Presto change-o

For a long time, I’ve been overwhelmed. I’ve worked as a research analyst while teaching fiction online, contributing to freelance projects, and trying to write creatively on top of all this. This ridiculous schedule has amounted to very little downtime, and over the last few months it has taken a toll. I haven’t been sleeping well for a long time, but I’ve been too scared to leave my day job due to worries over money. 

Well, a few months ago I decided not to let my fears surrounding money dictate my life any longer. I was making myself sick, and there’s really no greater cost. So, I said hell with it. I made a goal to change my lifestyle by June 1, and I’m so happy to say that the universe opened up. I am at the apex of change, and I couldn’t be happier. 

I have recently taken on a new position as the Writers in Communities Program Director at Gemini Ink, a literary empowerment organization that brings writing and reading to communities in San Antonio and beyond. Writing changed my life by allowing me to realize that I had a voice, and a voice that matters. This position will enable me to pay that forward in many ways. 

Being a WIC Program Director is drastically different than my current full-time job, and I’m in a whirlwind of emotion. This is me, making a move that is scary but necessary, and I am eager to get started. Because I am living my art now, in all regards, I also plan to dedicate more energy to my writing and building my writing career. After theGazebo will be the catalyst for this, I hope. I’m so proud of this book, and I hope you will read it if you read this blog.  I put my all in, and I did it for you.

Speaking of blog … since I will have more scheduling flexibility and a whole lot of new and interesting experiences, I will update here more regularly again soon. For real this time! I mean it!! I’m going to aim for every other week.

Image Copyright (c) Mark Knox, KnoxworX multimedia

Prompt:

Write a story about a character on the verge of making a major change in careers; for instance, a model who is taking on a new career as a real estate agent or research manager; a physician who retires and takes on a job at a café; a retail worker who begins a career in mystery shopping… Have fun with it. Show the consistencies in character and how s/he changes with environment. 

In with the new

It has been too long since I've posted. And, everything has changed. Okay, that's an exaggeration, but a lot has changed. After working a lot of overtime for a few weeks, during which I had a book release and reading at San Antonio College and company and a few other engagements, I am again settling into a routine. I am a routine-driven person, and I believe it is within routines that I find my discipline, so this is a great relief.

So what has changed? A few things.

My book is out and in my hands (if you'd like to order a copy from me, let me know... if you'd like an eVersion, they're less than $3 on Amazon). Monkey Puzzle Press was fantastic to work with, so if you're considering submitting a manuscript to them, do! Not sure it's selling, but I think it is... we'll see.

I was offered and accepted a new position as a Best Practices Research Analyst with Frost & Sullivan (my current company). I will be researching the information, communication, and technology (ICT) industry, so I think it will be interesting as this is an ever-evolving space. This is an cool opportunity, and I look forward to the challenge because there will be a definite learning curve. Hard work pays off.

For writers, challenges in life are where we find the emotion, the catalyst to create, so my hope is that this new position will feed my writing, not distract from it. I am confident this will be the case.

I have had two (amazing) publishers show interest in my work. One has my short story collection and the other has my novel. We'll see what happens. I have learned not to count on anything just working out, so I can say I'm cautiously optimistic.

As for today, I plan to work a bit on my newest story and a new novel. I spent the morning at urgent care, due to a cold that hasn't gone away for almost two weeks. Urgent cares are a trip! My doctor introduced himself as June bug and after doing a few tests, diagnosed me with a sinus infection. I'm not big on antibiotics or any unnecessary meds, but I've been miserable (inevitable after all that concentrated work, entertaining, and little sleep). I'm on some steroids, so hopefully I don't turn into that guy ->

Life is constant flux. Thank goodness. I hope you have a beautiful week ahead, and if you have a Kindle, I hope you check out my five stories (if you do, please let me know what you think).

xo Jen

Off and on

Ever had one of those days (weeks) when you just feel off? That's me. For instance, I'm chewing a piece of 5 gum right now, a gum brand I usually find satisfying, and for some reason it tastes like paint thinner. I thought I was getting sick but ended up just feeling kind of weak and achy for a few days, so I guess I fought it off. I made many small, avoidable errors at work and in life (oops, forgot my keys; oops, didn't mean to send that email yet; oops, did I just upload the wrong file again?). I was beginning to think that I was subconsciously self-destructing. But really, I think it's just one of those weeks. 

I just spit out that gum, and I kind of want another piece. But I'll throw the pack away. Okay, so talking about my ineptitude at life this past week is boring, so on to other things. I read a horrible review of some of my older work, which I know shouldn't but kind of affected me. I did not win the Black River Chapbook competition, but I am still honored to be a finalist; I look forward to reading the winner's book.

Along with my meh and out-of-it news, I have good news! Lots of it.

Writing: I got a piece I really love accepted to JMWW, which is one of my favorite journals to read online. I revised one of the strangest pieces I've ever written. I think it's ready to submit, but I have no idea where it would fit. And see the two new pubs this week.

Reading: My reading life is good because a copy of Hobart 14 arrived in the mail, so I've been devouring that. Also, I received a book from Claire Ibarra, Dreams of Duality, which I won (don't usually win stuff). I look forward to reading it next.

Personal: I went to the dentist and though he did try to sell me a toothbrush, he said I was doing good... no cavities and gums are okay. I bought not one, but two new pillows. I got a $14 haircut that ended up great, better than the $30 one I got a year ago.

And the absolutely best news imaginable: My sister, who has been looking for full-time work for almost five years, got a job! A good job with benefits! At OSU! I couldn't be happier for her. Go Bucks!!!

Two new publications this week: 

Thumbnail 4 in Print 

And Istanbul Review: THE SCREEN OF LITERATURE   

Available this week... In the meantime, check out their website by clicking on the picture. It's amazing, the art they sample that is featured in this issue. I was blown away and can't wait to see the print version.

Off to write... hope you all have an on week.

Ass-backward hibernation

Well, it's official, I'll be in charge of the San Antonio College Writing Center again. Only this time, it will be just me and one other coordinator running the show. I can't wait to get started. I have so many ideas, and I feel truly privileged to have the opportunity. This is a supplementary position to teaching, so I'll still have two classes and my freelance work. I just hope I can keep up with everything.

Ironically, I haven't been able to do much of anything this month, and I'm having a tough time with it. There, I said it. No sugarcoating. If you follow this blog, you already know that I have a ruptured tendon in my hand/wrist. The injury is preventing me from using my right hand to do just about anything. And it's a constant, dull pain. I've been doing my best. I use voice recognition software for email and social media, and sometimes, like now, I just type left-handed.

Here's the thing: Writing is my Prozac. It's my therapist, my mirror, my stress relief. It's how I work out needless worry and manage necessary concerns. And I miss it. I've been going through a lot of emotional distress lately, and sure, much of it has come from the pain. But I think most of it comes from simply not being able to write. And though I know that this will pass, the injury will heal, right now it sucks.

I'm a strong believer that illness is often my body's way of telling me to slow down. Forcing me, rather. And slow down I have! With the new position, I'm sure I'll need it. In the meantime, I'm healing, hibernating, storing up ideas and reorganizing old work. I'm preparing myself for a lot of wonderful things to come this fall. It's so easy to forget when in the middle of it, but the pain does pass. I should know this by now.


Check out To Begin Again, an award-winning collection of short stories & Musical Chairs, a memoir about rebellion and reinvention.