Since my last post – Failing at This, Winning at Opportunities – I thought now would be a great time to remind my readers about the things that I am still doing with my writing skills. The best way to do that is to make a list, I think, so that’s what’s going to happen.
1. Fiverr Custom Poetry
I have started a Fiverr gig for custom poetry, and I have plans of getting some samples up for that gig sometime soon. Part of being able to sell a gig is having something that viewers can see. I also want to be a little smarter and active about promoting this gig online. The only way to get buyers is to sell the service, which I know how to do, so there’s no reason to be slacking.
2. Content Coordinator
One of my multiple jobs is as a Content Coordinator for a magazine. It’s a small magazine that gets distributed locally, but it is a job that requires me to write and edit and plan content for each issue. I’m still coming into that role while juggling all of the responsibilities of my other, more traditional jobs, but it’s a writing gig that I take seriously and work hard to do well.
3. Mystery Writing Project
I can’t tell you hardly anything about the upcoming 10-week writing project for a variety of reasons. In any case, once it starts, it’s going to take up a lot of my free time when I’m not being a mom, being a caregiver, being an educator, and every other thing that I need to be to the people around me.
4. Improving Art Skills
What? Art isn’t a skill for writing. That’s not wrong, of course, but it is an important part of one of the writing projects that I want to tackle over the next couple of years. I have a children’s book series idea that I want to see brought to life, and it would be awesome if I could illustrate it myself in addition to writing the actual story. It’s a personal concept inspired by the people I love the most in my life. Maybe I’ll share some of my favorite pages from my sketchbook in the future, but, for now, I’m just going to keep working on those art skills and grow in that creative area.
5. Additional Fiverr Projects
I want to create more Fiverr gigs. I have a few concepts that I have in mind and am waiting for easy days to get those gigs set up. I am a freelance writer and it’s one of those slow-moving side hustle things that I’ve got going, but I’ve hit a comfortable pace. Being on a plateau means that things are easy. You don’t win by things when the going gets easy. I want to challenge myself to continue chasing after a writing career, and this is one way to do it. I can offer professional and creative writing, so I need to utilize this platform to the best of my ability.
6. Sporadic Blog Posts about Life & Mental Health
I considered, at some point, doing a writing a series called “Suicide Watch” about my battle not to relapse into self-harm and suicidal behaviors. It is a constant battle not to self-sabotage and quit everything, especially if I am stressed and exhausted. Last year was so long and hard, and I do not know how I made it through without losing my mind. This year isn’t going to be any easier, especially since my husband’s surgery earlier this year has set us so far back financially that I’m embarrassed to even acknowledge how bad things are getting. In that regard, I’m officially putting my Dinners with Caroline project on indefinite hold to focus on cathartic writing that will help me make through another really hard year. I won’t call these pieces “Suicide Watch” because I know how insensitive that can be for readers who may still be self-harming, for readers who have family members who have tried to commit suicide recently, but I’m not going to beat around the bush about my mental health. Even if the only thing I accomplish is not going bonkers, I know that writing in this capacity will be worth it.
Writing is such an important part of my life, and even if I’ve taken a kind of summer vacation from it, I don’t want to abandon it and let my bitterness for falling off the wagon send me on a downward spiral. As with all things, our love and motivation waxes and wanes. It’s going to take some time getting back into a routine and become re-acquainted with my computer being a second home, but I know it’s going to be like “riding a bike,” as the saying goes.
This is what I love, and it’s a lot like being in a relationship, so it’s time to get back to work!
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