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Stress, Career and Commissions
3 years ago
Howdy everyone,
It's been a hot minute since I've posted here. I hope you all are doing well and holding up. I know things have been kind of hectic since 2019, but hey what can you do? Just keep on keeping on; that's about it, right?
I'm going to give everyone a brief update on where I've been, outstanding projects, plans for the future and what's in store for my page here. If you're looking for a Tl;Dr, it'll be included at the end. So let's get to it.
For three years I worked at a local hospital. I'm no nurse or doctor, I was just someone who cleaned and disinfected operating rooms after surgeries were performed. I worked there through the Covid pandemic. It was not a good place to be, though not only because of Covid. The job itself was exhausting from the overtime, lack of staffing, management was drowning, and as things got harder the higher-ups were demanding more and more from us. I'd lost all time to myself, and my drive for writing died. I kept practicing on the side, but nothing I'd post. Hope for me dried up in that position. I didn't have anything positive going for me, and I turned to drinking in my off-hours. Everything went downhill from there. Then I met my (now) fiance.
I quit the hospital and turned to writing professionally. I'm in the process of getting set up to freelance for blogs, product descriptions, website blurbs and other such content. I'm currently writing two separate novels when I find the time. This isn't me announcing a release or anything, they're both far from finished. One of them happens to be the start of a series my Fiance and I are both working on. In time I look forward to teasing some bits across my various profiles on the net. Those of you who have been reading some of my old short story series here are probably rolling your eyes at this. Do not worry, I have not forgotten my obligations. Best I elaborate on those outstanding projects then, yeah?
Walking on Eggshells was a passion project I started writing while I was attending college. And because of college (and work), it got sidelined. Hard. I made a promise a while back to resume it when I found the time, and I meant it. WoE isn't gone, it isn't going to remain in limbo forever and I will be seeing it through to conclusion. I don't know when I'll open that half-finished first draft of part 4, but it's going to happen. Possibly as soon as I get in a better financial spot so I can dedicate time to writing it. I found my old notes, I drafted out the plot so I know where the story was meant to go--it'll happen. Like I said, I just need to get in a better spot financially first. To do that, I have a plan in motion.
Going forwards I'm going to be writing freelance, so my personal profiles across the web are going to be kept separate from the "professional" pieces I'll be doing for clients here on out. I'm not sure how long it will take to get good traction in the freelance sphere, but I do know it will be a while before I'm getting backed up on that front. I can't secure myself by releasing free stories every two weeks, sadly. So my personal projects will still be a second priority. Not that it changes anything since I haven't posted in so danged long. Don't worry too much. Since I've turned to writing to make ends meet, I'll be working on projects. For clients and for my profiles again. I'm hoping to wrap up WoE for everyone and move on to other tales to provide entertainment.
My goal is to keep posting free stories. Adult life comes with adult-sized bills though, so I need to keep ahead of them. We're not in dire straits or anything, but we're still sitting on a lot of financial stress. Hence why I'm not dedicating all of my time to writing my novels. We got to eat somehow, and that's the freelance work saving my butt.
To supplement our income, I'm offering something I haven't had available in several years now. I figure I can offer a way to provide support to those who want to help out. No Patreon or anything like that, no. For the foreseeable future of this profile, I'm going to be offering writing commissions again. I figure it's the best way to allow readers to have access to stories I write in my free time while providing additional income to keep me afloat between gigs. Heh. Gigs. I don't know why that word is so funny to me.
Reading is just as important to me as writing. I want to keep people reading and I figure there isn't a better way to do that than posting free content. I'm not going to lock WoE behind a paywall. There may be future stories that come available to members if I do open a Patreon in the future, but there will always be free content posted on my profile. If that should happen the future of this profile will be a mix of free and paid content. None of the paid content, however, will contain storylines crucial to the free stories. I don't operate like that. Never have, never will. Free is free, dang it, and partially-complete tales—which only become whole when paying for another piece—don’t fit my definition of free.
The bulk of the free content may be long-running series for readers to enjoy. There will be one-offs as well. If I do end up making a Patreon (can you tell I'm future-proofing this?) the paid stories will be posted there. I may upload teasers for paid stuff to link back to my Patreon, but unless I make up my mind and create a Patreon then I won't know for sure.
I plan on updating everyone as I go. Transparency is something I hold dear, and I will remain transparent in all of my decisions. At this time, if you'd like to support me, commissions are open. Send me a DM and we can work out the details. I will be posting a Terms of Service soon, along with a pricing sheet. If you can't wait until then (you are a lifesaver) you can direct message me and I'll give you more information.
Fair bit of warning, my writing style has changed. As I stated earlier, I've been practicing and constantly working to improve my craft as much as I can with the time I've found.
I want to express my deepest thanks to all of you who have been patient with me. Thank you to everyone who reads my work as well. I wouldn't be writing still if it wasn't for you lot. You're all amazing, and you keep me going. I look forward to many more wonderful years giving everyone stories to read. Money isn't the motivation that drives me, it's all of you. I just have to make ends meet, and the increasing cost of living isn't helping me out any. Your support saves me. Whether that support comes in the form of buying commissions or just leaving funny comments--it does not matter to me. It all helps me out.
Tl;Dr Working freelance, WoE is not abandoned forever, broke writer is offering commissions and stories are on their way when I'm in a better financial spot.
