Publishing (while working another full job) is a lot like juggling. There's the business of promoting your book(s), staying active and engaging on various social media platforms and online more generally, and continuing to write and publish new stories. I hadn't truly realized how many balls I needed to consistently have in the air at one given time until I became a published author.
Published author is a daunting and exciting title in equal measure. I'm proud of this title and so is my family and closest friends. They've heard me wax eloquent and not so eloquently about how much I wanted to pursue this dream of mine. Now that I'm in the thick of it I know how much it takes. It isn't easy. It isn't a one and done thing. This process takes skill, passion, an entrepreneurial spirit, multitasking prowess, and straight up stubbornness. As anyone who knows me will tell you, I have the last one on lock.
But in all seriousness, for those of you waiting to pursue that elusive dream of yours, do it. Take the time you need, though. I've been on this journey for 5 years; slowly gathering data until I felt confident and inspired enough to finally get over that hump and finish a darn story.
Find what you are passionate about. Keep it close. Think about it constantly. Make room for it in your life. Then hit the ground running (whatever that means for you!). You'll be glad you did.
KV