My situation is much more like a controlled burning of last year's dead grass in spring,, because as with Marguerite above, AI has stolen my day job. I still get dribs and drabs, which I'm clinging onto. A sensible, grown-up me ought to be applying for jobs, but I find I can't physically do it. Instead I'm spurting words and submitting stories at a furious space. I'm 52, I've only got so much time left to tell my stories. The translation that comes in I can do in my sleep, and I'm enjoying building up my space on here. The rest of my time is for me to write. For as long as I can get away with it. Once the smouldering translation career completely extinguishes, I shall see where I am. 🤞🤓
Keep going, keep furiously submitting stories! Once of my favourite things about your posts is the summary of all the places you’ve been subbing to. I love those communiqués from a writing life and I’m always really impressed at both your work ethic and your attitude in the face of both good or not so good news. Sorry, just realised that it doesn’t help you with AI stealing your job! Just wanted to let you know you have love and support here! And via the small tip coins I just tinkled into the jar!
Holy moly, this resonates with me 100%: "A sensible, grown-up me ought to be applying for jobs, but I find I can't physically do it. Instead I'm spurting words and submitting stories at a furious space. I'm 52, I've only got so much time left to tell my stories."
(Except I'm 48)
But this is exactly where I'm at. Unemployed, barely making ends meet (donating plasma and doing one or two private lessons a week), trying to write as much as I can and turn this writing lark into a viable 'career.' There are ample opportunities to do more teaching online, but I'm sat at my computer writing so much as it is that I can barely fathom spending yet more time online, and yet...maybe I need to. It's tough, you know?
Thank you Daniel. I think maybe we both, and perhaps many more, have the sense that at this point we’ve done our bit, and when will we get to the chance to do what we love and feel we were meant to do if not right now. How much useful writing life do I have left. Maybe twenty years if I'm lucky. I want to make them count. So I'll keep at it for as long as I can get away with it. Wishing you much luck and success with your writin 🤓✍️
I am thrilled that you have the arsonist gene. Takes one to know one. You will do great because you already have. From a personal point of view, you have been a wonderful and thoughtful editor of my two novellas (so far), and I am pleased to partner with you in this capacity for my writing projects. From a business perspective, and by this I mean Modern Odyssey Books, I am also thrilled to have you working alongside to support and build this indie publishing company. Anyone interested in an editor should have a chat with you. I can’t recommend you enough. And, thanks for being a good friend. My life is richer with you in it.
Ohhh Maria! You’ve probably already learned that I’m a bit of a big softy and this made my heart swell so large ❤️Thank you for all your support, both personally and professionally I feel incredibly lucky and honoured to be working with you and your amazing, wonderful press which I know is just going to go from strength to strength ❤️
A comment section full of fellow arsonists. As you well know, I am one too. I like to think of it as a shedding of a skin that no longer fits. I am so glad to have you in my corner through all my writing (& general life!!) twists and turns and so lucky to call you a friend. I know you will rise on the heat from those flames you’ve lit under you and beautiful views are ahead. 😘🥰🩷🩵
Ohhh, such poetry 😊 This is a beautiful way of describing it. Both the shedding a skin that no longer fits and the rising on the heat from the flames. Thank you my dearest BFF!❤️ I've loved hearing people's stories. I suspected there were plenty of fellow arsonists out there, but had no idea how many ,and also how much good energy comes from these big changes, it's like a collective energy shift, loving it, it's really made my day!
