Hardest decision EVER! I spent years working on my music, writing original tunes and studying jazz and improvisation with various teachers. Four years hosting a jam session I created to get the performance practice I needed and to help other vocalists. Since I had the space, I’d create it and they would come. Sure helped that my husband owns one of the hippest jazz venues in NYC.
As I was trying to find my voice in jazz, I was also trying to develop my voice in fiction. A stranger once told me, “Those are two of the hardest businesses to crack into.” Thank you, kind stranger. But he was right.
It’s always, do what you love, what’s in your heart. But what if you love several things and you aren’t half bad at them, either?
I already resigned myself to put down the paintbrushes and stop my figurative sculpture classes. Leave the painting to weekend meditations.
To help me decide I’d boil it down to one thing: Story Telling, which is what Jazz singers do. They tell an emotional journey, a tale. I love connecting with the emotional core of the song.
I was energized by the thrill and the buzz of live performances for years, and I became pretty good. Then I stopped.
There were a few personal reasons I ended the jam session, last September. As in, if you aren’t having fun – why bother. I didn’t need it to pay my rent. And the truth is I made scarcely anything after paying my pianist. It was quite a bit of behind the scenes work, with promo, etc. But it was more than monetary rewards. It was helping others when I was in a position to do so — and getting my practice on. But the lifestyle – the nights and the longer nights – I didn’t think I could do – not with one parent already working every night. Now, if I could sing at Jazz brunches every weekend I’d be down for that, but it’s not very realistic.
As a kid, I was always singing, and often writing stories. Both have been a part of me for as long as I can remember.
I made the decision to focus on my fiction. I still jam with friends, but the time needed to go out and hustle for gigs, and search for musicians at this time in my life isn’t going to work out. All I need, to focus on my writing is me -- for now. Until I want to publish them, that is.
We can only do so much on our own. Eventually we need the help of others, even the solitary practice of writing. And we need our readers!
I want grow as a writer and learn my craft from inside and out and become the best fiction writer I can be.
I write during the day, as I babysit the family Jazz club and attend to café customers. At night, I research craft, or history for the story I’m working on, (make dinner!) and read at night. There’s scarcely enough time. I must be extremely disciplined to get the work done. But I LOVE it!!! I could spend hours (if my rear end would let me) in my fiction. Time dissolves; hours pass, and I hardly notice where the day went. It's a little different when I’m editing. But, shh, I actually enjoy editing. This may be part of the reason I always over-cut my bangs. I’ve also been known to over-edit. Oh, for the love of first novels.
Today, I pause the music. But it’s not the end. Oh Lord, no. The music is in me. I am a storyteller. I just cannot do it all, all at once. Right? This is what I tell myself. Cause, I sure do miss performing. (I vocalize every day, no matter what, to relax and keep my instrument supple) And lucky for me, I spend my days writing in a Jazz club. So the music is also, all around me.
What have you had to put aside to focus on writing?
If you'd like to hear an original song of mine. (2011)
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