Link to Video on Patreon where I talk about this a little, but a version of it is below:
You know how every year, I try to have these organized schedules for writing and producing content and about 2-3 weeks in, I’m like, guys, I overscheduled myself and created unrealistic deadlines —
If you’re interested, there’s more in the video, it’s about 11 minutes long. But the long story short is this:
In the fall of 2023, I moved districts and began teaching French I. It was the first year I’d taught 180 continuously. Before that, I had 15 and 30-day rotations which meant I would write the content in the beginning of the year and spend the rest of the year refining. In the new job, I had to create 180 separate days of instruction. And then the next year, I had to do that for French I AND French II. And this last year, I had to do it for French III. And now — you get my point. I’m the only teacher in the entire district, so I have to create the program from the bottom up.
I don’t think I’ve ever truly adapted my writing and expectations to the massive amounts of creative energy I have to give to my work that I just haven’t before. It’s why I get more tired every year. I keep thinking I should be able to write at the same level as I always have: 2-3 novels a year with 1-2 flash fiction series completed and a few short stories.
It’s just not sustainable. And this is a lesson I have to keep learning mostly because every year I’m adding more and more food to the plate — but my plate (my energy) is the same size — and I wonder why I’m so rundown and tired all the time.
I have so many ideas, so many things I want to create for you guys. I have tons of novel ideas — series that are in progress. Fool Me Twice Book 3 has like 117k that the general readers have never read because I haven’t edited it yet.
For this summer, and at least this coming school year, I need to revise my model of production. And it’ll be a work in progress. I don’t think I’d feel comfortable making concrete promises for more than a few days or weeks at a time. I’ve restarted therapy — and this time it’s with someone my insurance covers, so I won’t have to stop going when I run out of money. Because I can’t keep doing this to myself every few months, or to you guys.
I’m taking the rest of today and tomorrow to just…not work and to think about what we’re going to do. I am going to tell you that I’ll give you something every day or every other day this summer, I just don’t know what yet.
If you subscribed to Patreon for a specific perk this summer and would like a refund at any point over the next six weeks, please don’t hesitate or feel like you can’t ask for your money back. I made promises, and I can’t commit to keeping them so you are more than justified.