Another arsonist over here! Well, in my case it was literal, although not accurate, it wasn't me, but my neighbors, and it wasn't their fault, but the building conditions. When I was living in Berlin I began to question if I wanted to stay or leave or what. I started to go to a psychoanalyst to make up my mind... And then one day in December of 2019, I see smoke coming into my apartment, I open the door and find the nice couple neighbors next to me completely intoxicated from smoke, their house was in flames. I started to yell at them your kids your kids!!! Three children sleeping at the end of the flat. They finally reacted and took the kids out, we evacuated the building but firemen took 20 min to arrive. By that time, their flat had burn down to the core. And all flats down theirs got watered down from firemen pouring a whole swimming pool on a fourth floor, all moldy in two days. Nobody died except for a cat who got in absolute shock. And my flat, well, it didn't grab the flame but the door got open with the heat and got black and smoked and completely unlivable. Had no house in half an hour. So we rented several air bnbs until Christmas was over, we moved seven times in two months! and two months later was the pandemic 😮😮 that was the moment when we decided to come back to Spain, of course. The fire source was a new clothes drier that got flamed in a super shitty building with very old electricity system, a ticking bomb. The good part was, the prior summer, I had gone to the bank and contracted an insurance cause I saw many fires in my hood. Best insurance in history, from 1 euro I gave, they gave me 50 back. With that money we were able to come back. Fewwwww what a story eeeeh?!?! Hahahaha you never know when the cosmos is gonna tell you what to do. Two weeks before the fire I was telling the psychoanalyst "but what should I do with all my furniture?!?" Well, dump it, cause it's all damaged! Easy to solve then, hahahahaha. To come back was a very good decision though, and I have the anecdote to tell 🌝
I am literally in shock. My hands don't even know how to type anymore! You absolutely win the life arsonist contest 🤣 Even though it wasn't anything you did, or would ever have chosen. But, wow, check life out, doing its thing, bringing you answers and just what you needed albeit in a very dramatic way, but getting you to where you needed to be all the same. What a story, joder tía!
I'm happy about the insurance too! I have never ever heard a "happy" insurance story, so you have shocked and surprised me twice!!!
Thank you so much for sharing this, though it is shocking, it's kind of wonderful and beautiful too.
Hahahaha I knew you were gonna love the story! It was very shocking indeed and made me realized how lucky I am for many things... And I know it's very cliché but the prior weeks I felt as if something was gonna happen, I swear... Maybe it's my perception of it a posteriori, that tricked my memories, I don't know. It was very scary and got a bit traumatized with fire, candles, cables and plugged things, but in the long run, it could have been a real drama, so we were lucky that it turned out to be a good thing. As for my paintings, a couple of them got a bit greyish from the smoke, but since I settle a canvas, paint on it and then dismantle it to reuse the woods, all my paintings were rolled on the floor, and the smoke goes up and through... So I lost all furniture and many objects, but only a couple paintings got a bit damaged, and nothing very serious really. I learnt that metal and glass doesn't get damaged, plastic and wood you can throw it out immediately. And textiles, if you can put in in a laundry machine a couple of times, you can eventually remove the smell. Of course, the mattress you can't 😂😂😂 and then I still have some objects that look a bit dusty and it's because of the fire, they lost the smell but never the color, for example all the top spines of my books are grey😂 I definitely win the involuntary life arsonist title!! Hahaha 🥰😘😘
I mean, unless someone claims they engaged in a spot of murder or something, you win title hands down! 🤣 I'm glad your paintings were mainly okay, though sorry you lost so much other stuff. It must be a little strange having those reminders around, like the tops of yoru books and the dusty items. It's a bit like a momento mori, perhaps?! I'm fascinated by the way that you almost "knew" too... I've definitely had that feeling/experience before and it makes you wonder doesn't it... getting piel de gallina!!
A fellow master arsonist here! Or better said, I used to be it. Anything that smelled like the same old game, the same old pattern, the same old story, I let it go. Read: pretty much everything. In spite of the inner urge I wasn't necessarily happy or even willing to do it. So, it felt like an act of arson 😄 But, it was definitely worth it and I only wish I would have taken it less seriously. Every single move and flame made my life more worth living.
I had a feeling you would connect to this, Elina! Whilst I’ve been in this transitional period, getting to know you, and reading about your work and life here on Substack, have really helped me focus on what’s important and kept me on track with good, flourishing energy. Lines like: 'Every single move and flame made my life more worth living.’ Stunning and motivating. I’m so grateful for your words.
