What's next? vs What else?
Over the last twelve months I’ve been preparing for my ‘What next?’ with a focus on my financial security, because writing is not a money maker. I’ve been completing online courses, watching forums and creating job pitches, but when I picture myself in the world where those jobs exist, I just can’t see myself there – it’s my head planning, not my heart. So, I’m not going there. I heard years back, follow your passion and the money will come. I hope they were right, because if I’m like my mum, I’m going to need a source of income for another 30 years.
What’s this all got to do with a ‘What’s next’ vs ‘What else’ list? Well, I came across something on Facebook the other day – a post looking for first- or second-time authors, journalist students etc to write a book of an older persons’ history. You guessed it, I sent off asking for an expression of interest form before I’d finished reading the post!
Now, I get nothing might come of this, but the interesting thing is I was already booked in for another course the following day. This time, when I went through the steps of preparing a pitch, I knew exactly what I wanted to pitch myself as. A writer; a writer who records the stories of our senior generation so that those stories are never lost. There may be few of those jobs around, but it felt right, my head and my heart were aligned.
So, what about my ‘what else’ list. It’s long and it needs to be completed if I’m going to achieve my goal. My goal was never just to write the story of Spencer and Gloria, Jack and Pauline, Carle and Linda, Barry, Colin, Ted and those involved in the Razorback Blockade, my goal was for it to be read far and wide.
So, my ‘What else’ list includes, but is not limited to,
1. Creating an eBook – published today - yay!!
2. Creating an audiobook so truckies can listen while they drive - not even started
3. Get the books into libraries – I need people to approach libraries and ask them to add the book to their catalogue
4. Get the book onto BorrowBox – so people might find it and give it ago
5. Learn how to create a following on Substack (social media for writers, creators and readers) so that I reach a wider audience
6. Create bookmarks, flyers, and advertisements for when we attend truck shows - should have been done months ago - oh well, live and learn
7. Buy a 2027 calendar and plan some truck shows to go to, as that will allow us to spread the story of the Razorback Truck Blockade.
Yep, I’ve still got a long way too go but I’m ready to start blending the ‘what else’ with a little of what’s next. I’m also ready to go a little slower, so the ‘what next’ is something that brings as much joy, as many challenges and as much new learning as writing Empty Roads, Empty Promises: The Forgotten Blockade of Razorback Mountain.
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