Doesn’t self employment rock?

The subject line is stolen from a comment on my personal blog, in response to my bit of bragging that I called 438 people on election day to urge them to get out and vote. She was commenting on how it was nice that self-employment allowed me to take a day to do something like that. I concur 100%. As a matter of fact, I volunteered to do election calling precisely because I was in my last week of full-time employment, and I was feeling a little terrified by all those “empty,” unstructured days that were stretching before me. In addition to the election volunteering, I also made a spur-of-the-moment decision to attend the Call to Action conference this weekend. I wanted to meet my fellow Call to Action bloggers and perhaps get some inspiration for future writing, but I also made the decision while I was a little heady with the idea that I didn’t have to ask for a day off work to do it.

Of course, this kind of thinking is bound to wear off soon. If things go as planned, I’ll hopefully soon be too busy to make spur-of-the-moment travel decisions. I’m taking things a little easy right now to ease the transition from full-time to freelance work, but I won’t take things easy for too long, because the money will run out too quickly if I do. Still, I’ve always been motivated by the work rather than the hours, so I really do feel that self-employment was the best choice for me, and I’ve resolved to give it at least two months before I make a mad, panicked dash for the nearest traditional job in sight.

I’m still lagging behind on my NaNoWriMo word count, but I wrote the first draft of my essay for BiWomen this morning, and I’ve decided to give potential publication precedence over creative meandering–possibly for the first time in my life. Not to be disparaging, but I don’t think my brilliant NaNo will earn me publication credentials and a boost to my checking account any time soon.

What I’m up to Now

I’m excited to be starting this blog and have decided my first post will be a quick snapshot of what I’m working on right now in my writing and editing life.

– I’m working on an article for the Bi-Women Newsletter, due November 15th.

– I’m participating for the third time in National Novel Writing Month. I’m about 1,500 words behind schedule, but I’ve hit the 50,000 word goal both times I’ve participated, so I’m optimistic. I write young adult novels during NaNoWriMo because they have story arcs that can usually be nicely developed, and possibly completed, within 50,000 words. I also love reading and writing young adult literature, and this is a good opportunity to do it. This year’s novel is more autobiographical than anything I’ve written before, which will be an interesting process to observe.

– I’m doing freelance editorial work for New Moon Girls, especially surrounding the web community at NewMoonGirls.com. New Moon Girls is a girl-centered, girl-created resource where girls can reach their full potential through self-discovery, creativity, and community. Full-disclosure: until last month, I was a full-time employee of New Moon Girl Media and held editorial and management positions within the company. Although I left to pursue freelance work full-time, I’m tickled pink that I get to continue working with them. I fell in love with New Moon Girl Media the first time I read a copy of New Moon Girls magazine in 2001, and if you check them out, you just might fall in love, too. If you have a girl-child in your life (or even if you don’t), I definitely suggest checking them out.

– I’m editing a children’s book for a self-publisher.

and

– I’m getting comfy in my newly set-up ‘writing space’ and learning my way around my brand new blog.