Ps. I have this image of us both holding a lighter with a mad look in our eyes 🤣
Love this Jayne, hello from a fellow career/life arsonist! Or portfolio career or patchwork career as it's more politely called :) We only live once and if you have the privilege of education and skill of adaptability, why not use it to try new things? I've been a waitress, English language teacher, Marketing Manager, Theatre Producer, Copywriter, Facilitator and now Coach and Writer. Everything feeds into each other, nothing is lost but lots of things are gained - quality of life and human experience being the main ones! Good for you, and wishing you mucha mierda :)
Thank you, Carys! I was actually pretty nervous about sending this post, but it's been so wonderful to meet so many career/life arsonists (let's forget being polite!). I love this: “Everything feeds into each other, nothing is lost but lots of things are gained - quality of life and human experience being the main ones!" I'm very happy to hear that your fire setting has brought you those things, and brought you here to this beautiful country as well 🥰
I know we only just met…but you really don’t strike me as someone who lives the same life and “nothing’s changed”… if that were the case you’d never have left the UK. The comfortable and familiar life. Look at you and all your experience. You are inspiring and brave! And you bring people together because you’ve started something. In a new city!
Gracias por su everything!
Things will come into place!! Excited about new things coming your way!!!
Thank lovely lovely, Anni! I'm glad you don't see me that way hehe. I'm excited for you too, now you are fully here - and the sun has come out! I'm looking forward to some adventures together ❤️
We are vibing Jayne! I am also in a burn down the house build a new one moment in life. I'm on leave from the educational publishing world, working in a novella, a novel and a relaunch of my substack account (coming on Sunday), and I quit my old therapy and started a new, spiritually-focus one with lots of meditation and conscious dance. Hope to see you soon for a catch up. Xxx
Congratulations! This is a very big step, another one. It seems like all the changes you've made have required a lot of guts and faith in yourself and the future. It's not easy to quit a job, sell a flat, move to another country, and quit another job, especially since you already survived a massive cut in your stable job. Your career path and publications are impressive! I'm glad to know a becoming- even-famous-writer-and-editor and even happier to hang out with that part of you plus the kind, thoughtful, and adventurous person you are.
Thank you a million, Andrea querida! All those changes you list are not easy, no - you know as well as I do! I’m always available for the pizza, wine and chatting side of life, but hopefully you already knew that hehe. I feel very happy and grateful to have met you and I hope you won’t forget me once your book is finished and out and you are touring the world doing talks! ❤️
I have always changed jobs because they bored me or demanded too much of my person . The latter being nursing .
The job I loved was teaching in Greece , but employment was so precarious over there .
When I discovered holistic therapies I was delighted . It helped my health challenges but I had no money and a child . By the time I had a spare room the pandemic hit and I had discovered my 2018 writing experiment had potential .
I don’t have to earn money anymore so I am a well occupied woman . My writing life has embroiled me in learning and camaraderie. I love it and think because I tried different careers it has given me lots of stories .
I never grew rich and the best I was at work was a manager within a premium skin company . Being in the beauty industry was fun , but the best thing was the people I met .
I wish you all the best Jayne , you are doing well and the man who presumed you were stactic didn’t get you . It is cool to underplay it frees you up to do other things . Good luck with your publication .
Thank you Chrissie! For wishing me well and sharing your experiences. I love that you are ‘a well-occupied woman’! Busy, but not emptily so… I remember a post you write recently about changes in your professional life and your decision to leave work and it really inspired me to know that other people feel similarly to me and have acted on it and things have flourished! I’m so glad we (and all our little community) found each other through LWS and here on Substack, too.
How wonderful to read about your working life summarised in this way just days before we meet! I feel so lucky to be able to see you in this new chapter. I love how you so succinctly summarised the past, present and future. And I very much relate to the itchiness to change places and activities in a cadence that feels out of the norm. We will have so much to discuss! Best wishes on your new venture!
Thank you, Sabrina, for these lovely words 🥰 Can’t wait to discuss all these things, and the itchiness, face-to-face in a few days time… And I love your phrase ‘a cadence that feels out of the norm’. That is beautiful and summarises the restless feeling perfectly!
Hey Jayne, enjoyed learning about your past movements! How did you land a job with a publisher in Madrid? I'd love to hear more about that, if there's maybe a post I can read? That's super cool.
I worked as a magazine editor in Bangkok for a while before moving to Koh Phangan, where I've been for the last 14 years. I got the 7 year itch 7 years ago but haven't been able to leave until now — we're moving to Valencia in 2 months!!
Thank you, Kaila! I'm so glad you liked the post! And I love that you are acting on your 7-year itch now, 7 years after - when it descends it doesn't leave until you scratch it, in my experience. And Valencia is a great choice of place to move to - not that you need me to tell you that!
