It’s a new year, and a new era for me, as I’ve just returned to office work after more than a decade working freelance. My daughter is older now and soon won’t need me to take her to school any more so, when an opportunity came up, I took it.
I am still writing and marketing, though in a field different to anything I’ve done before. It’s a challenge, and an opportunity to create a role. It’s also part-time hours, in a nice office with nice people, so I feel very fortunate.
The only downside is that I have less time to write my own stories. I have several books on the go – Ambeth Four, Under Stone, is in the editing/about-to-go-to-beta-readers stage, Ambeth Five is three quarters written and Ambeth six is about halfway finished. I also have my vampire novel, Silver and Black, and another idea, called The Grove, which is slowly taking shape. In addition to that, I’m still trying to enter at least one writing competition per month – it’s something I started doing last year and I’ve had some results (although that’s another post). So working five days a week means I’ve had to adjust my writing schedule a little.
Before you all shout at me, of course I know I’ve been really fortunate these past years. Being able to choose my writing time has meant I’ve been able to create a lot of material, so at least now I have a good supply of story ideas to work with. I’m having to be a bit more organised about how and when I do my own writing, but I’m finding that it’s working so far. Even though I now have less time, I find I’m using it more effectively.
Perhaps there’s a lesson in that.
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Helen Glynn Jones 
Congratulations! That’s a big change! Hope it all works out with your writing, and that you’ll be really happy in your new job! All the best!
Thanks so much, Ali! So far so good, will see how it all goes 🙂 Hope your studies are going well too xx
That’s a big change. My son’s just on the cusp of not needing me around, so I’ve been gradually increasing my hours over the last year or so. The holidays are still a major headache, though. I guess you’ll have to work in the evenings and weekends to fit any of your own writing in at all – do you have an understanding partner who doesn’t mind losing you for the odd night? Congratulations on your new role – I do hope you love it 🙂
The holidays are a headache, aren’t they? My new work is all part time people with school age kids, so it’s very accommodating in that regard, but there’s still going to be some juggling. And yes, my family know that they won’t see me much after dinner most nights now 😀 Thanks for your good wishes, Lynn xx
Writers have to be driven souls, it’s true. Good luck with the juggling and the new job 🙂
Thanks, Lynn x
🙂
Congrats on your competitions and job! I’d love to hear more about both. Yes, I agree, since becoming a teacher and it’s summer here, I have no work. I thought I was going to write write write but I’ve been less productive now that I stopped working!
Thanks, Kristin! Geoff said the same thing, the busier he was the more he seemed to write – so I’m hoping the same works for me 🙂 Hope you’re enjoying a lovely lazy summer, your photos look great xx
Yes I try to capture the moments I’m not being lazy hahaha! It’s like the laziness is contagious… 😉
Sometimes it’s nice to be lazy 😉
I found wrote more the less time I thought I had. Not sure if that’s true but mentally less felt more. Good luck with it all.
Thanks, Geoff 🙂 My brother, who’s a musician, said the same thing – the busier he is, the more ideas he has for songs. Hoping something similar will happen with the writing.
I’m very impressed! Good luck with the new job, and I’d really like to hear more about the writing comps–I’ve been trying to do the same, but with limited success so far (no wins, and only a few placing…) Any tips would be more than welcome!
Thank you 🙂 Those sound like pretty good results to me! I don’t have any tips, really, because it does seem to be luck. Stories that don’t even get longlisted in one comp end up placing in another. However, I will write a post about it at some point. Thanks for your good wishes, hope all is well with you xx
Congrats! Sounds all wonderful. 🙂 Good luck and keep it up.
Thanks, Sarah! 🙂 xx
Wow, that’s a big change! I’m not sure if I should send congratulations or commiserations… 🙂
Sorry for the late reply, and thanks for your good wishes 🙂 It’s a little bit of both, I think… xx
Good luck with going back to the daily grind although I’m sure it will be awesome!
Thanks, Steve! Yes, so far so good… 🙂
Congratulations on the new job, though I also feel the need to offer my commiserations as well. I imagine going back to set working hours might take some getting used to.
Thanks, Allie, for both your congratulations and commiserations. It has been a bit of an adjustment so far, but I’m starting to get used to it. I think? 😀
I wish you luck, Helen! You get more done than I can manage!
Thanks, Traci – that’s very kind of you to say xx
Could not agree more. I find the less time I have, the more I achieve. Or put another way, the more work I have to do, the more productive and effective I become. THey say want something doing, give it to a busy person. But on a serious note, I think when you value and appreciate short amount of time you have, you procrastinate a lot less, and get more done. Everyone has 24 hours in a day, and some people are machines that churn stuff out. They don’t have more time, they just use it differently. I knew you would smash this. I bet you anything you get more books out than ever before. Having less time just makes me super hungry to publish!
Thanks, Sacha. I agree, I’m becoming much more effective with my time, but also banging my head a little at how I didn’t do this before haha. At the same time though, I needed the time I had for several reasons. As to whether I’ve smashed it, I don’t know yet – will see. I do have a LOT of writing to do though…
I am so looking forward to Ambeth four, Helen. Keep me posted and I do hope you’ll come and talk about it on Book Talk. 🙂
Thanks so much, Kev, that’s really lovely – it’s a thrill to know someone is waiting for my next book! 😊 I’d love to come and talk about it, thanks so much for offering. Fingers crossed I’ll get it sorted and out for a final beta in the next couple of weeks…
Sounds great… Look forward to hearing from you. 🙂
Thanks, Kev! xx