The truth is, I can’t do it all.
As creative professionals living in a chaotic world, we can feel a lot of pressure to complete every project, accept every opportunity, and allow our personal and professional lives to cross over more than they should. Today, I’m telling you that I can’t do it all.
I’ve been running this blog for a very long time. It’s a special place for me, a way to share my experiences and lessons on writing, books, the industry and the world at large. It’s come with me from Boston to New Jersey to Nashville, and I’m grateful to each and every single one of you who came along for the right. But right now, my journey is taking a little bit of a different direction.
As of August 31st, I’ll be starting a graduate degree track through the Harvard Extension School in the field of environmental sustainability. My intention is to marry my background in journalism and communication with a new science discipline and go into environmental reporting with a focus on intersectional feminism. It’s a lot. And while I couldn’t be more excited about this new path or grateful to those who have been supporting me as I make these big choices, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous too.
So I’m taking these few weeks before school starts to find some balance and to reduce the amount of responsibilities that call my attention away from my current goals. As it is, I will still be working as a full time freelancer, running a startup company, and keeping up with the demands of two author names. A lesson I often preach and do not follow myself—balance is key.
At this time, the hours I spent writing will be more valuable in my current creative projects and for school, when it begins. So I’m not saying good-bye. I’m saying au revoir. I’m saying I’ll be back on here sometimes, when I can and when it’s appropriate, but I won’t be spending as much time talking about writing. For now, my focus really needs to be on doing it.
I hope you won’t think me overly forward if I leave you with these writing lessons I’ve learned in my time as an author, journalist, and freelancer.
Truly, it’s been a pleasure running this blog as long as I have and I do look forward to the day when regular updates are able to be a priority for me. What I hope you’ll take away is that you’re all at the right place in your creative journey for this moment in time—and that I’m so grateful to you for reading my thoughts and hearing my experiences over these years. A few parting lessons for the road.
- Your career is entirely your own. Don’t waste time by comparing it to other people.
- Writing is a business. A creative business, but treat it like a business and you’ll find professional success.
- A good editor is worth her weight in gold. Treat her well and never let her go.
- Reading is as essential to writing as putting words to the page.
- The first draft doesn’t need to be good. It just needs to be done.
And the last one, the one I’m taking to heart now as I begin this exciting new journey—you never know where writing will take you. Be open to new opportunities, embrace your passions, and don’t be afraid to take risks. Give yourself something to write about.
Cheers to the next amazing step in the journey and all the love in art and words.
Your friend,
Gemma