Not just conventions, mind you. Those are relatively minor stressors, and never really all that stressful once they start. It's all in the lead up, you see.
However, family stuff, writing, painting, trying to get Nights at the Round Table up and running again, moving house, trying to keep up with friends, a whole bunch of other projects, and feeling like I have no time.... It's been a bit overwhelming this year.
So, because I was, I am, feeling so drawn, I've decided to wind down for the rest of the year. My last meet up of the year will be this month. There will be no meet up in December (though be sure to subscribe to my eNewsletter if you want to know the secret location of the first meet up of 2016). There are no more conventions that I'm willing to go to this year. I will be adding more next year, I think. But for this year, I'm all played out.
I have also been working with a business coach, who is trying to help me make a splash in my chosen profession. She's been very helpful and has come out with a number great ideas for me. It's thanks to her that you can now read the first chapter of all of my books right from their individual pages or from the combined Titles page.
Working with her has been brilliant, but it's one more thing I must do every week, one more part of me pulled, and the workload has been pretty impressive. Still, it's all for the best.
My current project is to begin creating audiobooks for all of my titles. I'm starting with The Dying God & Other Stories. I've had an idea about how I want to structure it, but I'm waiting to hear back. It might not ever happen the way I would like.
So, I expect that these blog posts will get a whole lot less interesting in the coming weeks. It will essentially be a recap of whether or not I made my daily word count. Unless something gets me all ranty.
Speaking of ranty, my good friend Eric Desmarais had a few choice words to say to people like me - those of us Scrooges who judge anyone celebrating Christmas before the Christmas season - in his blog post today. In my case, I give ample side-eye and not a small amount of rage to any stores that start playing Christmas carols before Remembrance Day.
I don't mind individuals putting up Christmas decorations so much as I mind the start of Christmas shopping displays before Remembrance Day is done with. I'm having a bit of trouble reconciling this, actually. Individuals make up society. Why don't I mind when individuals put up Christmas decorations before Remembrance Day, but detest it so much when shops start doing the same? How is it any different?
Anyway, Eric raises some really good points, and it's really making me think about why I feel the way I do, as all good discussions should.
Anyway, that's all I have for you today. I'm off to paint and write, and then go to training Have a great day, everyone!
Ciao!