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Rachel Michelle Wilson's avatar

These images are great haha — I loved map to inspiration! But I also hear you on the focusing on writing part. Ever since my debut came out, I’ve felt like I’ve been pulled in all directions. There are so many paths to this career! You can pitch yourself for podcasts, webinars, articles. Make social media posts. Offer events. School visits. Online classes. Critiques. All fun things — but all things that have ultimately taken up the energy I usually use to make stories. It has been a good experience to try things and learn what I do and do not like — my conclusion has been that I love school visits and making books. Now I just need to work on making sure my use of time and energy reflects those priorities…

But seriously, you’ve been so helpful to me as I’ve navigated the steep learning curve of this career. Your reminders of looking internally and learning about yourself and finding your own path have been wonderful. Cheering you on in this next phase!

Julie Falatko's avatar

SO MANY PATHS. Yes. And I've been so inspired by people who create lovely, intuitive, magical online classes, especially ones where I can tell they love doing it, and also where I can tell they get a lot of students. It's very cool.

But also I know that sometimes I follow one of the many possible paths in order to avoid the hard work of writing, and that's something I'm really looking at closely right now.

Rachel Michelle Wilson's avatar

I relate to this so much! And it is super easy for me to do, because I can make myself enthusiastic about pretty much anything 😂 But what I really love—even though it is hard and scary sometimes— is making books. Thanks for the much needed reminder.

E. B. Goodale's avatar

"Susan is an eye-smasher." Priceless.

Julie Falatko's avatar

UGH bad news, now I've been looking at some of the other available eye-smashing patterns, and I really want one. They are, predictably, no longer under $3.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/491807221812771924/

https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/151855818657867558/

Julie Falatko's avatar

Olives and pimento splotches. This is a eye-smashing susan blog now https://ebay.us/m/MLFpv3

Julie Falatko's avatar

Someone buy this blue pepperoni pizza one, it's only $11 https://ebay.us/m/nLb79Q

E. B. Goodale's avatar

Susan keeps smashing my eyes and now I can't see anything accept all the psychedelic lazy susans I want to buy.

Christine Nishiyama's avatar

I’m riding on a similar wavelength over here! 👍

Julie Falatko's avatar

I highly recommend following your gut if you're not feeling like online class making is working for you anymore. It has been so freeing.

Judy Murdoch's avatar

Love the old ad photos. It all looks so quaint now.

I appreciate what you shared about creating and selling an on-demand course. I've had a similar experience. Like you it's been a good education around being mindful about where I put my time and energy.

Courses and other virtual product are great AND it's important people have realistic expectations about how those products will contribute to their business goals.

Stephanie Affinito's avatar

Oh, I want to do that meditation! =)