Issue 8: Lots of Happy Writing News
Hi everyone and welcome back. Let's dive right in to all my big news that's happening!!
I Got a Part-Time Writing Job!
I am really excited to share with all of you that I got a part-time freelance writing job recently at How-to Geek. I started this week and sent my first article pitches to my editor. I will be writing primarily in the Cutting Edge category, about emerging technology. It's an encouraging first step in the direction of continuing to write as my job full-time.
I am still convinced that if I can secure one to three different part-time writing gigs, I can make a living by combining those gigs along with selling my comics, artwork, and poetry books. And of course, continuing to work on my novel manuscripts so I can start submitting them to agents. I think this is the best way to combine what I want to do, which is to write full-time, with what I enjoy doing, which is creating stories and characters to share with my readers. So, I am very encouraged by this new gig!
I am Becoming a Printer
I got accepted to Pickwick Independent Press, a local printing press and print shop here in Portland, Maine. I want to print another poetry book, and more comics, and possibly art prints and poem prints as well, but I do not want to use online services. There are a lot of reasons for this, but primarily it's that printing is in my blood and secondly it's that investing in a local print shop and community is more important to me than giving big online retailers my ISBN and my materials and my money.
To fund my creative printing journey and make my printed materials available as pre-orders, I am launching a BackerKit campaign next week. If I can fund this, I will be able to work in the printing studio for 10 hours per week, for 6 months, and print my work. The total for this endeavor is $1325, which feels doable if you, my wonderful friends and readers, can share the campaign with your followers and the people you know. If you can give anything when the campaign launches next Tuesday, January 30, that is even more fantastic.
I look forward to launching the campaign, which has more information about my genetic history with printing, the tool I will be using to print my work on, and some of the poems that I will be printing and sending to my backers.
You can start by signing up for the emails for the campaign, which would be really awesome!!
Here is a sneak preview of the pledge tiers that I am going to make available:
$5: A random misprint made during Coco's learning phase
$10: A signed print of one of Coco's illustrations
$15: A signed print of one of Coco's poems
$25: A signed copy of Coco's new book of poetry, and Coco's original art stickers
$45: Your name in Coco's poetry book, Coco's original art stickers, and a signed copy of Coco's new book of poetry
PS: Since the campaign doesn't launch for one more week, YOU have the power to give feedback! Please let me know if there is some kind of pledge or tier you want to see!
I am Going Full-Time Freelance
I hinted at this a little bit earlier, but my current career goal is to stick to the freelance writing and selling my art and working towards being a novelist. I have a lot of energy to dedicate to my career and a lot of ideas for art, comics, poetry, short stories, and novels. I am going to do my best to put everything I have into this as a career and use my opportunity at the printing press and my opportunity at How-to Geek to the fullest.
I will get more writing gigs and more bylines. I will sell my novels. I will learn how to print my own works locally, sustainably, and distribute them to my wonderful readers in the hopes that they delight and touch hearts.
I thank you for being here and for reading these words and this email. It means a lot to me to have you here and to have you to write to. It is a new year and I want to take every opportunity to be grateful for your support. Please send me a reply any time. I send you all a lot of love.
My world
This month I turned 35. I was given the gift of time with my family (thanks Dad!) and got to visit Nebraska for a week. I spent time playing lots of board games, laughing and crying with family I miss dearly, and cuddling a baby goat. When you come from a traumatic home experience, returning to family relationships can involve hurt or healing. I am thankful that even though in a lot of ways both grief and joy are present in my family relationships, joy always wins in the end. I am always glad to see those people and engage in those relationships.
So much love,
Coco