2013 was a formative year for me. It’s the year that I decided I wanted to stop acting and focus on writing instead.
Man, that was a tough year.
I ended up making the right decision. Liz asked me the other day what I would have done differently in my acting days, knowing what I know now and being outside of it for a few years.
I struggled to answer the question because it’s so clear to me know how ill of a fit it was for my personality. If I’d found success early on, of course things could have been different. It was never the work that was the ill-fit with acting. It was getting the job that was. The type of self-promoting, branding, practice, and waiting that was required.
I can practice writing. That seems to come naturally to me. But I never was able to practice auditioning. Not like I needed to. And I really think it came down to the waiting. I’ve always been much more of a self-starter. I like working for myself. I like getting things done. Acting doesn’t offer you that. At least not as readily.
So, in the fall of 2013, I finally decided to step away. I asked my manager to stop sending me out for auditions. I started going to WGA Foundation events nearby. And I finally figured out how to work from home.
The fall of that year was 🔥. I felt like I’d finally figured something out. And I had.
I’m looking forward to that cycle coming back around. Another step forward is coming. Another breakthrough.
Despite all of the challenges I’ve faced over the past couple years with writing…it still feels like the right choice. It feels like it’s gotten hard…but it feels like the right choice.
Escape From Red Tower will get finished.
I will write more books.
I will sell more books.
I will get through this. I know this. I truly know this.
I’m working on how.