i can relate--a lot! my goal since childhood was to be a (fiction) writer. After college i taught adult literacy. Went back yo school. Moved to LA & did proofreading & copy editing. Taught adult ESL. Started teaching college writing to nonnative speakers during grad school. Moved to CO & taught college comp & business writing & freelance copy editing. Started writing again, a little. Moved back East & started grad program 3 (didn't complete #2) --an MFA in creative writing--yay! Goal? to teach creative writing fulltime instead of comp! (where did that other dream go?) Graduated at 40.
Immediately took a weekend training for leading a specific type of writing workshops totally mot like those in grad school, which i swore never to run... tried to continue my poetry but bad at sending thjngs out more than once... Ran writing workshops for 11 of 13 years while working in a psych hospital (?! an unexpected direction change!) Trained further to run stress management & resilience trainings. Never did. Did a few more workshops until both my job ended finally & my parents began to die off... Finally writing! Memoir. Id like to finish things but learned im ADD (explains my life even more than the trauma crap!🤪) so i dont beat myself up about it. What i will NOT do, is run writing workshops or teach college writing again! I am in my sixties & its now or never! 😂😂
Hi Elisa! I love that you know as much what you won't do as what you might like to do! You have definitely been on an interesting journey. I'd love to hear what you do next!
As someone who was raised to appreciate the arts and especially the world of literature, I’ve always felt sad that I didn’t have the talent and drive to be an artist. It took well into middle age to realize that my art is my healing work and even then, many years of working under the influence of others or with the cover of the medical community. It took the pandemic for me to finally let go of my waitressing job that I had held onto ‘just in case’ of failure as a healer. Now, at the age when most people retire, I am working solely for myself and as busy as i choose to be. My ‘success’ comes from knowing that my work flows through me, that healing comes from connection, that ‘failure’ is an illusion even when the ego wants to beat you into the ground. I do wish this wisdom had come earlier and more easily but at least I can do my best to pass it on. Jordan, your persistence is a beacon to me and to many others. Thank you!
I think I’ve always assumed “third ways” were the only options open to me in life. Even my career is something I fell into because it’s often the refuge of failed “earnest” artists. In recent years, I started feeling discouraged because I know I’ll never be published by a major publisher. I probably wouldn’t even be published by small ones. But that is kind of freeing too. What’s left when all the standard stuff is off the table? I think it’s good that publishing is changing. Far too few people have held all the power for too long.
I so needed to hear this. I published with a small print on demand publisher, who is great (The Wild Rose Press) but never really found much success as I didn't have the funds to promote. I'd love to find my "third thing" and fall in love with writing again.
I hear that, Debbie. I've had a lot of middling experiences with publishing but if I've learned anything it's to keep trying new things! I hope to hear about your third thing when you find it.
Your advice came at the perfect "Why do I keep beating myself up about not getting published?" moment. You reminded me to appreciate the pure joy of writing. Even if it's just writing journals for my kids and grandkids to enjoy when I'm no longer around to tell them stories in person.
I forwarded your post to my photographer/painter daughter who said, "I feel like I need to tape this onto my easel: "What would it look like if you didn’t wait for someone else to approve your art, your words, your practice?"
Looking forward to your virtual book launch, and perhaps meeting you in person at the Elk Grove Writers 10/25 since that's only 45 minutes from my weekend house in Isleton.
Heartfelt thanks from WriterMama Martha and Daughter Melissa for reminding us of The Third Path.
i can relate--a lot! my goal since childhood was to be a (fiction) writer. After college i taught adult literacy. Went back yo school. Moved to LA & did proofreading & copy editing. Taught adult ESL. Started teaching college writing to nonnative speakers during grad school. Moved to CO & taught college comp & business writing & freelance copy editing. Started writing again, a little. Moved back East & started grad program 3 (didn't complete #2) --an MFA in creative writing--yay! Goal? to teach creative writing fulltime instead of comp! (where did that other dream go?) Graduated at 40.
Immediately took a weekend training for leading a specific type of writing workshops totally mot like those in grad school, which i swore never to run... tried to continue my poetry but bad at sending thjngs out more than once... Ran writing workshops for 11 of 13 years while working in a psych hospital (?! an unexpected direction change!) Trained further to run stress management & resilience trainings. Never did. Did a few more workshops until both my job ended finally & my parents began to die off... Finally writing! Memoir. Id like to finish things but learned im ADD (explains my life even more than the trauma crap!🤪) so i dont beat myself up about it. What i will NOT do, is run writing workshops or teach college writing again! I am in my sixties & its now or never! 😂😂
Hi Elisa! I love that you know as much what you won't do as what you might like to do! You have definitely been on an interesting journey. I'd love to hear what you do next!
Glad you are seizing the moment!
Love you, Jordan. I'm sure your new book will be fantastic. You have a special place in my heart as my first writing teacher. ❤️
You're so kind, Charisse
As someone who was raised to appreciate the arts and especially the world of literature, I’ve always felt sad that I didn’t have the talent and drive to be an artist. It took well into middle age to realize that my art is my healing work and even then, many years of working under the influence of others or with the cover of the medical community. It took the pandemic for me to finally let go of my waitressing job that I had held onto ‘just in case’ of failure as a healer. Now, at the age when most people retire, I am working solely for myself and as busy as i choose to be. My ‘success’ comes from knowing that my work flows through me, that healing comes from connection, that ‘failure’ is an illusion even when the ego wants to beat you into the ground. I do wish this wisdom had come earlier and more easily but at least I can do my best to pass it on. Jordan, your persistence is a beacon to me and to many others. Thank you!
Oh you are such an artist--I knew that the moment I met you. Absolutely. I love love love this, and you!
I think I’ve always assumed “third ways” were the only options open to me in life. Even my career is something I fell into because it’s often the refuge of failed “earnest” artists. In recent years, I started feeling discouraged because I know I’ll never be published by a major publisher. I probably wouldn’t even be published by small ones. But that is kind of freeing too. What’s left when all the standard stuff is off the table? I think it’s good that publishing is changing. Far too few people have held all the power for too long.
I think you could absolutely be published by a small publisher! Absofreakinglutely.
Really?? Well shit, maybe all hope is not lost!
Excellent advice!
I so needed to hear this. I published with a small print on demand publisher, who is great (The Wild Rose Press) but never really found much success as I didn't have the funds to promote. I'd love to find my "third thing" and fall in love with writing again.
I hear that, Debbie. I've had a lot of middling experiences with publishing but if I've learned anything it's to keep trying new things! I hope to hear about your third thing when you find it.
I am also with The Wild Rose Press (5 books with them) and enjoyed the experience even though I still have my day job.
They are really a great company, an author-friendly company. I published five books with them as well and the editors and cover artists were great.
Your advice came at the perfect "Why do I keep beating myself up about not getting published?" moment. You reminded me to appreciate the pure joy of writing. Even if it's just writing journals for my kids and grandkids to enjoy when I'm no longer around to tell them stories in person.
I forwarded your post to my photographer/painter daughter who said, "I feel like I need to tape this onto my easel: "What would it look like if you didn’t wait for someone else to approve your art, your words, your practice?"
Looking forward to your virtual book launch, and perhaps meeting you in person at the Elk Grove Writers 10/25 since that's only 45 minutes from my weekend house in Isleton.
Heartfelt thanks from WriterMama Martha and Daughter Melissa for reminding us of The Third Path.