Three Years & Counting

[jennifer_brozek]

"If anyone told me a few years back that I actually would quit a very well paying job to spend a whole year doing nothing but writing and following the necessary steps for a writing career, I think I would have thought they were crazy. But I'm doing it. Have done it. I had my exit interview at Endeavor on Wednesday. I am now, officially, nothing but a freelance author." –November 25, 2006

Today is a good day. It is like any other day in my current routine: I got up, got my breakfast, and started my internet tour. Answered questions from an editor. Asked questions from the Apex Book Company slush readers. Read Twitter. Remembered to advertize that I have a new PDF setting for Colonial Gothic out: historical horror in 1776 Plymouth. Paused in everything else to discuss archives from the Edge of Propinquity with the author, the editing and the story's future.

Next up, I'm going to settle in to work on an RPG book for Talisman Studios before working on some pays-the-bills writing for Amazon.

But first, I really must sit back and appreciate my life. Three years ago, I leapt off of that cliff and changed my profession from SQA engineer to full-time author, not knowing if it would stick but knowing that I had to try. Had to. I'm so happy I took the chance. I decided that I really needed to see if I could make a go of it as a full-time writer and here I am, three years later doing just that.

I'm not sure what else there is to say about it except that I'm glad I followed my dream and I'm glad that it has worked out so far.

Happy Anniversary to me.

Comments

[baronlaw.livejournal.com]

Happy Anniversary!

I was just commenting to a mutual friend of ours how your hard work and dedication have been paying off for you.

[jennifer-brozek.livejournal.com]

Thank you. And congrats on becoming part of TVP!

[jimhines.livejournal.com]

Happy anniversary! I'm glad you took the leap, and that it's been going so well for you!

[macklinr.livejournal.com]

Happy anniversary, Jenn! You are an inspiration to the rest of us. At least, you are to me making a similar decision in January.

[kmarkhoover.livejournal.com]

happy writing anniversary!

[bondo-ba.livejournal.com]

You can add another feather to your cap: this post will probably inspire a whole bunch of writers to keep going. I know it was just what I needed to read today.

[mskauri.livejournal.com]

Hiya--

picked up your post on a "friends of friends" foray...and had to say "Happy Anniversary!" as well. I'm a former vocational counselor now working for the agency's administration unit (helping the counselors have the tools they need to work with their clients) and I have to say, the thing that caught me about your post was the following:

"Three years ago, I leapt off of that cliff and changed my profession from SQA engineer to full-time author, not knowing if it would stick but knowing that I had to try. Had to."

It's that "Had to." that we try to help our clients find. Otherwise, it's just a job. Even though I'm no longer providing direct services to clients, my motto is still "Life is too short to do a job you hate!" (or one you merely tolerate so you can do what you REALLY enjoy in your off-time).

Congrats on your achievements! Keep up the good work!

[asthecrowfly.livejournal.com]

Yasher Koach! It's so awesome to watch you fly.

[jongibbs.livejournal.com]

Happy Anniversary!

You made a brave decision :)

[valdary.livejournal.com]

Congrats, and well done to you!

[seductionjunkie.livejournal.com]

Happy Anniversary, I'm very proud of you :)

[kvtaylor.livejournal.com]

Happy Anniversary to you indeed! It was a decision both brave and brilliant :D