscribe to my newsletter here.