And what do you know? Today actually is the first day of the rest of my life.
Because today is the first day that I begin writing full-time.
Yep, I did it. I quit the day job. Said good-bye to the corner office, the parking spot by the back door, the Bat Phone — said good-bye to everything I’d fought for. On Friday I handed over my Amex card and the keys to the kingdom. Good-bye to all the corporate BS, the petty squabbles of office politics, the mind-numbing conference calls…
This drone has flown.
I don’t know if I can make it as a writer, but I’m bloody well going to take my shot. And if I fail, at least I’ll have tried.
I’m giving it six months. Six months of writing full-time. It sounds like a dream come true. It is a dream come true.
Regardless of what ultimately hapens, there’s something incredibly freeing about deciding to pursue a dream — I mean, going after it with all your strength and energy. Just as there’s something incredibly rejuvenating about recognizing that you’re unhappy and acting on it.
So this is Monday. The first day of the rest of my life.
How’s YOUR Monday going?
-
Diana:
What a step! I’m very happy for you. I on the other hand am trying to see the pleasure of corporate life and drinking the koolaid, although I still taste the poison.
Now, if I could only get myself to sit down tonight and pound out the story I want to finish for a contest that closes at the end of the month. I tried on Saturday but one of my WIP called out to me and I got a good chapter written there instead.
Have you ever procrastinated writing by writing something else?
Happy Monday,
Lynn
by Lynn
on August 6th, 2007 at 6:04 am
-
Well, Diana, good luck to you and I certainly envy you.
I’m preparing for one of those 2 hour meetings for which I care about and contribute about 5 minutes worth.
Then I have two audit reports to get out. I’m hoping I have enough time during lunch to finish a chapter I’ve been working on for my new novel.
-
Good for you, Diana! And welcome to the club. I hope it’s a six months full of surprises and good things. . . and leads to years and years of writing full-time.
-
Now I feel guilty. If there was one thing I didn’t need on a Monday was a reminder as to how far behind I am in finishing this novel.
Excuse me while I go take a bath with this toaster oven.
But good for you, Diana. I think it’s a brave step and I applaud you for it.
-
Congratulations Diana! I hope that this adventure you’re on is better and more successful than you’d dreamed. Now get to work! 
by Becky
on August 6th, 2007 at 8:49 am
-
Congrats, Diana, and good luck to it. Just look out for all the folks who suddenly think you’re not working anymore and have time to babysit their kids, walk their dogs, go to their house to let the cable guy in, and in general talk on the phone for hours at a time about their problems! You’ll be writing the next Poetic Death book, I hope…?
by JennieB
on August 6th, 2007 at 9:34 am
-
Congratulations, Diana! I hope it works out wonderfully for you. 
-
Woo-hoo! So glad for you and I know it’s going to go well!
Meanwhile, back at this ranch, I’m interviewing for at least something part-time to get my foot in the door to teach writing. Into the world of work I go! And they expect me to get out of my pyjamas (& into real clothes) every morning - strange customs they have…
-
WOOHOO!!!!!
Congratulations on taking the leap. That is fantastic news. I’m so happy for you. Group hug, everybody! Kumbayah! *sniff* I’m so verklempt.
-
Lynn, I think working on another project can be a productive way of dealing with writer’s block–AKA writer’s blah. It’s a good way to stay productive while giving yourself a rest from whatever is not working in the current project.
Of course, if you’re writing to a deadline, you have to be disciplined about how many times you use this trick.
-
Thanks, Will. I freely admit I’m as scared as I am thrilled. But I’d reachd a point where I’d lined up so many projects, I didn’t have a hope of finishing them unless I somehow managed to access about eight to ten hours more a day.
-
Thanks, Judy! Even if all I do is manage to lay the groundwork for a future final break, I’ll count this a win.
The real challenge will be staying on schedule and not letting myself get distracted by the lures of being home all the time…
-
David, put down the toaster oven, and back away from the tub! Nobody gets out of their contract THAT easy!
-
Thanks so much, Becky!
-
Hey, Jennie, yep, the next Poetic Death novel, the next yoga mystery and a slew of other things.
I’m trying to figure out a realistic schedule. My schedule has been insane for so long, that it’s I’m almost giddy at the notion of having enough time to get anything done.
Plus I really need to work in physical activity because I can already see that sitting on my behind all day is not going to be a healthy thing.
