So.
Sooooooooooo.
If you are friends with me on Facebook, then you already know what I’m going to announce. I reckon then I’ll just come out and say it.
As of June 1, 2023, last Thursday, I no longer have a day job.
The ministry I worked for was not immune to the trend of layoffs that’s taking place in our country right now. I was actually notified in March, but was asked to stay on until the end of May to help close our department down. The day after, I flew out to Texas to visit the Meow Wolf Grapevine site. So that picture of me on Facebook pointing all grins at the “Coming Soon” poster on the exhibit I worked on? Yeah, that smile was really saying holy crap I just got laid off but look this can be my future now HOLY CRAP!
Oh, by the way, the end of May 31st just so happened to be my 15th year working for the dayjob. Which meant I got to celebrate my 15th year anniversary, and then the very next day I turned in my keyfob and left the organization for good.
Whiplashy much?
So. How do I feel about all this?
I am currently sitting on my porch in comfy leggings as I write this out. Earlier this morning, I went out for a walk. I’ve been starting my day off with exercise, something I neglected when I went full-time. I have plans to get back into gardening again. I now can fully dedicate time to work on my AfroFae novel. And, I can now actually dedicate time to find funds to continue running GigaNotoSaurus Magazine, and maybe even generate income from it.
I have time to write again.
The last time I was in this situation was 19 years ago, back when I became a stay-at-home mom. I remember crying the day I chose to work full-time, because I thought I had to give up that dream. Since then, I’ve been working a dayjob with the goal to get back into full-time writing for years. Years. And now…
To be honest, ever since WorldCon last year, I was discerning if it was time to leave the dayjob. There’s so much I want to do. I want to do freelance editing and writing. I want to try to find more contract jobs like I had with Meow Wolf. I want to rediscover what it means to have long writing sessions again, not grab five minutes here, five minutes there. I want to immerse myself in literature again, do deep dives into novels and short stories. I want to indulge in writing exercises again. Go through craft books and learn the difference between metaphors and similies. I want to create an oasis of calm amidst the craziness and outrage of social media and help people think. Do more workshops. Write more short stories. Finally, live the dream of being a writer.
Of course, I am also fully, fully aware that these are uncertain, turbulent times to be a writer.
But, I’m still going to try.
I’ll be working on what this looks like over the next few months. I’ll be sending out the newsletter on a regular schedule again—most likely once a month, but if that’s too much for you, let me know. One thing I’m thinking about doing is revisiting my blog The Cafe in the Woods and doing a series of responses to the writing things I posted. Sort of a Present Me having a conversation with Past Me to see how I’ve grown as a writer. I’m also thinking of making it a paid thing, but wondering if I’d do it here in Substack or over at Patreon where I can charge whatever I want. Let me know your thoughts.
The wind is stirring the leaves of the trees in the yards around my porch. The sun is streaming across my lap and bare toes.
News!
Remember in my last Newsletter that I was planning on writing out my thoughts on AI? Uncanny Magazine contacted me about it; you can now read my essay “The Good, the Bad, and the AI” in their #52 issue on their website.
I’ll be attending 4th Street Fantasy June 16-18 in Minneapolis, MN. In August, I’ll be at GenCon in Indianapolis, IN.
Meow Wolf announced their opening date as July 14. Stay tuned for more info on that.
Hello to all my new subscribers and readers. Welcome to my writer journey. Take a seat, and grab some tea. I hope you like it here.
And oh. Guess I’ll have to change the name of this newsletter since #writerwithdayjob no longer applies to me, ohhhh whoops…
Congratulations on the new boots and the time for that AfroFae novel!
LaShawn, this is indeed a turning point - and I'm thrilled you're leaning into positives - but I hope you also have the resources and community on hand to be kind with yourself in the coming weeks. Losing a site of connection and structure you've had for 15 years is HUGE. Feelings will definitely keep rising and surprising along the way. You're brilliant, you do so much for the community, and you *deserve* this space to branch out and enjoy more of your creative practice. Just be gentle with yourself at the same time, eh? Life offers us one helluva wild ride. All best wishes on this next turn in the road.
Layoffs suck! But I agree that this could be a providential inflection point and that good things lie ahead!