Stacy Xavier's Blog, page 3
April 23, 2013
Not another failed writer blog
Photography by Ivan Prole, www.proledesign.comI've been on a sabbatical. And, honestly, I think I did it wrong.See, a sabbatical, to me, means taking time off from what you usually do in order to do something that you would much rather be doing. Instead, I had to stop doing what I really wanted to do in order to focus on the things that I really, really didn't want to do, not one little bit, not at all.
Such is the life of a lawyer. So I thought.
In March, after one of the longest years of my life, I quit my steady paycheck job (I won't call it well-paying, especially given the ratio of my salary versus hours worked, although I did manage to make ends meet for a little while), and set off into the great wide world of being a solo practitioner.
I couldn't be happier with this decision.
It's only been a month, but my quality of life has improved dramatically. My clients love me more, I love them more, and I love what I do about 1000% more (yes that extra zero is intentional). I'm connecting with people and looking them in the eye, as opposed to meeting them with a glassy-eyed, barely-there stare. I'm awake.
And, an unexpected benefit, I get to write more; in fact, some of my freelance clients came back to me, and I have a nice steady side income doing even MORE of what I love.
Does anyone have it better than I do, really?
The aftershocks of my prior life are still resonating. When I get done with work at 6pm instead of 8pm, I feel a colossal pang of guilt. Sometimes, if things are slow, I feel crippling anxiety and uselessness, even though the initial numbers are comforting. It's weird the psychological loops we get caught up in, isn't it? I may not have as many hours of work. But they are meaningful hours. And that's important.
I'm still adjusting to this idea that work can consist of things I like to do, instead of things I have to suffer through. I'm glad that I'm coming to this realization now, instead of later, before I suffered some permanent damage.
And now, if I really want to, in addition to being the lawyer I always dreamed of being, maybe I can also be the writer I always dreamed of being.
January 30, 2013
Just a reminder: On Her Own Two Wheels free this week for Kindle!
Hello Friends!
Just wanted to remind you that my debut novel, On Her Own Two Wheels, is free on Kindle from Amazon this week only! You can get your copy here:
http://www.amazon.com/Her-Own-Two-Whe...
I hope you'll check it out and let me know what you think!
Love,
Stacy
Just wanted to remind you that my debut novel, On Her Own Two Wheels, is free on Kindle from Amazon this week only! You can get your copy here:
http://www.amazon.com/Her-Own-Two-Whe...
I hope you'll check it out and let me know what you think!
Love,
Stacy
January 24, 2013
It's been a while/Yes, I'm young, get over it
Hi Friends.
So, I haven't blogged in a while. Between being disappointed with my outcome for NaNoWriMo, the holidays, and various other factors, I've been excusing myself from blogging for a while. Well, today (and yesterday), I am home due to illness. I figured what better way to break up the marathon of Big Bang Theory episodes than to write a little bit.
Something that happened to me in the intervening time between blog posts: I turned 30 earlier this month. And it seems like ever since I turned thirty, people I don't really know are going out of their way to tell me how young I am. I expect it from my family members and similarly situated friends - blah blah, thirty is nothing, blah blah - but as an attorney, it's a little off-putting to have people tell me how young I am all the time.
I'm not sure if it's hubris or just general annoyance, but it gets frustrating when I walk into a consultation and the first thing out of my potential client's mouth is "Wow, you're young." Well, yes, I'm younger... than you are. That's the case probably 75% of the time, if not more, especially with my estate planning clients. But what gives people the urge to just blurt it out?
There's a lot of assumption in that statement. "Wow, you're young." It's true: I don't have too many wrinkles and I somehow have yet to find my first gray hair. I haven't been bestowed with the wisdom that having children gives you yet, and I know becoming a parent is something that really causes someone to change and learn a lot. But, by the age of 30, I'd like to think I've lived a little.
I've survived the first three years of marriage (as has my husband). I've had a few rotten jobs and been concerned about making ends meet. I've written and self-published a book. I've had my "top of the world" times and a few times of ill health. I've survived 19 years of schooling, the bar exam, and periodic unemployment. But especially in the last year, I've lived out the responsibility of having to fix other people's problems for them - and they've been some pretty big problems.
Yes. I'm young. But there's no need to try to put me in my place by pointing it out. Because most of the time, people are coming to me for help. And those 19 years of schooling, plus my own experiences, have given me some pretty powerful tools to work with.
Overall, though, I'm pretty blessed; most of the people who tell me how young I am at first end up retaining me anyways, so I must project some kind of air of competence. Short of costume makeup and spray-on gray hair, I don't think the comments are going to stop anytime soon. (Just once, I'd kind of like to retort with... "Wow, you're old," but I don't think that'd go over too well.) How do you deal with it when people initially try to write you off with comments about your age?