-
Hey, Jennie, yep, the next Poetic Death novel, the next yoga mystery and a slew of other things.
I’m trying to figure out a realistic schedule. My schedule has been insane for so long, that I’m almost giddy at the notion of having enough time to get anything done.
Plus I really need to work in physical activity because I can already see that sitting on my behind all day is not going to be a healthy thing.
-
Thanks so much, Tori. Keep your fingers crossed for me!
-
NO MORE PANTY HOSE!!!
Oh, Reggie, I feel for you, GG! But at least if you are able to work in a field that relates even vaguely to writing, it’s an improvement over…well struggling to serve the Corporate Overlord with integrity and honor (which Corporate Overlords don’t prize that highly).
-
:D Thanks, Stephen!!! 
-
Diana, I’ll be curious on how you adapt to productive life in the home. I have previously telecommuted and I know a bunch of people who now work from home. I found it tougher than you think it is. The temptation is to watch a TV show, or take a quick break on the couch, or a walk, or (Insert your favorite non-productive activity here).
I have heard of several ways to stay focused, including one guy that woke up, showered/shaved and put on a tie and jacket before going to his office space. Another of my friends built an office in his basement, goes down at 7 am and doesn’t emerge until 2 pm for a late lunch.
ME?, I went into my study, closed the doors.
I’m curious on how you plan to stay disapplined.
-
Will, I think the real challenge will be finding a balance between working and the rest of everything that needs to get done. What I’m used to doing now is planting myself in the office every free moment, but I can’t do that 24/7 and stay healthy and sane.
I need to structure my day around work and exercise, chores, family, etc. Right now I’m trying to figure out if I’d be more productive in the morning, the afternoon or a combination.
-
Congrats!!!!!!!! And I really admire your nerve & planning, ’cause I know some serious planning and discipline came first to make such a venture possible.
Good luck on the exercise thing & do keep us posted. I find that exercise is one of those unhappily necessary things to write. My idea of exercise is, um, doing the dishes. But if I’m really trying to be productive, it means a combination of cardio in the morning & weight-bearing in the evening. I don’t like it, but it seems to be necessary & also helps me sleep better. Let us know if an exercise routine works for you!
by Cynthia
on August 6th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
-
Congratulatons. And I find it helps if you consider exercise part of your writing day, not unlike research or answering e-mail.
by Laura Lippman
on August 8th, 2007 at 9:10 am
-
Thanks, Cynthia. What’s the saying about courage being the better part of stupidity?
Seriously, I did plan as much as I could, but of course this is a gamble. I think, though, that I had reached a point where if I didn’t do it now, I probably wouldn’t have done it all. The older you get, the less willing you are to risk all — which is good, because the older you get, the less able you are to weather all. 
So far I haven’t done brilliantly on the exercise thing. I’m doing my two miles of walking, but I really need more to balance the sitting on my behind all day. I want to get serious about my yoga, and add that back into the mix — but of course the temptation is to sit down in the office and not move until I’m finished for the day.
-
Thanks, Laura. I suspect you’re right, and that I’m going to have to plan my exercise breaks. I thought they would just naturally…occur during the day, but they don’t. Once I start writing, I hate to be interrupted. I’m still programmed to snatch every minute for writing; it’s hard to break that.
By the way, I’m a huge admirer of your work!
-
Diana,
Congratulations!
Best wishes for success in finding a routine (of sorts) that works for you - and that gets those wonderful mysteries out to us 
Since I’m having trouble staying focused on my WIP while still working full-time, I’m looking forward to hearing what you think about making writing your full-time commitment - Kate
by Kate
on August 12th, 2007 at 8:07 am
-
Hey, Kate, I think I can answer this a little better after three weeks. I think the hardest period of my life was the last year of working full-time and writing because by then I had committed to so many projects, and so in order to stay on schedule I literally had to give up ALL free time. I was either at the day job(which required a lot of overtime) or I was writing — or had a music gig. It was exhausting and stressful and frustrating.
The only good thing I can say aobut it, was putting myself through it was the final step in breaking free because I saved all I could during that time, got my finances in order, and lined up a lot of writing projects.
So actually having one thing to focus on — writing — is a blessed relief. The challenge now is figuring out a realistic working schedule that allows for exercise, family and friends, and a little free time. I admit I still haven’t quite worked that out, but I am getting the exercise in, so that’s a start!
Loading ...