Slow Progress is...Progress. (But Slow.)

I am, once again, waiting.

But in the meantime this time, I have lots to do that actually brings me closer to my goal, instead of lots to do that hopefully leads to goal-fulfillment. For all my interest in the articles I'd been seeking out over the late summer and early fall, my excitement now is for something more tangible, something palpable that is only a matter of time and work away. And the work itself is more straightforward than trying to write a hooky query. These days, it's filling out business forms, and researching markets, and learning all about SEO -- but also writing, of course. There's not so much "luck" involved with this work, but still a whole lot of God in determining how I'll succeed.

I get completely giddy some days because I can't believe the adventurous turn my otherwise monotonous (albeit pleasant) life has taken. My mother likened my new attitude to my delight that summer afternoon when I had a Kool-Aid stand in Pennsylvania. When I was eight.

That's not to say that my mother thinks I'll only make Kool-Aid stand money from my new venture. But it'll be a while before I start making more than Kool-Aid stand money. Once it happens, D. thinks things should go quite well for me, and I hope he's right -- because this job I've created for myself blends so many things I've always been interested in as well as introducing me to brand new fields. It's a much steadier, more reliable plan than freelancing, and it's something he and I can work on together.

Earning money with it will make it much more enjoyable than it already is, though. Here I am, nearly a week past my 23rd birthday, still complaining to A. that I have to dip into my savings account for a Starbucks run. That's how it will have to be for a while longer, as I'm throwing my energy, time, and creativity into a project more interesting than I could have imagined -- a project with a bigger potential payoff than any strictly-writing career turn could ever bring me, short of a bestselling novel or a blockbuster screenplay.

For a while longer, I can afford savings withdrawals for Pumpkin Spice Creams and Peppermint Hot Chocolates. But if the money doesn't start within a few months, I'll have to go back to Kool-Aid.