Over the past few months, my focus has shifted in many ways. I’ve went from writing on three blogs to writing this one only. Instead of feeling like a flake that is flitting between projects, and at the risk of becoming a jack of all trades and master of none, I decided I needed to trim the fat. Vidadeverde is now my only blog and is very likely to stay that way in the near future. Let me explain why.
It’s all about priorities:
I’m prioritizing where I do my writing, what I write about and how much time I invest in non-writing activities.
Since I work full-time, maintain this blog, write freelance and write creatively, (fiction and poetry), I’ve been working on staying focused on writing and putting out quality work.
In the process, I have learned what work is important and where I want to focus my energies.
The transition from juggler to writer:
At one point last year before I began my freelance work, I was maintaining this blog, my creative writing blog and writing articles on Hubpages. This week, I shut down my creative writing blog and I haven’t contributed to Hubpages since I started freelancing, so I took the links to both of those sites off of Vidadeverde.
It wasn’t that I didn’t like writing on those other sites. I enjoyed all the writing I was doing, but the problem was I didn’t have a lot of time left over for my creative writing, and that’s really where my heart is.
I don’t regret writing on Hubpages or my creative writing blog, I don’t view those experiences as unimportant. I see them as a growth experience.
At the time I started writing the two other blogs, I felt my writing was rusty and I was out of practice since I’d taken about two years off from writing. Writing those other blogs definitely helped fan the creative fires and re-sharpened my out of use writing skills.
Where to go from here:
I am finishing my second novel in the next few months.
Right now, my head is full of ideas for new books and short stories, and honestly, I have been working on my second novel for over three years now. It’s time I commit myself to finishing that project and moving on to the next story I have in my head.
I’m also in the process of securing a domain name, gathering some of my short stories and poems together and planning on releasing them once my website launches. I’ll be releasing my novels as well. Once my website is up and live, I will be selling my work via Kindle-ready pdf files. I have a lot of ideas for where I want my website to take me and my writing, but to start out, it will be the place to preview and buy my creative writing, it will link to this blog and vice versa.
I’m very excited about my new ventures.
Why now?:
I’m thirty-one years old. I have a degree in Communication, I have a background in journalism and I have been creating stories for as long as I can remember. Writing is a huge part of me.
I have felt the urge to re-start my writing career for a while now. I figure, writing is what I always wanted to do and with all the advances in technology, there is no better time to be a writer than now.
Thanks to Amazon, E-junkie and the popularity of e-book readers, self-publishing is no longer expensive or difficult and self-published authors are a lot closer to becoming the norm than ever before.
Here are some ways to help you shift focus, and also, to understand when to do it:
Find a quiet space: Sometimes we don’t even realize we want or need to shift focus because we haven’t given ourselves time for quiet or for deep reflection. Focus comes in the quiet moments. Make time to just be. You never know what ideas may come from it.
Listen to your gut: As you know, I am a believer of following your intuition. If the tiny voice keeps telling you the same thing over and over, listen.
Take the leap: No risk, no gain. It’s as simple as that.
Plan for it: Have an idea of what you want to do and create a timeline.
But, don’t be afraid to wing it sometimes: Occasionally, even the best-laid plans fall apart. Know when to hold onto a plan and when to go with the flow.
Learn to prioritize: Ideas, plans and intuition can only get you so far. If you don’t make the life you want to live a priority over the petty, every day things, you’ll never live your dream.
Sometimes it’s a winding road: The path to the life you want is rarely a straight, clearly-marked road. Sometimes it’s a dimly lit, winding road full of potholes, overgrown greenery and snake pits. Remember that the road you’re on is the correct path and you will persevere.
Amanda Bretz 