It's time to take a look back at my 'sabbatical' as my friends keep calling it. In December 2022 I quit my job with nothing lined up. The plan was to take a year off, living on a very tight budget, and focus on personal projects such as finishing a novel. Also, I needed some time to get over burnout before I could even consider looking for a new job.
So how did it go? I would say it took me a good four months or so to really get my motivation back. I finished five new short stories and the first draft of a novel. Around about the sixth month mark, I started getting antsy about the way my savings were dwindling. I'd earmarked some of that money for DIY projects but couldn't bring myself to spend it in case I needed it to live off. I decided to start looking for part-time work. First, I finished off an editing course, then went looking for editing work. I did some volunteer work to gain experience, and then eventually landed a place with a ghostwriting agency near the end of 2024. I'm starting to get steady work and have picked up a few private clients (if anyone needs a copy editor, drop me a line!).
One thing that surprised me is that I've turned out to be something of a workaholic when I actually have work I enjoy. The great thing about freelancing is you can do it any time, but this can also be a drawback.
The novel is on track to be ready to start submitting by the end of February, at which point I'll start working on one of the dozens of ideas I have for other books. As for the DIY stuff, that's still on hold. Living on a budget that was below the poverty line for most people means I've got some deferred spending to catch up on, but all in all, 2023 went pretty well for me.
Write a comment