Hi everybody. Today I start on a new adventure, sort of. I’ve been sending my newsletter to you for a few months now, from my website and from my mailing list. I’ve basically combined the two. Well, I’m going to do something even better. I’m making this a monthly posting. I’ll still talk about my books and things along those lines, but I’ll also give you some insight into how I approach each day as a new adventure. It is a lot of work. I have a day job along with my writing job.
My writing, for now, is a side hustle. One I’d like to make a regular thing. It’s so fun though. I get to put my imagination onto a blank page and send it out for people to read it and get lost along with me there. What an awesome thing to be able to do. My day job is as an Occupational Therapy Assistant at a Rehab/SNF combo. I love the place because the hours are flexible and work well with my schedule. I’ve been there for nearly nineteen years. It’s a good place to interact with others who like to read. I get to be a cheerleader for people. I show them a way to get to a better place in their life. When you’re down, how to get back up and keep going. It’s very rewarding work and gives me the energy to keep at what I’m doing.
Back to writing. I’ve basically been doing this in some form or another since 2016. Writing has been a lifelong passion of mine, but I didn’t share it with the world until then. I’ve been published in traditional magazines and self-published. The most wonderful thing ever is to get the legitimacy of someone else wanting to put something you wrote in their publication.
Early on, I learned to do one thing, write a lot, and read a lot. Just as Stephen King says to do in his book ‘On Writing’. This is the Bible to a writer. It’s so full of good advice. I’ve read it multiple times, as I’m sure many writers, Horror genre or not, have. He gives the instruction to set up a writing time, whenever it is, and stick to it. Mine is early morning, it used to be late at night. Things change. I may write something new or edit something I’ve previously written. Either way, I’m writing. My mornings are for writing only. My evenings, on the other hand, are for marketing purposes. I devote one to two hours through the week for it, and an occasional weekend. I rarely work past nine. Typically, weekend work is taboo. I try to save it for family and friends. A good way to unwind and get ready for the busy week to come. This is also when I do most of my reading.
Anyway, this gives you a little insight into the way I work. I’d like to hear from some of you, especially if you’re a writer on your process. In my next post, I’ll get into reading habits. A topic many of you, I hope, will have something to add. In the meantime, leave a like if you read this post. Also, check out the links below. I’m adding some places you can get free reads and a place you can find horror books very cheap. My book is featured there as well, and is only .99 right now!
Also, check out my webpage, and subscribe to my newsletter. I’ll be sending a new one out very soon with information on when my next book will be released.
Thank you, and don’t forget to get lost in a good book. Like Charlie the book dog does.
