Using all five of your senses, describe this bowl of strawberries.
JEH
Category: writing
Becoming a Full-Time Writer: The Transition
So far I’ve had two full-time weeks of being a full time writer. I will admit, it hasn’t been the smooth transition I was hoping for, yet I also feel like it is going pretty well. Part of this is because halfway through last week I admitted to myself that transitioning will take time, and developing a new routine will take time (I think they say it takes 30 days to form a new habit).
I’ve written myself up a few draft schedules, which go something like this:
8:30 AM: Do a quick writing exercise and read a non-fiction book about the writing craft while finishing coffee/tea.
9:00AM-12:00PM: Work diligently in the basement office on short stories.
12:00P-1PM: Lunch break with reading.
1PM-130PM: Yoga/Exercise Break
130PM-4PM: Odds and Ends (i.e. other writing projects, blogging, emailing, submissions, queries, other short stories, more reading, art, journalling, staring off into space etc.)
So far, this schedule has worked pretty well, if I stick to it. But last week I ended up going out on Wednesday night to meet my writing group and worked for an extra two hours and I completely burnt myself out by Friday. So on Friday, I mostly stared off into space and got nothing done until I decided to call it a day and just watch Downton Abbey. It turns out this was a good idea because this morning I feel refreshed and ready to think deeply about what I want to say again.
I recently read, The Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway, which I loved. And this experience reminds me of the Hemingway quote:
“I had learned already never to empty the well of my writing, but always to stop when there was still something there in the deep part of the well, and let it refill at night from the springs that fed it.”
So this week, my focus is going to be stopping writing before the well is dry. There are a lot of other things I need to do daily, other than write, and this includes researching markets, submitting stories, reading up on craft, or just taking a break to refill my creative well by reading a fiction book, doing some painting, or visiting with a friends.
Here’s to a good week!
JEH
What I’m Writing Now – The Circlet Cover Reveal
Now that I’ve got new time to focus, I’m spreading out my days into a few different project. Mostly, I’m focusing on some literary short stories that feature women in non-traditional rolls, but I’m also squeezing some time in for my existing projects. First, The Circlet.
The Circlet is the second book of the Artifacts of Avalum Series, and I’m currently work on revisions. I’ve had the cover finished, and I just love it. Here’s a side by side with The Torc cover, what do you think?
JEH
Time to be a Full-Time Writer
Well, it’s here! And I’m so excited and nervous at the same time. March 1st marked the day I got to leave my full-time day job—for four months. To try out the life of a full time writer. I’m so thankful both to the Saskatchewan Arts Board and my current place of employment for helping this happen. While I wish I could for sure be a full-time writer forever, I’m glad that I get to try it out with the security of having my career to return to. Environmental Engineering can be interesting too. No. Really, it can! I celebrated immediately after leaving the office with a mini-chocolate-caramel cupcake. Mmmmm!
Last week I worked my way slowly into the writing life by going to coffee, the book store, reading a bit of Annihilation and A Moveable Feast (love them both) and editing a few small projects and sending them off into the world. This work I’m getting into my schedule, which will primarily consist of working on a new, literary short story every couple of weeks, and squeezing in my side projects (novels, genre fiction etc.) when I get a chance.
I’ve worked long and hard to get here. I’ve put a lot of my work out into the world on my own, and I thank all of my readers for their support and the confidence that the purchasing of my books gives me. I’m looking forward to discovering new works during the next four months, and polishing up on my craft and writing technique and style. I plan to post regularly about what I’m up to and how I’m doing (I’m planning on not taking *that many naps, lol). Four months isn’t a long time, but it should be long enough to see if I like being a full-time writer. I have a feeling I’m going to love it.
JEH
The Torc On Sale
Just wanted to share that The Torc is on sale until New Years! Get it now for less and enjoy the start of something great! Click on the photo to follow the link to Kindle. Or you can find it for other devices here.
What I’m Reading: Leia Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray
Young Adult book review: Leia Princess of Alderaan, by Claudia Gray.
Not only am I a Star Wars fan, I’m a huge Princess Leia fan. I absolutely adore this book cover, and had to have the book. This book provides a good background to Princess Leia’s character, and was much like I expected.
This book also had a tie-in to the Star Wars: The Last Jedi movie, so I rushed to see it before going out to see the film. I liked that I possessed a bit more background regarding one of the on screen characters. But it wasn’t that interesting of news. Since I don’t want to ruin the book or movie for anyone, I won’t say anymore than that.
Of all the Star Wars reading I’ve been doing lately, I would definitely put Lost Stars at the top, followed by Leia, which wasn’t quite as full of detail but still a fun read.
Have you read it?
4/5 Stars
JEH
A Reader’s Christmas 2017 Wishlist
About a month ago, I headed to the book store to browse, determined not to buy anything (at least for myself), but instead took some pictures to send to my other for gift ideas. He said didn’t buy me any of them….
So I guess I might have to save some money to buy them for myself if required.
One of my favourites is this J.R.R. Tolkien collection. I love the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, and my current copies are falling apart. Sometimes a reader doesn’t need a new book, but a beautiful new copy of a beloved old book. For instance, I would also love the Tenth Anniversary Edition of The Name of the Wind, one of my all time favourite books.
Of course, sometimes readers also need beautiful books they haven’t read. Like this collection on my list:
And sometimes a reader wants books that aren’t for reading at all. I love Star Wars, so naturally these notebooks are a great fit.
What’s on your list this year?
JEH
The Torc: Artifacts of Avalum Book 1 is Now Available
The Torc: Artifacts of Avalum Book 1 is now available on Amazon, Kobo, and Smashwords, and should be up on iBooks and Nook soon! Use the links below to check it out. I’m excited to get this book out before Christmas, for a while, I was pretty sure it wouldn’t happen. It always feels great to share a new project, and also to clear the plate and start something new—even if it’s a sequel.
The Torc Book Mini-Trailer
This is the first book trailer I’ve ever had. It was done by Author Shout. Previously, I tried making my own book trailer for Tales of a Redheaded Sea-Witch, but it just didn’t work out. What do you think of this one?
Upcoming for November
Happy first day of snow! (At least here!) November had arrived, along with winter and National Novel Writing Month!
This month, I can’t wait to dig into writing The Circlet: Artifacts of Avalum Book 2. If you haven’t checked out the preview for Book 1, The Torc, you can find it here: https://kindlescout.amazon.com/p/WNGLSOVB1GOP
Coming up in the blog will be a few winter book reviews, my NaNoWriMo experience, and updates on the Avalum world. I can’t wait to share this with you so be sure to check in regularly! What does your month hold?
JEH
J. E. H U N T E R 