Quitting the Day Job

I wasn’t ready to write this post. It’s still surreal to me after 16 years, but it seems it’s time. That, or people seem to think I’ve retired, and that’s a long way away for me. You see, today I quit my day job. It might seem sudden to you, but I’ve been working out my notice for about 6 weeks now, and thought about it before that. I’m not just a fiction author, I’m also an RN Content Writer and editor. Sometimes referred to a freelance healthcare writer. Don’t know what that is? No worries, I’d say about 80% of the people I know don’t, 5% know what it is and the other 15% seem to think I’ve lost my mind…or perhaps it’s 80% who think I’ve lost my mind. Only time will tell.

If you’d like to find out, sign up to receive my blog, or follow me on my author Facebook page. Because I’ve always been fascinated with stories of writers and authors who left the day job to write full-time. But that’s usually all there is to read. They quit. I’ve always wondered what happened next?

Quitting the Day Job

Leaving the day job (as we authors like to refer to a job other than writing) was not an easy decision. It was a terribly difficult decision. I’ve worked at my current job for 16 years.

To put that in perspective, my twins were 18 months when I started. This year they’ll by 18 years old.

Many of the people I work with have become very good friends, some like family. I’ve already warned them that I’m not that easy to get rid of, and I think they’re okay with that because they’re afraid of what might happen if I’m left alone in the house for months on end, and if I might forget to wear pants when I venture out in public. Plus Scruff will be the only one to talk to most days, and he’s not all that talkative.

So it’s not the job that finally made me take the leap, it was something more.

An Author’s Agony

This might be difficult for someone who’s not a writer to understand, but I’ll try my best to convey how it feels when your ‘book babies’ are trapped in your mind or on your computer. For the last 2 years I’ve gotten increasingly busy with freelance writing (more about that later). Thus, between that and the day job, I’ve had less and less time for my fiction. Fiction writing is my escape, my passion. It brings me peace. So not being able to do that was a bit torturous at times.

As the year seemed to speed up, the busier I got, the more I began to worry that I would never get to finish the books on the back burner. That I’d die with these stories still inside me- pretty much most author’s fear. Once I decided that I was resigning and wrote the letter, I felt a weight lift from inside of me that I hadn’t realized was there. The hope that I’d have more time to devote to writing my stories. But it isn’t just fiction I’m writing, and I hope to do more with my time than just stories.

Family and Freelancing

It wasn’t just my fiction writing that suffered the busier I got with freelance writing. I’ve been writing most hours of the day when I’m not at the day job. Meaning that the laptop is with me almost all the time and that means less time with family and friends. I’m hoping to find a better balance with that. As I struggled with my decision about leaving the day job, I turned to organizing things. Organizing, or cleaning, often helps me work through thoughts and relaxes me. The first two weeks in January I organized half the drawers and closets in my house.

What in the Heck is a Freelance Writer?

Ahh, there’s the question on most of your minds. I didn’t realize just how prevalent freelance writing was until a handful of years ago when I was looking for something to do with my writing to make some extra income. Although I love fiction writing, that is more like the marathon of writing. A long process, with uncertain results. Freelance writing is like the sprint. Imagine my surprise when I learned there was a huge need for healthcare freelance writers, even more so if you’re an RN. I discovered a way to continue to use my education while combining it with what I love, writing. Plus I discovered how much I love to learn new things. I love researching a new topic and molding the prose for the audience. My freelance audience could be nursing students, consumers interested in healthcare information, other nurses, nurse managers…and more.

Some have said, “So you’re not a nurse anymore?” Yes. I’m still a nurse. I’ve been a nurse for many years, even though the past 16 years I haven’t provided direct patient care. But I’ve been a nurse educator, a nurse leader, a nurse supervisor and now a nurse content writer. It’s not just about providing care. Nursing is also about providing education and using that knowledge base.

So…What Do You Write?

Lately? All kinds of stuff. This month has been particularly busy with my newest job that focuses on writing and editing educational material for direct care workers as an RN Content Writer. Although in addition to that this week I’ve written articles on Medicare Advantage, 2 articles on Value-Based Care, and another on Physician Burnout. I have more articles lines up for next week and others in March.

Consider where you get your information. I’d guess most of it is online. Someone is writing that information. That someone is me- well, for some of it.

What Happens Next?

Your guess is as good as mine. I have my plan. I’m hoping for more freelance, and much more fiction, but this is totally out of character for a Virgo like me who is used to stability. Part of my plan is to share my journey, my new adventure with you about my Life After the Day Job. Stay tuned to find out what the heck a healthcare freelance writer really does all day, or what’s happening with my next book baby…or just to check in to make sure I’ve really not lost my mind.

Together we’ll find out what happens if you take the leap to follow a dream.