Looking for creative suggestions

[CareyJo]

I'm 56, so I've been around the block a while... I know what my skill set is, what my passions are and what I'm good at.  But they are all different things and they don't really meld together well.  I love to write but I'm not a creative writer, so fiction is out for me, but I KNOW that there is a book in my soul.

What do event planning, artistically creative, holiday decorating enthusiast, lover of Christmas, florist, photographer and seamstress all have in common?

I've sewn professionally for 37 years.  Custom designed wedding gowns are my specialty.  Don't want to do that anymore.

Not a certified florist but I have done lots of events, including weddings and teach classes.  As I'm already full time self-employed, I don't want to work for someone else.  Not to mention, it takes away the fun.

Also not a professional photographer but photography has been a passion for me for over four decades.  Not interested in becoming professional.  It's a tough market.

My dream for 10 years has been to open an event planning business but there are several obstacles in my way.  Location, no ability to hire help and a limited schedule.  So I've decided on starting the decorating component that I was going to add to that business, just to be doing something I love, but this isn't the real solution.

There's got to be an avenue that I haven't thought of, something I'm missing that ties all of my skills together in a way that would be profitable.

Any thoughtful and honest suggestions would be much appreciated!

[BrianaJo]

Nice! I'm happy for you that you found something you enjoy. What do you write?

We were talking about podcasts earlier, I like listening to Writing Excuses. Their podcast is short to the point (and a little ad heavy imo but I'm using spotify for free so that's the trade off) and comes out once a week on Sundays. They have over 2000 episodes so there's a wide range of topics they've discussed. Helps keep my mind thinking about writing concepts even if I don't get to write as often as I'd like.

[CareyJo]

Nice!  Thanks for the suggestion!  I will look that up.  I know it's not super popular and I'm a nobody in the grand scheme of things, but I think my first 2-3 books are going to be about my life story.  Not for the purpose of tooting my own horn but rather in hopes that my story will help someone else.  I know that I'm not the only person in the world to have suffered XYZ... People like me need to find each other and find solace.

[BrianaJo]

Oooo yeah like an autobiography or a memoir. How exciting! That's what I'm writing too, then I have a few ideas for a children's series. 

Not being the only person to go through XYZ makes it so relatable and comforting for the reader. And then to know how you uniquely navigated through and came out the other side is interesting and hopeful for others who've experienced the same.

I love it when people follow their passions. When you get published, share the link so I can buy a copy!

Happy writing! 

[CareyJo]

Awesome!  I hope that all of yours get published as well!

You have no idea how much your comments mean to me!  I've been stressing myself out unnecessarily, thinking "What if I don't have a sequel?"  or "What if my next book isn't a follow-up story?"  and "What if I'm not reader-friendly?"  What you said has actually, always been my goal - to relate to people and provide hope.  I finally decided to actually break it into two different books to create the sequel and because there are completely different purposes in them, even though the stories are related.  The thought then is, where to go after that?  And the answer I've come up with is, I guess I just wait and see....

I will definitely be sharing if I get published but I don't know for sure that I will still be a Square user by that time.  It can take years to get published and our business may be closed by that point.  Only time will tell!  Fingers crossed that it will get done sooner than later and I'll still be here!

[Jo98]

CareyJo your skills are amazing just reading Im thinking you already would be taking photos of your flower arrangments on a portfolio . Posting your works on instagram with tags to order page. Skool app where you can teach your skill sewing or floristry. Write a book or get Ai to sewing for dummies. Touch base and I can help with this. 

[CareyJo]

Very kind words.  Thank you!