There’s a lot that’s stressful about organizing your life around writing and creativity, especially if your work isn’t tied to an institution: infrequent and low payments, lack of health insurance, inconsistent contracts. Being a full time creative isn’t just about being creative about your projects, it requires ingenuity around how you’re going to make ends meet. You have to create your life every single day. There’s no structure for you to follow, no guidelines already in place; you make it yourself from the ground up.
The beautiful thing about such a way of living is that you’re free to create your life every single day.
It means that I was able to fill up on the good stuff this week. I started things off with a long coffee date with my aunt. I had the time to make us some sweet treats and I popped over to her house so we could enjoy them with some dark roast from Afterglow Coffee Cooperative.
Then I spent my Thursday doing a mini writing retreat with fellow Virginian kidlit author, Nashae Jones (Courtesy of Cupid, As You Wish, The Beckett Effect). We decided to enjoy the brand new public library in my hometown of Suffolk; Nashae found a copy of As You Wish in the stacks, got a library card1, and then we occupied a study room and wrote to our hearts content.2 Afterward, we had lunch at Cafe Davina, one of favorite spots in the city, Nashae taking as much delight in the magnolia tree terrace as I do.
Friday I had the opportunity to have lunch with one of my pals and favorite Virginian bookstagrammers, Chloe, as well as her sweet daughter. She was passing through the area and we got a chance to finally sit down and chat after missing each other most of the first part of the year.
Saturday was a big bookish day. I started the day out in Portsmouth to celebrate the four year anniversary of The Printed Word Bookstore! I dropped off a little token of appreciate for the owner, Ms. Tera, and her husband, and stayed for a while to chat with the team. While I was there, I had the opportunity to meet some local readers, like Fayina (@sleepybookworm_13), one of TPW’s regular customers and a bookstagrammer, who decided to give Love Requires Chocolate a try. I was able to sign her book for her and we took some pictures!
Then I made a drive up to Petersburg so I could see Atlanta romance author Tati Richardson in conversation with our Virginian romance people’s princess, Danielle Allen at Resist! They were discussing Tati’s latest, Struck Speechless, and also had Danielle’s latest, Big Girl Blitz, on display.
I was so excited to finally meet Tati IRL; we’ve been orbiting each other online for a long time now so it was great to be able to give her a hug.
Then there have been other cool things. More people have visited the Obama Presidential Library and sent me pictures of my books.
Nashae sent me a list from the Kansas National Educator Association of their recommended reading, and I discovered that Love in 280 Characters or Less had not only made their 2025 list, but it was a top ten title. It’s been rare that my books have made state lists, so this one really warmed heart. Plus, Amber McBride and Angeline Boulley both had books on the top ten list, and I admire both of those writers greatly, so being there with them was such an honor.
My work is cool. The people I get to meet and spend time with because of it are amazing. The ability to structure my life in such a way that I get to prioritize these things brings me a lot of joy.
I’m grateful I’ve had the time to be able to spend on my best friend whose baby is due soon and to be able to prioritize reading hour with the little next door every week.
You sacrifice a lot of comfort and stability for this kind of life, and yet, at risk of making it sound romantic, there are great joys in every day I’ve gotten to choose it.
The Habitual Disregard for Creative and Intellectual Work as Labor
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Feb 23
Someone recently asked me what I do “besides writing books.” I gave my usual answer, which is that I center writing, all types, but I also freelance teaching and editing. They asked what I wanted to be doing, in the future. Again, my usual: I quite like what I’m doing now. I love the freedom I have over my time and my location. I can spend much of my ti…
If you’re new here and you don’t want to do all that clicking to find out what I’m about: I’m Dr. Ravynn K. Stringfield, a writer, editor, artist and former Peanut Fest Queen from Suffolk, Virginia. I am the author of two novels for young adults, Love in 280 Characters or Less (Feiwel & Friends, 2025) and Love Requires Chocolate (Joy Revolution, 2024). I am a product of Virginia public schools (Suffolk Public Schools) and universities (University of Virginia), all the way up to my PhD in American Studies from William & Mary. I’ve been published in a variety of venues for the last seven years—book collections, magazines, scholarly journals—but most importantly, I’m a life long reader and a maker of beautiful things.
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I just can’t get behind putting my Substack behind a paywall, but I do respect that sometimes folks want leave a little something in the plate for a good post.
Here’s my Ko-Fi. If you feel moved to leave a dollar or something, thank you! My personal blogs have been free for 10 years, I’m not interested in changing that now. You can also buy physical and digital copies of my zines there!
Nashae has more work contracted and coming soon! I am not yet contracted for another project, but Lord knows I have work!
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