So, I haven't blogged in a while. Between being disappointed with my outcome for NaNoWriMo, the holidays, and various other factors, I've been excusing myself from blogging for a while. Well, today (and yesterday), I am home due to illness. I figured what better way to break up the marathon of Big Bang Theory episodes than to write a little bit.
Something that happened to me in the intervening time between blog posts: I turned 30 earlier this month. And it seems like ever since I turned thirty, people I don't really know are going out of their way to tell me how young I am. I expect it from my family members and similarly situated friends - blah blah, thirty is nothing, blah blah - but as an attorney, it's a little off-putting to have people tell me how young I am all the time.
I'm not sure if it's hubris or just general annoyance, but it gets frustrating when I walk into a consultation and the first thing out of my potential client's mouth is "Wow, you're young." Well, yes, I'm younger... than you are. That's the case probably 75% of the time, if not more, especially with my estate planning clients. But what gives people the urge to just blurt it out?
There's a lot of assumption in that statement. "Wow, you're young." It's true: I don't have too many wrinkles and I somehow have yet to find my first gray hair. I haven't been bestowed with the wisdom that having children gives you yet, and I know becoming a parent is something that really causes someone to change and learn a lot. But, by the age of 30, I'd like to think I've lived a little.
I've survived the first three years of marriage (as has my husband). I've had a few rotten jobs and been concerned about making ends meet. I've written and self-published a book. I've had my "top of the world" times and a few times of ill health. I've survived 19 years of schooling, the bar exam, and periodic unemployment. But especially in the last year, I've lived out the responsibility of having to fix other people's problems for them - and they've been some pretty big problems.
Yes. I'm young. But there's no need to try to put me in my place by pointing it out. Because most of the time, people are coming to me for help. And those 19 years of schooling, plus my own experiences, have given me some pretty powerful tools to work with.
Overall, though, I'm pretty blessed; most of the people who tell me how young I am at first end up retaining me anyways, so I must project some kind of air of competence. Short of costume makeup and spray-on gray hair, I don't think the comments are going to stop anytime soon. (Just once, I'd kind of like to retort with... "Wow, you're old," but I don't think that'd go over too well.) How do you deal with it when people initially try to write you off with comments about your age?
November 10, 2012
A Pledge
I love writing.
I also love National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).
Correspondingly, I love the non-profit that hosts NaNoWriMo, The Office of Letters and Light. Please read more about the fabulous programs they provide for young writers, teachers, and grown-up writers here, here, and here.
As such, I'm making a pledge for the month of November:
1) All royalties from sales of my book, On Her Own Two Wheels, in the month of November, shall go to the programs hosted by The Office of Letters and Light. You can purchase my book either from CreateSpace at this link or from Amazon at this link.
2) I have 25 promotional copies of my book that I special-ordered for NaNoWriMo. If you make a $10 donation, I will give/send you a copy of my book as a donor gift. I can collect the donation and send it for you, or you can show me your donor receipt via email if you donate directly at this link. First 25 donors only. U.S. shipping, 48 contiguous states only. You can send me your donor receipt via email at stacyxavier7 at gmail dot com.
3) If you don't want my book, fine! I see how it is. :-) But you can still feel really good about yourself and do something nice for the holidays by either donating directly at the link above or through the secure StayClassy Page at this link.
However you do it, please consider donating to this wonderful organization so they can continue offering their programming to thousands of children, and even a few of us adults, around the world.
I also love National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).
Correspondingly, I love the non-profit that hosts NaNoWriMo, The Office of Letters and Light. Please read more about the fabulous programs they provide for young writers, teachers, and grown-up writers here, here, and here.
As such, I'm making a pledge for the month of November:
1) All royalties from sales of my book, On Her Own Two Wheels, in the month of November, shall go to the programs hosted by The Office of Letters and Light. You can purchase my book either from CreateSpace at this link or from Amazon at this link.
2) I have 25 promotional copies of my book that I special-ordered for NaNoWriMo. If you make a $10 donation, I will give/send you a copy of my book as a donor gift. I can collect the donation and send it for you, or you can show me your donor receipt via email if you donate directly at this link. First 25 donors only. U.S. shipping, 48 contiguous states only. You can send me your donor receipt via email at stacyxavier7 at gmail dot com.
3) If you don't want my book, fine! I see how it is. :-) But you can still feel really good about yourself and do something nice for the holidays by either donating directly at the link above or through the secure StayClassy Page at this link.
