Speed bumps in the writing journey—the evolution of a writer

Up through 2013, I was writing consistently, ostensibly with a view to publishing something beyond the few short stories which I had written previously. Life sometimes takes you in unexpected directions, however, and 2013 was such a year for our family. 

From 2013 to 2014, my husband was unemployed for more than a year. We used all of our savings to stay afloat while he worked doing whatever he could find, and when we had come to the end of our personal resources, I'm thankful that God answered our prayers for a wonderful job for my husband and our lives were turned around for the better financially. In the midst of our 2013 challenge, while I was homeschooling our kids, I also began an unlikely business on the casual suggestion of a friend—as a face painter. 

Strangely, this new business involved writing, and I also became a consultant and freelance writer for a face painting company a few years later. So while I wasn't writing fiction, I was still writing, and even being paid for it regularly. The book reviews I had written up to this point stood me in good stead, because they were a good training ground for writing by assignment. (Sadly, the book reviews from before this time were lost when the platform dissolved, but at least the valuable experience remained with me.) 

Almost ten years later, I had chosen to wave good-bye to my freelance writing hustle which no longer fit into a busy teaching schedule combined with a flourishing face painting, airbrush, and henna business. But there were still outlets for creative writing. Now those possibilities took the form of writing humorous test problems or fun handouts for my math students. 

Life will always be busy. I used to think that at some point life would slow to a more sedate pace which would enable me to include all of my interests. I've resigned myself to the understanding that a true slow down will never happen. I can relax the pace of life at times, but if I want to include the things I love to do, like art and writing, one way to do this is to incorporate them into the other things I do, like teaching.

So that's where I've been for almost ten years since my last blog post. I've watched my kids grow up and launch their own life stories. I've worked a lot and learned a great deal. My husband/best friend and I enjoy our adventures together whenever we can and in whatever form they come. I've read a lot and plan to now revive reviews here on my own blog. There are speed bumps in any journey. I experienced some today as we drove home from visiting one of our daughters in Ohio. But speed bumps are good in a way. They are an indication that, while the road may be bumpy, you are at least moving forward. Onward!