I haven't actually written about my path to editing and working at a publisher - I did write one about when the company sacked 20% of staff last year, but not exactly related! I will think about writing one, that's a good idea. But if you had any questions, if you want to get back into that world, I'd also be more than happy to chat to you about it.
I'm so happy for you, Jayne. Keep burning it all up. Honestly going to Spain for a full academic year as a college student was an arson-like move for me, as I'd never even been on an airplane before and knew next to nothing about the world. Oh, and I had no money. I think of boarding that plane as a little stupid but much more brilliant. I can't imagine my life without Espa~a in it. Besos to you! Y mucha suerte.
Here's to “a little stupid but much more brilliant.” What a fantastic description of the arsonist in us! Thank you for your support and words and besos 😊😊😊😊❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
There are already so many great comments here, you have some wonderful and loyal readers who offer up such lovely thoughts. It's always so fascinating to hear little tidbits of your background, and well done on all this arson you've been committing ☺️
Like Marina in another comment, I too am a literal arsonist - kind of/allegedly. In chemistry class, I got into trouble all the time for burning stuff with the bunsen burner - pens, paper, textbook covers. The teacher was always telling me off!
Rewind a few years, in 4th grade, and the entire 4th and 5th grade wing (4 classrooms) burned down, to a crisp. Everything gone, including the class guinea pigs, which was devastating. It was winter as well, and for some reason a few of us had left our coats inside and were playing in the cold and snow. Those were burned too! For the next few months, we had classes in temporary trailers.
I was the one who discovered the fire and shouted for everyone to get out. So naturally, people suspected I had a hand in it, and even the police hauled me in for questioning, but I promise you, it wasn't me! Turns out that it was an electrical thing, overloaded sockets or something in a cramped closet.
Anyway, back to metaphorical arson - yeah, I suppose things have blown up on me in the past few years, but that was kind of out of my control so now here I am, fumbling along, trying to make writing a viable career, seeing where things take me.
Thank you for adding your story! I wasn't expecting so many stories of literal fires 😅😅 Can't believe you got questioned by the fuzz! You were only a babber. But I guess you did have a rep already by the sound of it.
On the more metaphorical fires, you have had some very fiery years… I read what you said to Lisa and it really made me realise how support really can get us through a lot, emotionally at least, if not by putting food on the table, and this community we have here is really special. Reading everyone's stories really made reminded me, too, how there is a crossover between a creative life and a less conventional life. En fin, I resisted buying your first book cus my TBR pile is terrifying, but supporting one another is more important than that. Can't wait to read you, keep going, keep writing, you have a lot of unique knowledge and experience to impart and contribute. And you like a fart joke, perfect recipe for success!
Aww, Jayne, thank you, you're way too kind, I hope you enjoy the book, and I know that sprawling TBR pile dilemma oh-too-well. But no matter, because as soon as your book is out, you'd better believe I'm getting it!
I do enjoy supporting other Substackers and so far, all their books have been terrific. I also just got a message the other day from a former student, her husband wrote a book and she asked me to read it, and I felt compelled to since she wrote a lovely review for my 2nd book, at first I was like 'uggh, i don't have time' but I'm halfway through, it's a quick read and it's really intriguing. There are so many great writers out there.
Fart jokes? Me? Wherever did you get that idea from? 😂
Everything you say is right and it's fabulous, warm and generous how you support other writers 😊 I'll leave at that for now as Spain is currently under a big blackout so I should really save my phone battery, but it's nice to have my phone back at least!
My situation is much more like a controlled burning of last year's dead grass in spring,, because as with Marguerite above, AI has stolen my day job. I still get dribs and drabs, which I'm clinging onto. A sensible, grown-up me ought to be applying for jobs, but I find I can't physically do it. Instead I'm spurting words and submitting stories at a furious space. I'm 52, I've only got so much time left to tell my stories. The translation that comes in I can do in my sleep, and I'm enjoying building up my space on here. The rest of my time is for me to write. For as long as I can get away with it. Once the smouldering translation career completely extinguishes, I shall see where I am. 🤞🤓
Keep going, keep furiously submitting stories! Once of my favourite things about your posts is the summary of all the places you’ve been subbing to. I love those communiqués from a writing life and I’m always really impressed at both your work ethic and your attitude in the face of both good or not so good news. Sorry, just realised that it doesn’t help you with AI stealing your job! Just wanted to let you know you have love and support here! And via the small tip coins I just tinkled into the jar!
