I am attending the Romance Writer’s of America national conference in Orlando later this week. I’m wondering if it is such a good idea. I’m in one of those moods of “be careful what you wish for.” You know, I love my day job (most of the time) and I have been a writer on the side for stress relief for a long time. Then I decided to start submitting my stories for publication. I’m thinking now that I really am not sure I want to go on with the publishing thing. What if my love of writing gets tedious? In other words, do I really want a publishing contract for full length fiction? Will it then become a JOB? A job I hate? And will the pressure be too much with the day job? And will I be adding stress to my life as opposed to relieving stress? I hope I’m only going through the angst of knowing how much money I’m spending on this trip and being out of the office for three days. AND knowing how tired I’ll be when I get home and have to go back to the day job. Dunno. Just wondering if it’s worth it. Really worth it. Or was I happier when I didn’t have expectations?
I worked on the proof copy yesterday from the editor of the L&L Dreamspell story I have coming out under my real name and it hit me that these edits were very mild and not onerous, but it is only a 21 page story. How much more time consuming would the edits of a full manuscript be? Thus my questions about “be careful what you wish for.”
Here will be my home for the RWA conference – hope it’s fun and productive: 
Jillian Chantal 
Wish I could go to Orlando but the logistics are just not right-but have a great time, learn lots of stuff, and bring it home (please).
You’re already published and will be again. Do what makes you happy with your writing. Don’t let it stress you out, but sometimes the stories just have to get written. RitaVF
By: ritavf on July 25, 2010
at 1:16 pm
Agreed about doing what makes me happy. LOL! I’ll never stop writing but I really don’t want it to start to feel like an obligation, you know? Just saying I don’t want the joy to go out of it.
By: sfcatty on July 25, 2010
at 2:31 pm
I hope you have a fabulous time and make lots of great industry contacts. I don’t think edits are going to be a problem having seen you revise a whole novel in a weekend adding what 10 – 15k words?? Just hang on to your joy.
By: Darlene on July 25, 2010
at 6:29 pm
The hotel looks beautiful… Enjoy the event and take some “me” time.. Get a massage, have a really nice meal and enjoy the comapany you meet… Downtime makes everything feel and look better…
By: Tara Cartledge on July 27, 2010
at 9:18 am
Thanks. I have def. built in some down time. One of the girls going with me has not and I am worried about her.
Hope your writing is going well.
By: sfcatty on July 27, 2010
at 9:47 am