Comments on: Grim Determination

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:04:44 +0000

Heidi – Your job sounds awesome though! Mine – librarian – not so much. If I can even find a job these days and with the economic climate being what it is, I’m not so sure of that either. But you may be right in that a half-and-half combo is what’s needed. And no, not aiming to stop writing quite yet.

By: Heidi Rice

Heidi Rice — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 11:20:23 +0000

Hey Jackie, I had to go back to my old job as a film journalist three years AFTER I’d sold… I do it part time now as well as the writing gig and personally find it’s a much better balance for me writing-wise (as well as money-wise!). Hope it works for you too. You’re not going to stop writing, which is the important thing.

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:32:01 +0000

Helen – you’re an inspiration, you really are. I love that about writing being my future job. I must try and remember that one.

Madeline – thanks! Yeah, time. And luck. Meh. 🙂

By: Madeline Ash

Madeline Ash — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:49:48 +0000

That’s tough, Jackie. But you’ll find time. You won’t have a choice but to find time, the muse waits for no one. Even pubbed authors have to keep their day jobs, because the money just isn’t there. It’s life, and it’s damn unfair! I’m sorry it hasn’t happened for you in this time, but as you said, your writing has grown so much that the experience has been invaluable. Now you have the skills and ability to write a book that’ll sell. It’s just a matter of time.

Madeline x

By: Helen Lacey

Helen Lacey — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 04:35:18 +0000

Hi Jackie – As you know, it took me twenty three years submitting to Harlequin to finally get published, and the first twenty of those years I worked a day job, usually sixty or more hours a week.
The trick, I discovered while I worked that day job, was to also treat the writing like a job. I always told myself I had two jobs -one was my present, the other my future and I made sure I protected my writing work.
But don’t despair – this is just a change, that’s all. Not and end, but another beginning. Doors might close, but windows open. And there’s an old saying about busy people being the most productive.
Take a breath,embrace the change and everything else will fall into place.
🙂

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:00:33 +0000

Caroline – ah, you’re fabulous. There must be a few people who are sick of waiting for that day. And I’m one of them. 🙂

By: Jackie Ashenden

Jackie Ashenden — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 18:57:57 +0000

Amalie – might be an agency for me in that case. I have NO idea what I want to do.

Nina – no, you’re not being unhelpful at all! Thanks for your belief, m’dear. Means a lot. Anyway, yeah, I’m waiting for the grim part of the equation to disappear but sadly hasn’t yet. Maybe a job will help. 🙂

By: Caroline

Caroline — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:42:53 +0000

Hugs Jackie on having to return to the hamster wheel! One day you will be pubbed and I (along with a host of others) will be the first in the line to buy your books! Caroline x

By: Nina

Nina — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:27:50 +0000

Jackie
This is not The End. You have achieved so much in the last three years and I believe your perseverance and talent will pay off. Maybe a research gig (love it Amalie) will give you a shift in focus and perspective and hopefully the grimness will disappear just leaving determination. It is tough and sometimes I too wonder why on earth I persevere but yet I do…but I do think that taking a step back or a break does not mean you are failing, or giving up. Sorry am now rambling unhelpfully so will stop. Sending hugs. Nina x

By: Amalie

Amalie — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:05:27 +0000

That is a tricky part. I hate job hunting. I think that's why I did short-term contracts for so long: the agency always placed me somewhere, saved me the effort!

I'm fixin' to Pollyanna on you again: companies are always looking for smart, strong, creative types. That'll make looking for your research gig easier :)