Aw, thank you so much for your kind words and your support, Jayne. Having good people by my side makes all the difference ♥️
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Holy moly, this resonates with me 100%: "A sensible, grown-up me ought to be applying for jobs, but I find I can't physically do it. Instead I'm spurting words and submitting stories at a furious space. I'm 52, I've only got so much time left to tell my stories."
(Except I'm 48)
But this is exactly where I'm at. Unemployed, barely making ends meet (donating plasma and doing one or two private lessons a week), trying to write as much as I can and turn this writing lark into a viable 'career.' There are ample opportunities to do more teaching online, but I'm sat at my computer writing so much as it is that I can barely fathom spending yet more time online, and yet...maybe I need to. It's tough, you know?
Thank you Daniel. I think maybe we both, and perhaps many more, have the sense that at this point we’ve done our bit, and when will we get to the chance to do what we love and feel we were meant to do if not right now. How much useful writing life do I have left. Maybe twenty years if I'm lucky. I want to make them count. So I'll keep at it for as long as I can get away with it. Wishing you much luck and success with your writin 🤓✍️
Marguerite captured my thoughts— Go Jayne Go!
I am thrilled that you have the arsonist gene. Takes one to know one. You will do great because you already have. From a personal point of view, you have been a wonderful and thoughtful editor of my two novellas (so far), and I am pleased to partner with you in this capacity for my writing projects. From a business perspective, and by this I mean Modern Odyssey Books, I am also thrilled to have you working alongside to support and build this indie publishing company. Anyone interested in an editor should have a chat with you. I can’t recommend you enough. And, thanks for being a good friend. My life is richer with you in it.
Ohhh Maria! You’ve probably already learned that I’m a bit of a big softy and this made my heart swell so large ❤️Thank you for all your support, both personally and professionally I feel incredibly lucky and honoured to be working with you and your amazing, wonderful press which I know is just going to go from strength to strength ❤️
A comment section full of fellow arsonists. As you well know, I am one too. I like to think of it as a shedding of a skin that no longer fits. I am so glad to have you in my corner through all my writing (& general life!!) twists and turns and so lucky to call you a friend. I know you will rise on the heat from those flames you’ve lit under you and beautiful views are ahead. 😘🥰🩷🩵
Ohhh, such poetry 😊 This is a beautiful way of describing it. Both the shedding a skin that no longer fits and the rising on the heat from the flames. Thank you my dearest BFF!❤️ I've loved hearing people's stories. I suspected there were plenty of fellow arsonists out there, but had no idea how many ,and also how much good energy comes from these big changes, it's like a collective energy shift, loving it, it's really made my day!
You’ve tapped into the zeitgeist 🩷🩵
Hahaha, yes - who knew?!
Ahead of the game, aren’t you 😉
😛
Another arsonist over here! Well, in my case it was literal, although not accurate, it wasn't me, but my neighbors, and it wasn't their fault, but the building conditions. When I was living in Berlin I began to question if I wanted to stay or leave or what. I started to go to a psychoanalyst to make up my mind... And then one day in December of 2019, I see smoke coming into my apartment, I open the door and find the nice couple neighbors next to me completely intoxicated from smoke, their house was in flames. I started to yell at them your kids your kids!!! Three children sleeping at the end of the flat. They finally reacted and took the kids out, we evacuated the building but firemen took 20 min to arrive. By that time, their flat had burn down to the core. And all flats down theirs got watered down from firemen pouring a whole swimming pool on a fourth floor, all moldy in two days. Nobody died except for a cat who got in absolute shock. And my flat, well, it didn't grab the flame but the door got open with the heat and got black and smoked and completely unlivable. Had no house in half an hour. So we rented several air bnbs until Christmas was over, we moved seven times in two months! and two months later was the pandemic 😮😮 that was the moment when we decided to come back to Spain, of course. The fire source was a new clothes drier that got flamed in a super shitty building with very old electricity system, a ticking bomb. The good part was, the prior summer, I had gone to the bank and contracted an insurance cause I saw many fires in my hood. Best insurance in history, from 1 euro I gave, they gave me 50 back. With that money we were able to come back. Fewwwww what a story eeeeh?!?! Hahahaha you never know when the cosmos is gonna tell you what to do. Two weeks before the fire I was telling the psychoanalyst "but what should I do with all my furniture?!?" Well, dump it, cause it's all damaged! Easy to solve then, hahahahaha. To come back was a very good decision though, and I have the anecdote to tell 🌝
Oh...
