The past year was the best year of my life. Hands down. I made a lot of sacrifices for that year, but it was worth it. To write every day, to have that be my only job, was life changing. Just the fact that I only had one job for starters, I don’t remember the last time I only had one job or wasn’t working endless overtime. Of course, the writing gig was a lot of overtime as well, but it didn’t feel like it.

Part of me was worried that after all the sacrifices and risks to take that year, that’d I end up not loving my dream like I’d imagined for my whole life. I’ve heard other authors talking about how they didn’t like writing full-time and were ultimately glad/relieved/whatever to go back to the work force and write part-time once more. Man, that wasn’t me. It was better than I’d ever dreamed.

I’m working again, not teaching, but still working to the point where my writing time is cut in half, and my writer’s social media/promotion/etc. has been cut about 95%. I’ve been going through a grieving period with not having my writing pay for itself. Of having tasted what I’ve always dreamed about. Honestly, it hurts a bit more now that I’ve had it and can’t hold on to it. However, I’m so grateful for that year, for that taste. It’s increased my determination to make that my reality, and I was pretty determined already, to say the least. To combat that grieving period, I’m making a list of some of things I’m grateful for:

• Dreamspinner Press
• Alastair, my corgi
• The gift of still being able to write part-time
• Another job that will allow me to stay out of the classroom longer
• My boyfriend who tells me to chase dreams
• RuPaul’s Drag Race Dates where the BF and I watch and text long distance
• My Little Pony, yes, I’m serious, it’s my happy place
• My nephew, the only thing in the world I’d give up writing for
• Bubble Baths
• The Gay Romance community, priceless
• Authors who stand beside me and consider me an equal
• Writers who are better than me and cause me to shoot for the stars
• Pasta, Bread, and Cheese (I also hate them as they affect my pant size, but our love affair is long-lasting and powerful stuff, man)
• Long walks at the park with my pup and audio books
• Spell-check
• Yes. Mermaids. Really.
• Hope
• Stubbornness
• Sacrifice

There you have it. There’s more, but those are the things I cling to daily when I feel high-centered on the speed bumps to living the dream every day. What’s your list?

Brandon Witt’s outlook on life is greatly impacted by his first eighteen years of growing up gay in a small town in the Ozarks, as well as fifteen years as a counselor and special education teacher for students with severe emotional disabilities. Add to that his obsession with corgis and mermaids, then factor in an unhealthy love affair with cheeseburgers, and you realize that with all those issues, he’s got plenty to write about….

Website: http://www.brandonwitt.com

Author Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/wittauthor/

Dreamspinner Press: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/AuthorArcade/brandon-witt

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wittauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wittauthor/

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Brandon-Witt/e/B008FV6Y4M/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1454952325&sr=8-1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4896623.Brandon_Witt

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO5cFqYKyNyDCxExAonFPRA