Turning a Corner?

I'm settling into a few hours at Panera (my current favorite writing spot). I'm nibbling on a banana and sipping on a Diet Coke, checking email, and am now ready to blog.

It seems such a long time since I've written. It's only been two weeks, but it feels like an eternity. After my time in Florida for the funeral of my dear friend Theresa's mother, Cindy, I was back in Atlanta only briefly before learning of my grandfather's declining health. He passed away last week and thus ensued an unexpected trip with Mom up to Virginia. Things have been out of whack lately to say the least. I'm writing today in part to get myself back to some state of order and normalcy.

An upturn lately, separate from funerals and unplanned travel, has been the rounding a corner of sorts regarding my writing career. I still laugh writing those words, "Writing Career," as though it were an imaginary role I was playing. But more and more it is becoming reality, which floors me.

Recently a friend caught my attention as I was coming into church and she was leaving, and quickly mentioned that she liked the piece I'd written. I hesitated and looked at her with confusion, quickly scanning my brain to determine which piece she meant. My singles column? No, she's married. Did she know about the Bohemian Alien column? How would she know about that?

I finally asked, "What piece are you talking about?" "The one in ConnectHer," she answered, surprised that I hadn't immediately understood. Oh! I'd forgotten about that one since it had been turned in over a month ago. ConnectHer is the women's ministry newsletter produced by my church. I'd written a brief testimony about my father's illness.

Later that same day another friend said, "I read your article in..." before he finished I'd assumed he'd read the women's newsletter, even though he's a guy. I don't know, I figured he'd heard I'd written something and picked up a copy. But that wasn't what he was referring to. He finished his sentence, "...in Network." Oh! I had forgotten about that too, and hadn't realized it was even out.

That was a fun day, just sitting back and realizing that I had written so many things that I couldn't instantly put my finger on which one people were reading. Granted, some of those weren't paying jobs, I'm still paying my dues, but everything works together to build experience and credibility which both will help me land more work and more income.

In fact, I've just gotten a new paid writing assignment for a ministry publication that came through a referral from someone who felt confident enough in my abilities to refer me to the editor. Which will serve to further expand my experience and resume, and lay steps in place to my using the words "writing career" without the sense of it just being wishful thinking.

Of everything I'm doing, what I enjoy most is my column for single women called "single. together." It's become a ministry as well as a writing outlet. It's proven a challenge to maintain the discipline to produce it weekly, but the challenge is a good one that I need if this writing career thing is going to work. I am continually getting new subscribers and find I have hit a nerve among single Christian women.

My newest excitement is that I've been asked to ghostwrite a book. I'm so excited about the prospect of this project. The woman who wants me to tell her story has an incredible story of generations of abuse and the ultimate redemption she's experienced as she's uncovered her history piece by piece. I can't believe someone is going to pay me to write a book. It's a bit intimidating, but an exciting challenge.

I am sure I'll look back on this one day and laugh at the little things I felt excitement about. I'm still a hair's breath away from being an administrative assistant, but there is hope, at least today, that I can make this writing thing work.

And now that I've procrastinated for half an hour, I need to get back to rewriting the marketing campaign revision that's due by the end of the day.

After I refill my Diet Coke.