My...
GOD!!!
I am literally in shock. My hands don't even know how to type anymore! You absolutely win the life arsonist contest 🤣 Even though it wasn't anything you did, or would ever have chosen. But, wow, check life out, doing its thing, bringing you answers and just what you needed albeit in a very dramatic way, but getting you to where you needed to be all the same. What a story, joder tía!
I'm happy about the insurance too! I have never ever heard a "happy" insurance story, so you have shocked and surprised me twice!!!
Thank you so much for sharing this, though it is shocking, it's kind of wonderful and beautiful too.
Ps. I hope you didn't lose any of your artworks?
Hahahaha I knew you were gonna love the story! It was very shocking indeed and made me realized how lucky I am for many things... And I know it's very cliché but the prior weeks I felt as if something was gonna happen, I swear... Maybe it's my perception of it a posteriori, that tricked my memories, I don't know. It was very scary and got a bit traumatized with fire, candles, cables and plugged things, but in the long run, it could have been a real drama, so we were lucky that it turned out to be a good thing. As for my paintings, a couple of them got a bit greyish from the smoke, but since I settle a canvas, paint on it and then dismantle it to reuse the woods, all my paintings were rolled on the floor, and the smoke goes up and through... So I lost all furniture and many objects, but only a couple paintings got a bit damaged, and nothing very serious really. I learnt that metal and glass doesn't get damaged, plastic and wood you can throw it out immediately. And textiles, if you can put in in a laundry machine a couple of times, you can eventually remove the smell. Of course, the mattress you can't 😂😂😂 and then I still have some objects that look a bit dusty and it's because of the fire, they lost the smell but never the color, for example all the top spines of my books are grey😂 I definitely win the involuntary life arsonist title!! Hahaha 🥰😘😘
I mean, unless someone claims they engaged in a spot of murder or something, you win title hands down! 🤣 I'm glad your paintings were mainly okay, though sorry you lost so much other stuff. It must be a little strange having those reminders around, like the tops of yoru books and the dusty items. It's a bit like a momento mori, perhaps?! I'm fascinated by the way that you almost "knew" too... I've definitely had that feeling/experience before and it makes you wonder doesn't it... getting piel de gallina!!
A fellow master arsonist here! Or better said, I used to be it. Anything that smelled like the same old game, the same old pattern, the same old story, I let it go. Read: pretty much everything. In spite of the inner urge I wasn't necessarily happy or even willing to do it. So, it felt like an act of arson 😄 But, it was definitely worth it and I only wish I would have taken it less seriously. Every single move and flame made my life more worth living.
I had a feeling you would connect to this, Elina! Whilst I’ve been in this transitional period, getting to know you, and reading about your work and life here on Substack, have really helped me focus on what’s important and kept me on track with good, flourishing energy. Lines like: 'Every single move and flame made my life more worth living.’ Stunning and motivating. I’m so grateful for your words.
Ps. I have this image of us both holding a lighter with a mad look in our eyes 🤣
Aaahahaha, now I'm stuck with that image, too 🤣 And thank you, I'm at your service in the glorious acts of arson and blooming ❤️
🥰
Love this Jayne, hello from a fellow career/life arsonist! Or portfolio career or patchwork career as it's more politely called :) We only live once and if you have the privilege of education and skill of adaptability, why not use it to try new things? I've been a waitress, English language teacher, Marketing Manager, Theatre Producer, Copywriter, Facilitator and now Coach and Writer. Everything feeds into each other, nothing is lost but lots of things are gained - quality of life and human experience being the main ones! Good for you, and wishing you mucha mierda :)
Thank you, Carys! I was actually pretty nervous about sending this post, but it's been so wonderful to meet so many career/life arsonists (let's forget being polite!). I love this: “Everything feeds into each other, nothing is lost but lots of things are gained - quality of life and human experience being the main ones!" I'm very happy to hear that your fire setting has brought you those things, and brought you here to this beautiful country as well 🥰
I know we only just met…but you really don’t strike me as someone who lives the same life and “nothing’s changed”… if that were the case you’d never have left the UK. The comfortable and familiar life. Look at you and all your experience. You are inspiring and brave! And you bring people together because you’ve started something. In a new city!
