Juggling two lives

It is a challenge when one must maintain two lives, both necessary for each other’s survival. There is my day job – the demanding grind to and from downtown Toronto to work hard all day dealing with people, attending meetings, and to get a paycheck. This paycheck keeps my family alive and well fed, a roof over our heads, cats are comfy, and enjoy the simplicities of life. I have health benefits that go a long way since my husband does not have any. Bottom line – I have to work. And finding a well paying job is difficult, so I hold on to mine. I don’t work in the publishing industry. I did dabble in marketing but it got me nowhere. The book publishing industry in Toronto is small and there are many like myself hoping to get one foot in the door. There are lots of internships, but they include a 3-4 month commitment, full time hours, and a lousy honorarium - great for a student.

The other life – writing. I can’t do it without the security of my day job or I would be spending all my time looking for a job if I did not have one so no time for writing. And I would be miserable at my day job if I did not endlessly pursuit my dream. So I continue to work hard and dream big.