Embracing a New Chapter
Hi friends, it’s been a while!
At the beginning of this year, I had some very specific plans laid out for myself and my business: between January and the end of March, I would finish my manuscript and get it to my editor, and then from April onwards, I would put more effort into writing more frequent blog posts; I had so many writing craft subjects I wanted to talk about, and I was looking forward to getting those blog posts written!
However, life had other (exciting!) plans…
I’m pleased to say that I did manage to get my manuscript completed and off to my editor, but I’m thrilled to share that I discovered that I will be welcoming a new addition to my family!
My little one is due to arrive in the middle of December. As you can imagine, this is an incredibly exciting and transformative time for me, and I’m so grateful to be able to share it with you.
However, this pregnancy hasn’t been without its fair share of difficulties, and I have been really rather unwell throughout, necessitating quite a few hospital visits. In the midst of the pregnancy issues, my clients’ work had to take priority over work on the blog, and as such, new blog posts have ground to a halt.
Still, I really wanted to come on here and share my happy news, as well as letting you all know that Dawning Edits will be going on hiatus from the 1st December 2024, as I put my focus onto my growing family and my writing commitments.
The Upcoming Adventure
Although I haven’t talked about it that much on here, my own writing has always been a huge priority for me, and one that I have struggled to balance with my client work and family commitments.
Whenever change comes along, I find myself wanting to spend a little bit of time reflecting on my values and whether I’m spending my time as intentionally as I’d like, and I realised that my own writing had fallen quite far down the list of priorities.
Considering that writing regularly is hugely important to my mental health, as well as the way I process my thoughts, explore my values and discover more about myself, it was clear that I needed to make my writing a priority again, especially during those first few precious months with a newborn, when everything can feel so special, but also overwhelming.
So, while I’ve made the (difficult, scary, but rather liberating!) decision to take a break from client projects from 1st December 2024 until Autumn 2025, I’m really excited about the possibilities this time will bring for my own writing. I’m also planning on posting on here about my writing journey, as well as the considerations of juggling writing with other commitments (whether that’s motherhood, or something else entirely!)
While I’m on Hiatus
Starting in December, I’ll be officially on maternity leave and won’t be taking on any new client projects for the time being. Like I said, this decision wasn’t easy, but it’s so important to me to be fully present during this special time.
I’ll still be here on the blog and on social media, though you might notice a bit of a shift in focus toward more personal reflections and more writing-specific topics. Don’t worry—there will still be plenty of writing tips and creative insights.
For those of you who are current clients, I want to reassure you that all ongoing projects will be wrapped up before I take my leave. I’ll be in touch with each of you to finalize any outstanding details and make sure everything is squared away.
Staying Connected
Even though I’ll be on a break from client work, I’m really looking forward to staying connected with this wonderful community. Writing has always been a source of inspiration and connection for me, and I’ll be continuing to talk and connect with writers through social media, my blog and my (upcoming!) newsletter.
While the content may shift more toward personal reflections and writing-specific topics, rest assured that I’ll continue to share insights and tips that you’ve come to expect from this blog. My goal is to stay connected and continue to provide value, even as I focus on these new life chapters.
Looking Ahead
I’m so grateful for the support and understanding of my clients, readers, and everyone in this amazing writing community, and I’m genuinely excited to see what this stage in my life and career is going to look like!
Thank you for being part of my journey so far. I can’t wait to connect with all of you in the coming months, as I focus on my growing family and my writing.
If you’d like to stay in touch and receive updates directly to your inbox, make sure to subscribe to my upcoming newsletter. I’m looking forward to sharing more personal reflections, writing tips, and curated content with you!
I’d love to hear your thoughts or any advice you might have as I step into this new chapter. Feel free to connect with me on social media. Your support means the world to me!
Take care, and talk soon!
Alexandra
Hi, I’m Alexandra.
I’m a developmental editor specialising in helping authors of fantasy, sci-fi and all kinds of speculative fiction bring their worlds to life, and make their books as immersive, compelling and enjoyable as possible!
Follow my blog for writing craft tips specifically tailored for speculative fiction authors.