Gracias por su everything!
Things will come into place!! Excited about new things coming your way!!!
Thank lovely lovely, Anni! I'm glad you don't see me that way hehe. I'm excited for you too, now you are fully here - and the sun has come out! I'm looking forward to some adventures together ❤️
We are vibing Jayne! I am also in a burn down the house build a new one moment in life. I'm on leave from the educational publishing world, working in a novella, a novel and a relaunch of my substack account (coming on Sunday), and I quit my old therapy and started a new, spiritually-focus one with lots of meditation and conscious dance. Hope to see you soon for a catch up. Xxx
Wowser! That’s great news - you really are in a burn it all down moment! Here’s to those tender springs of new growth…
Congratulations! This is a very big step, another one. It seems like all the changes you've made have required a lot of guts and faith in yourself and the future. It's not easy to quit a job, sell a flat, move to another country, and quit another job, especially since you already survived a massive cut in your stable job. Your career path and publications are impressive! I'm glad to know a becoming- even-famous-writer-and-editor and even happier to hang out with that part of you plus the kind, thoughtful, and adventurous person you are.
Thank you a million, Andrea querida! All those changes you list are not easy, no - you know as well as I do! I’m always available for the pizza, wine and chatting side of life, but hopefully you already knew that hehe. I feel very happy and grateful to have met you and I hope you won’t forget me once your book is finished and out and you are touring the world doing talks! ❤️
Forget you!! Hardly. You've made my life here all the better and that will continue for ages.
🥰🥰🥰 Lo mismo digo!
I have always changed jobs because they bored me or demanded too much of my person . The latter being nursing .
The job I loved was teaching in Greece , but employment was so precarious over there .
When I discovered holistic therapies I was delighted . It helped my health challenges but I had no money and a child . By the time I had a spare room the pandemic hit and I had discovered my 2018 writing experiment had potential .
I don’t have to earn money anymore so I am a well occupied woman . My writing life has embroiled me in learning and camaraderie. I love it and think because I tried different careers it has given me lots of stories .
I never grew rich and the best I was at work was a manager within a premium skin company . Being in the beauty industry was fun , but the best thing was the people I met .
I wish you all the best Jayne , you are doing well and the man who presumed you were stactic didn’t get you . It is cool to underplay it frees you up to do other things . Good luck with your publication .
Thank you Chrissie! For wishing me well and sharing your experiences. I love that you are ‘a well-occupied woman’! Busy, but not emptily so… I remember a post you write recently about changes in your professional life and your decision to leave work and it really inspired me to know that other people feel similarly to me and have acted on it and things have flourished! I’m so glad we (and all our little community) found each other through LWS and here on Substack, too.
It’s wonderful so uplifting to connect with the right energy
Exactly that 🥰
How wonderful to read about your working life summarised in this way just days before we meet! I feel so lucky to be able to see you in this new chapter. I love how you so succinctly summarised the past, present and future. And I very much relate to the itchiness to change places and activities in a cadence that feels out of the norm. We will have so much to discuss! Best wishes on your new venture!
Thank you, Sabrina, for these lovely words 🥰 Can’t wait to discuss all these things, and the itchiness, face-to-face in a few days time… And I love your phrase ‘a cadence that feels out of the norm’. That is beautiful and summarises the restless feeling perfectly!
That's very kind to say. Yes to itchiness and feeling out of synch. Much to discuss!
Hey Jayne, enjoyed learning about your past movements! How did you land a job with a publisher in Madrid? I'd love to hear more about that, if there's maybe a post I can read? That's super cool.
I worked as a magazine editor in Bangkok for a while before moving to Koh Phangan, where I've been for the last 14 years. I got the 7 year itch 7 years ago but haven't been able to leave until now — we're moving to Valencia in 2 months!!
Thank you, Kaila! I'm so glad you liked the post! And I love that you are acting on your 7-year itch now, 7 years after - when it descends it doesn't leave until you scratch it, in my experience. And Valencia is a great choice of place to move to - not that you need me to tell you that!
