Changes

So… Life is changing a little at the moment.

Last Friday was my last official shift at work. I put on my big-girl panties, handed in my resignation earlier this year and now I'm going to be a full-time writer. It's something I've dreamed of for so many years, but I'll admit that I'm a little bit nervous.

Last year, I handed in my resignation, but my workplace came back with a counter-offer of one day a week. This suited me at the time, as it was a little bit of extra money (covers my groceries etc.) and I think in the back of my head, it was a safety blanket. I still had a job, if the whole writing shindig pulled the blanket out from under my feet. However, at the start of this year, my boyfriend suggested I should go full time with the writing. This may have something to do with why I love him so much.

Still, I'm a little nervous. And here's why –

One of the common misconceptions I hear is ‘…oh, when you're J.K. Rowling you'll be able to do whatever you want…' A lot of people tell me this. In fact, I'm going to start charging a dollar every time someone mentions Rowling to me – this will be my retirement fund *kidding*.

It would be nice to be as popular as Rowling, but the simple truth for many mid-list authors is that writing is kind of a contract-at-a-time thing. Getting paid is often months apart and of course, the bills don't wait that long. When you get the call – that someone wants to publish you – it's all excitement, yay, I'm published forever! Then you realise that if your books don't sell, then you don't get another contract. I've seen this happen to a few close friends of mine. It's heart-breaking. And whilst London Steampunk is doing well (I think), there's always that risk of uncertainty playing in the back of my mind.

So how can I afford to go full-time with this? Easy – my boyfriend. He has a good job and he's more than willing to take a chance on me whilst I pursue this. I would never, ever be able to do this at this stage without him.

And also, my readers. I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart. I love sharing this world with you, and hope that I'll be able to share so much more in the near future.

So today, I'm my own heroine, striking out into paths unknown and hoping for the best. I already have my hero, of course, but I'm very much looking forward to the adventures along the way.

And also, in lieu of life changing, I decided to chop off all of my hair this week. This was what I was aiming for.

julianne-hough-waves

The reality is a little shorter, but overall I love it. Long hair was fun, but when the best you do each day is knot it up on top of your head – it's time for a change… I will post a picture when I have my hair down (coincidentally, it is up in a ponytail *grin* Oh, well).

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