Monday, January 4, 2016

Life Got Real—Reflecting on 2015 and Looking Ahead at 2016


It wouldn’t seem right not to have a post celebrating the new year. 2015 was a crazy year. The best way I can describe it is that life got real. It was a pretty good year, but it totally overwhelmed me. You see, in 2015, I ceased being just a writer—I became a businesswomen, forced to juggle more things than I had the time to accomplish. During the last year, my Etsy jewelry business really took off and became more than I ever imagined it would be. I can’t tell you how thankful I am for that, since it is now a huge part of my income, but it is a LOT of work. From just before Halloween all the way through Christmas, I was spending 3-6 hours a day filling holiday orders. At first I was ecstatic. After about a month, I really started to dread every order notification. The work was overwhelming. All I wanted was to go back to being “just a writer.” Being an author and being an Etsy seller are two full-time jobs. Somehow, I have to manage both. This is why I haven’t made as much progress in getting Samara’s Peril ready for publication as I’d hoped. I’ve had to keep pushing back my hope-to-publish dates. I’ve spent little, if any, time on Goodreads and my forum. I’ve barely blogged. I burnt myself out.

But I am still incredibly grateful for the way God has provided the opportunities and success in my goal to be completely self-employed. I wouldn’t trade it. Now what I have to do is figure out a better way of managing it. That’s what 2016 will be about. I have to figure out exactly how to schedule time for both writing/publishing and Etsy. (Not to mention just living life!) I’ve already taken some small steps to do that. And for those of you desperately waiting for Samara’s Peril, it is coming! Now that the holidays are over and I have a chance to breathe, I’m getting back into editing this week. I am over half done. I’m hoping to get it to my beta readers this month yet. (Though I’m learning that I really can’t ever make definite plans like that. God might have different plans.) I am very tentatively hoping for a March/April release if all goes very smoothly, but sometime in May/June might be more realistic.

I have no idea what 2016 will bring, especially after last year. All I know is that organization will be the key to not getting so overwhelmed, and I’m not going to make too many set plans because things constantly change.


12 comments:

  1. *Hugs* I'll keep you in my prayers! As someone who is juggling a part time job, a full time job, and writing (which is pretty much like another full time job), I hear you! If you figure out a way to squeeze more than 24 hours out of a day, let me know! ;)

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  2. That does sound like a lot! Nice job for doing it!

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  3. I am so glad your Etsy business is going so well! Although, it does sound like a lot to juggle. Writing alone can be a lot of work. I will be praying for you! I am so excited for Samara's Peril!!! :D

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  4. Aw, I know you've been so busy; but I didn't realize it was all that!! I hope things are settling down, and you can find a way to keep up your work, but not get exhausted! Praying for you! <3

    So excited for Samara's Peril when the time is right for release! :)

    God's blessings!

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  5. Praying for you and that you can juggle everything. <3 I am so, so, SO excited about Samara's Peril. :D Hopefully we'll be able to see some snippets as you edit? Either way, it'll be awesome to have Samara's Peril on my bookshelf when summer arrives. :D

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  6. Wow. That sounds crazy. Well, prayers in the editing/publishing process and just plain sanity!!:)

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  7. Sounds like a pot of mixed blessings. : ) In my admittedly limited experience, those are the best kind. May you have a blessed 2016 that defies all of your expectations!

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  8. Wow! This sounds like you were describing my life this past year! Thanks for the reminder to stay organized and stay excited about what is ahead!

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  9. Sounds crazy indeed. My reading and writing time flew right out the window the past few months as I got introduced to the "real life" of multiple jobs plus school. December was the worst--school, church events galore (including two singing performances I had to practice for!), working 20-25 hours a week at my official job, and petsitting for two families a week...yikes!

    All this to say, I completely understand. *hugs* Praying for some rest for you this week!

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  10. Hello Jaye,

    I read Resistance and The King's Scrolls over the holidays. I have never enjoyed fantasy, but I absolutely loved the Ilyon books and am so excited for the next books to come out. :)

    I have a strange question...what font did you use in the Ilyon books? I have looked all over the web and cannot find an exact match. I'd like to use the same font in my books.

    Thank you for writing such wonderful novels!

    ~Ivy
    www.LakesidePublications.com

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  11. I hope 201 does balance out for you. It is nice to be busy, but also nice to have time to relax.

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