When I left my previous employer in the fall of 2017, I did it to pursue writing full-time. So the headline to the blog post is a bit deceiving, I must admit, because I never stopped working. I just stopped doing it in the traditional, 9-to-5 way. While I worked for myself I:
Consulted on various communications projects with several clients, such as interviewing five mayors in Mississippi for a report and editing and designing a brochure for a diversity coach
Created two websites via WordPress.com
Wrote more than a hundred blog posts
Designed hundreds of images using Canva
Created a mailing list with more than 1,000 subscribers
Designed, wrote, and mailed dozens of e-newsletters via Mailchimp
Wrote 13 children’s educational books for Saddleback Educational Publishing
Wrote and self-published eight fiction books
Designed book covers and video book trailers using Canva
Developed strategies for book launches
Became a board member for a premier local writers organization
Many of the tasks listed above are common for an indie author or author-entrepreneur. Lucky for me, I drew upon my previous experience as a communications manager to complete these tasks. And I’ll be able to take the skills I learned since 2017 back to the workplace.
Why am I ready to go back now?
Writing full-time has been an amazing journey. My writing has developed, and I accomplished things that would’ve been challenging to achieve while working a 9-to-5. Well, it may have happened; it just probably would’ve taken twice as long. 🙂
I feel a sense of pride for my achievements these last several years. But there’s a double-edged sword to that pride. I also see what I didn’t achieve: a spot on a New York Times Bestseller list, a place on the front shelf of Barnes and Noble’s bookstores, and a high rank on Amazon’s Bestseller list.
— This is a great article by Aspiring Author, chock-full of interesting statistics about getting published.
It’s easy to compare oneself to the “lucky ones,” those who quit their jobs and became bestselling novelists. “Why oh why couldn’t that have happened to me?” is a sentiment heard around the writing community. But the life as a bestselling author is not everyone’s journey. Not everyone is J.K. Rowling. (Though, her journey wasn’t easy, either.)
Everyone’s path is different. Some paths are more successful than others. Although, one can debate how to define success. Is it a certain level of financial prosperity? Specific professional accolades? Or a personal achievement?
With appreciating and accepting my journey, I have adjusted some of my life goals. I’ve also reflected on what I miss about the workforce I left:
A team
Brainstorming with colleagues, supporting one another, and making lasting friendships.
Growth
Pursuing opportunities to learn skills and overcoming challenges.
Projects
Seeing an idea come to fruition, from thought to reality, is very exciting.
A paycheck and benefits
No explanation needed here! Having a steady paycheck and benefits should be near the top of the list, shouldn’t it?
I look forward to re-entering the workforce, bringing my current skills to a new employer, and learning new skills ones. I’ll continue to work on books and short stories in my spare time–it just won’t be full-time focus. And I’m okay with that. More than okay. Perhaps my writing journey was a success after all. 🙂
I’d love to know if you’ve ever left the workforce and returned, or how you define success for yourself.
Nico Waters 