A Federal Judge Altered the Course

The topsy turvy events of this week remind me of this scripture verse: "I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content." Philippians 4:11

On Monday I received the news that this coming Sunday I would become hourly instead of salary and had to modify my job duties and watch my hours.

Last night, my supervisor called to tell me I'm still salary.

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/11/22/503081151/federal-judge-blocks-obama-administrations-overtime-pay-rule.

I definitely feel many workers are way, way underpaid for the work and hours they put in. But mandating it doesn't make money magically appear, especially in some small businesses and in certain struggling industries. 

Furthermore, when staff is tight and job duties are myriad, trying to manage the nuances of life and work is stressful without adding clock-watching to the mix. So I, for one, for now, am glad the law is blocked, just as I was glad earlier in this week for new opportunities.

That said, I'm still looking at changing a few things up in 2017.

Last year, I resolved to find an hour each week day to work on my fiction. That didn't happen, but I've been successful with half an hour. In the coming year, I will make that hour happen.

Also, since I put editing services out there, I also resolve to take on some select limited projects. I think the experience will be good for me, and I feel my experience could benefit other writers. If you're interested or have questions, message me at bryonyseries@gmail.com.

These are my thoughts on an extremely busy "going into the holiday" Wednesday. Have a most blessed day, vampire fans. :)

No Loss Without Great Gain: A New Opportunity

By now, I'm sure everyone is familiar with the new salary/overtime law.

Like many others, especially those of us close, but not close enough, to the threshold, we've waited to see how we've been impacted.

Yesterday I learned that, on Monday, I will become an hourly employee instead of a salary employee.

Never a minimalist who tracks hours and watches clocks (except for noting looming deadlines). I now must do both, for I must not go over my allotted thirty-seven and one-half hours per week. As a writer who routinely (always? consistently?) goes far beyond that paltry amount, this was sobering news indeed.

I love all components of my job, but these components will obviously be modified. So far, I have the freedom to adjust the hours and the duties, as long as hours are tracked and the work I choose to execute fits the hours.

So what will I do with this extra twenty hours a week?

For one, I plan to spend more time on Before the Blood, to shorten the time between draft to finished product. With my present work schedule, that time is two years out.

I also plan to start editing manuscripts for other authors.

Over the years, various writers have asked this service of me. Often I have refused. In previous years, delivering newspapers, freelance writing, homeschooling, and my own fiction projects left no time for accepting editing projects. In recent years, my work schedule, along with scrambling to find time for my own fiction projects, left no time for "extras."

"Coincidentally," I recently refused three such projects.

That's now about to change.

I spent some time yesterday, a Monday on an insanely short work week, fiddling with creating a new work schedule for me, and I anticipate playing around with it over the long weekend. After the holidays, most likely January 2017, I'll accept my first editing projects.

I am excited for this new chapter in my life.

For more information, message me at bryonyseries.com.