However you do it, please consider donating to this wonderful organization so they can continue offering their programming to thousands of children, and even a few of us adults, around the world.
November 5, 2012
Oh Yeah! I Published a Book!
I'm doing this all kinds of backwards. I mean, really, I didn't have months of anticipatory build-up before my release date. I mainly just told people I know - "Hey! I'm releasing a book in a few weeks!" (that was back in August; it's now November; gosh am I glad I didn't post an official release date way back then). And last night, after going over my most recent proof, I was half-delerious from exhaustion, half-giddy from FINALLY being ready to pull the trigger, that I hit "Publish My Book" on CreateSpace... and then collapsed into bed.
I'm certain I'll do this right next time around. I will do a blog tour and host other writers on my blog that I manage to network with so I can be a good member of my community. I'll set an official "Release Date." I'll hire a real editor. I'll do some other awesome promotional stuff.
But this time around - I learned the Process. And it was really good. I feel about 75% smarter than I was in January and the bulk of that I learned since July. I have a realistic idea of time frames; I have a realistic idea of how much time I have to designate to this project myself. I see what it takes; and I can't wait to take it on again. Bigger, better, and unplugged. (or something)
That said - I'm still insanely excited about this book. I'm excited that I've dipped my toe in the water; I'm excited to learn what I can do better next time - writing-wise, cover-design wise, everything-wise. But I'm also just excited that this fun little story has a place to go other than on my hard drive. I hope it is good for a smile, a relaxing little foray into another person's world for a few hours, and maybe even a little bit of inspiration.
Purchase Now on CreateSpace
I'm certain I'll do this right next time around. I will do a blog tour and host other writers on my blog that I manage to network with so I can be a good member of my community. I'll set an official "Release Date." I'll hire a real editor. I'll do some other awesome promotional stuff.
But this time around - I learned the Process. And it was really good. I feel about 75% smarter than I was in January and the bulk of that I learned since July. I have a realistic idea of time frames; I have a realistic idea of how much time I have to designate to this project myself. I see what it takes; and I can't wait to take it on again. Bigger, better, and unplugged. (or something)
That said - I'm still insanely excited about this book. I'm excited that I've dipped my toe in the water; I'm excited to learn what I can do better next time - writing-wise, cover-design wise, everything-wise. But I'm also just excited that this fun little story has a place to go other than on my hard drive. I hope it is good for a smile, a relaxing little foray into another person's world for a few hours, and maybe even a little bit of inspiration.
Purchase Now on CreateSpaceOctober 16, 2012
What it's like to get a physical copy of your book
Today marks another milestone: I received my physical review copy of my novel via CreateSpace.
It was a rough day today overall for reasons I can't really get into. Suffice to say I got home from work a little before 8pm, and I think that will be the norm for the rest of this month.
Husband lectures on Tuesday and Wednesday nights for his online courses, so getting home this late was a bit of a problem - we live in a small condo and he lectures in the dining room, so I have to tread softly around the kitchen to get dinner for myself before hiding in the study or the bedroom. But he held off on starting his lecture right on time today to show me what was waiting for me at the bottom of a tall stack of junk mail: a slim package from CreateSpace.
I used my fingernails to break through the tape holding the cardboard pieces together, and there it was. My book, in print. With my name on it and everything.
Wow.
[image error]
So I know what I'll be doing with the 15 minutes per day I'll have after work and before bed for the rest of this week: picking over this review copy with a fine tooth comb. It's my last shot to make it as perfect as I can get it. I already know a few things thanks to my dad's keen eye taking a last-minute look over everything.
Then, finally, it will be go-time.
It's so close I can almost feel it!
It was a rough day today overall for reasons I can't really get into. Suffice to say I got home from work a little before 8pm, and I think that will be the norm for the rest of this month.
Husband lectures on Tuesday and Wednesday nights for his online courses, so getting home this late was a bit of a problem - we live in a small condo and he lectures in the dining room, so I have to tread softly around the kitchen to get dinner for myself before hiding in the study or the bedroom. But he held off on starting his lecture right on time today to show me what was waiting for me at the bottom of a tall stack of junk mail: a slim package from CreateSpace.
I used my fingernails to break through the tape holding the cardboard pieces together, and there it was. My book, in print. With my name on it and everything.
Wow.
[image error]
So I know what I'll be doing with the 15 minutes per day I'll have after work and before bed for the rest of this week: picking over this review copy with a fine tooth comb. It's my last shot to make it as perfect as I can get it. I already know a few things thanks to my dad's keen eye taking a last-minute look over everything.
Then, finally, it will be go-time.
It's so close I can almost feel it!