--SB
It's been a hot minute since I've posted here. I hope you all are doing well and holding up. I know things have been kind of hectic since 2019, but hey what can you do? Just keep on keeping on; that's about it, right?
I'm going to give everyone a brief update on where I've been, outstanding projects, plans for the future and what's in store for my page here. If you're looking for a Tl;Dr, it'll be included at the end. So let's get to it.
For three years I worked at a local hospital. I'm no nurse or doctor, I was just someone who cleaned and disinfected operating rooms after surgeries were performed. I worked there through the Covid pandemic. It was not a good place to be, though not only because of Covid. The job itself was exhausting from the overtime, lack of staffing, management was drowning, and as things got harder the higher-ups were demanding more and more from us. I'd lost all time to myself, and my drive for writing died. I kept practicing on the side, but nothing I'd post. Hope for me dried up in that position. I didn't have anything positive going for me, and I turned to drinking in my off-hours. Everything went downhill from there. Then I met my (now) fiance.
I quit the hospital and turned to writing professionally. I'm in the process of getting set up to freelance for blogs, product descriptions, website blurbs and other such content. I'm currently writing two separate novels when I find the time. This isn't me announcing a release or anything, they're both far from finished. One of them happens to be the start of a series my Fiance and I are both working on. In time I look forward to teasing some bits across my various profiles on the net. Those of you who have been reading some of my old short story series here are probably rolling your eyes at this. Do not worry, I have not forgotten my obligations. Best I elaborate on those outstanding projects then, yeah?
Walking on Eggshells was a passion project I started writing while I was attending college. And because of college (and work), it got sidelined. Hard. I made a promise a while back to resume it when I found the time, and I meant it. WoE isn't gone, it isn't going to remain in limbo forever and I will be seeing it through to conclusion. I don't know when I'll open that half-finished first draft of part 4, but it's going to happen. Possibly as soon as I get in a better financial spot so I can dedicate time to writing it. I found my old notes, I drafted out the plot so I know where the story was meant to go--it'll happen. Like I said, I just need to get in a better spot financially first. To do that, I have a plan in motion.
Going forwards I'm going to be writing freelance, so my personal profiles across the web are going to be kept separate from the "professional" pieces I'll be doing for clients here on out. I'm not sure how long it will take to get good traction in the freelance sphere, but I do know it will be a while before I'm getting backed up on that front. I can't secure myself by releasing free stories every two weeks, sadly. So my personal projects will still be a second priority. Not that it changes anything since I haven't posted in so danged long. Don't worry too much. Since I've turned to writing to make ends meet, I'll be working on projects. For clients and for my profiles again. I'm hoping to wrap up WoE for everyone and move on to other tales to provide entertainment.
My goal is to keep posting free stories. Adult life comes with adult-sized bills though, so I need to keep ahead of them. We're not in dire straits or anything, but we're still sitting on a lot of financial stress. Hence why I'm not dedicating all of my time to writing my novels. We got to eat somehow, and that's the freelance work saving my butt.
To supplement our income, I'm offering something I haven't had available in several years now. I figure I can offer a way to provide support to those who want to help out. No Patreon or anything like that, no. For the foreseeable future of this profile, I'm going to be offering writing commissions again. I figure it's the best way to allow readers to have access to stories I write in my free time while providing additional income to keep me afloat between gigs. Heh. Gigs. I don't know why that word is so funny to me.
Reading is just as important to me as writing. I want to keep people reading and I figure there isn't a better way to do that than posting free content. I'm not going to lock WoE behind a paywall. There may be future stories that come available to members if I do open a Patreon in the future, but there will always be free content posted on my profile. If that should happen the future of this profile will be a mix of free and paid content. None of the paid content, however, will contain storylines crucial to the free stories. I don't operate like that. Never have, never will. Free is free, dang it, and partially-complete tales—which only become whole when paying for another piece—don’t fit my definition of free.
The bulk of the free content may be long-running series for readers to enjoy. There will be one-offs as well. If I do end up making a Patreon (can you tell I'm future-proofing this?) the paid stories will be posted there. I may upload teasers for paid stuff to link back to my Patreon, but unless I make up my mind and create a Patreon then I won't know for sure.
I plan on updating everyone as I go. Transparency is something I hold dear, and I will remain transparent in all of my decisions. At this time, if you'd like to support me, commissions are open. Send me a DM and we can work out the details. I will be posting a Terms of Service soon, along with a pricing sheet. If you can't wait until then (you are a lifesaver) you can direct message me and I'll give you more information.
Fair bit of warning, my writing style has changed. As I stated earlier, I've been practicing and constantly working to improve my craft as much as I can with the time I've found.
I want to express my deepest thanks to all of you who have been patient with me. Thank you to everyone who reads my work as well. I wouldn't be writing still if it wasn't for you lot. You're all amazing, and you keep me going. I look forward to many more wonderful years giving everyone stories to read. Money isn't the motivation that drives me, it's all of you. I just have to make ends meet, and the increasing cost of living isn't helping me out any. Your support saves me. Whether that support comes in the form of buying commissions or just leaving funny comments--it does not matter to me. It all helps me out.
Tl;Dr Working freelance, WoE is not abandoned forever, broke writer is offering commissions and stories are on their way when I'm in a better financial spot.
--SB