I haven't actually written about my path to editing and working at a publisher - I did write one about when the company sacked 20% of staff last year, but not exactly related! I will think about writing one, that's a good idea. But if you had any questions, if you want to get back into that world, I'd also be more than happy to chat to you about it.
Very cool, Jayne! I will be in touch for sure.
Fab! Speak soon then 😊
I'm so happy for you, Jayne. Keep burning it all up. Honestly going to Spain for a full academic year as a college student was an arson-like move for me, as I'd never even been on an airplane before and knew next to nothing about the world. Oh, and I had no money. I think of boarding that plane as a little stupid but much more brilliant. I can't imagine my life without Espa~a in it. Besos to you! Y mucha suerte.
Here's to “a little stupid but much more brilliant.” What a fantastic description of the arsonist in us! Thank you for your support and words and besos 😊😊😊😊❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
There are already so many great comments here, you have some wonderful and loyal readers who offer up such lovely thoughts. It's always so fascinating to hear little tidbits of your background, and well done on all this arson you've been committing ☺️
Like Marina in another comment, I too am a literal arsonist - kind of/allegedly. In chemistry class, I got into trouble all the time for burning stuff with the bunsen burner - pens, paper, textbook covers. The teacher was always telling me off!
Rewind a few years, in 4th grade, and the entire 4th and 5th grade wing (4 classrooms) burned down, to a crisp. Everything gone, including the class guinea pigs, which was devastating. It was winter as well, and for some reason a few of us had left our coats inside and were playing in the cold and snow. Those were burned too! For the next few months, we had classes in temporary trailers.
I was the one who discovered the fire and shouted for everyone to get out. So naturally, people suspected I had a hand in it, and even the police hauled me in for questioning, but I promise you, it wasn't me! Turns out that it was an electrical thing, overloaded sockets or something in a cramped closet.
Anyway, back to metaphorical arson - yeah, I suppose things have blown up on me in the past few years, but that was kind of out of my control so now here I am, fumbling along, trying to make writing a viable career, seeing where things take me.
Thank you for adding your story! I wasn't expecting so many stories of literal fires 😅😅 Can't believe you got questioned by the fuzz! You were only a babber. But I guess you did have a rep already by the sound of it.
On the more metaphorical fires, you have had some very fiery years… I read what you said to Lisa and it really made me realise how support really can get us through a lot, emotionally at least, if not by putting food on the table, and this community we have here is really special. Reading everyone's stories really made reminded me, too, how there is a crossover between a creative life and a less conventional life. En fin, I resisted buying your first book cus my TBR pile is terrifying, but supporting one another is more important than that. Can't wait to read you, keep going, keep writing, you have a lot of unique knowledge and experience to impart and contribute. And you like a fart joke, perfect recipe for success!
Aww, Jayne, thank you, you're way too kind, I hope you enjoy the book, and I know that sprawling TBR pile dilemma oh-too-well. But no matter, because as soon as your book is out, you'd better believe I'm getting it!
I do enjoy supporting other Substackers and so far, all their books have been terrific. I also just got a message the other day from a former student, her husband wrote a book and she asked me to read it, and I felt compelled to since she wrote a lovely review for my 2nd book, at first I was like 'uggh, i don't have time' but I'm halfway through, it's a quick read and it's really intriguing. There are so many great writers out there.
Fart jokes? Me? Wherever did you get that idea from? 😂
Everything you say is right and it's fabulous, warm and generous how you support other writers 😊 I'll leave at that for now as Spain is currently under a big blackout so I should really save my phone battery, but it's nice to have my phone back at least!
A ❤️ for you and all you do.
I loved this post, Jayne. It says such a lot and I felt filled with hope and pleasure when I read it.
Ohhh wow, Martin! Thank you for these beautiful words, they mean the world ❤️ I’m so glad it filled you full of good feeling!
This is so inspiring, and reminded me of the 'train' quote that's been floating around Substack this week: https://substack.com/@introspectivesfinest/note/c-110397831?r=1z1t0v&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
Thank you so much lovely Amy! ❤️ And wow, yes, very much like that ‘train’ quote, it’s beautiful. I’m actually a little bit obsessed by trains too 😅