A day in the life of an aspiring author
A day in the life of an aspiring author
It’s been one hell of a ride since publishing my book just on a month ago. In that time, I have been lucky enough to get some exposure into the Herald Sun, some international motorbike magazines and even some TV time. People feel inspired to hear my story and it’s that positive reinforcement that motivates me to keep on pushing it out there. But there has been the odd remark like Oh you’re so lucky and bla bla bla. So, I thought I would just quickly write up this quick blog to outline my day today just to share the experience with others….
Sleepless night, tossing a turning with a million things rattling around in my head. Wide awake at 4am out of bed, coffee, cup of soup and heater on.
Spend a few hours writing distribution plan, working on school presentation power point and responding to some pending emails. Jordan- My first Aid kit sponsor has asked for a blog about the trip and a write up for the kit. Isabel from 3AW has asked for more info re a potential interview with Darren James.
My business has been taking a back seat while I have been trying to promote my book, so my bank account is also looking a little worse for wear this last month. Today I decide is the day I need to focus on money generating activities.
630 am out the door, need to get my van to the mechanic for service. I live in Richmond; service is in Lilydale. Have decided to re furbish that and sell my nice dual cab 4x4 to help with cash flow over the coming months. Drop off and start making calls for work.
Check a few jobs in the eastern suburbs and measure all materials etc for those.
11am driving down the freeway falling asleep, pull over for a quick nap in a car park. Ends up being an hour. This has become a common inclusion to each week. I have found it better to sleep, sometimes in a Bunnings car park, than try and push through the day.
Afternoon check more jobs in northern suburbs; Coburg, reservoir, Preston. Running behind on a few jobs’ clients are stressed about leaks on others. All want their jobs done yesterday.
Time in car is not a time for music. 5 call backs today across the board, messages at the Project, Commercial radio and channel 9 all promising feedback, have to keep on persevering with them. It hasn’t been a no yet. And according to my PR course I am also working through with Jules Brook if it’s not a no, you have to keep trying. So, getting used to doors getting shut in my face.
Home 4pm, nearly a dozen jobs to schedule and write up work orders for. A few bills to pay, tired quick nap.
6pm call with Guinness World Records re licensing around the use of their logo. This has been the cause for some stress this past few weeks.
Check emails. reply to 3AW write list of questions for the host with prepared answers. organise raw video footage reel.
Write article for Survival First Aid.
Schedule time and prep for pod cast interview.
Email Dymocks again.
Check orders, thank god, only two today. Fill addresses and prep for post in the morning.
Receive another call from a friend wants to prep for her own interview. Discuss angle.
8.37pm haven’t eaten yet. Better grab something quick.
I’ve been running like this for weeks now. I think I am reaching burn out. But I am also having the time of my life doing it.
In between all of this, there is the positive feedback I get on socials about the influence my book has had on an individual’s life.
There are the shared stories of hardship and feelings of inspiration from total strangers. My book has allowed me to connect with people from all over the country and bring joy and hope into their lives.
And when I am sitting here in front of my computer with my head taking hits and I get a message from an old friend who I haven’t seen in years telling me how proud he is and how he shared my story with his mum, there is my motivation to keep getting this story out there and making a difference.
And to those people who look in and just tell me how lucky I am, well they are completely right. I am so lucky to be able to work so hard and share my passion with the world.
And the harder I work at it, the luckier I seem to get.
Thanks for your support everyone.
Loving this new adventure