A personal update: Baby, burnout and beyond

Why things have been a bit quiet on my podcast and newsletter lately – and how you can hire me as a freelancer!

Hey there, amazing readers! Thank you for sticking with my newsletter and podcast. I'm sorry for the radio silence recently, but I hope to get back on track soon. First, let me fill you in on what's been happening in my world.

Introducing... 👶

Say hello to Joshua, our adorable new family member, now four months old!

Meet Joshua, the newest addition to our family!

I knew I’d need some time off from writing and podcasting when Joshua arrived. But I’d expected to get a couple more articles and episodes out before Joshua’s birth to set the stage for my break. I didn’t expect that it would end up taking over 4 months for my next update!

But Joshua arrived and my online presence took a back seat. Welcoming our third child has proved both more joyful and more exhausting than we ever anticipated!

Hitting the Wall... 💥

I also hadn’t planned on reaching a breaking point with work and burnout, or on leaving my job as IVP Publishing Director. But that also happened!

I finished my time at IVP at the end of February. You can read more on that news on my Twitter thread here and the linked IVP news update:

Caleb Woodbridge @CalebWoodbridge

Some big news for me personally - I've stepped down as Publishing Director for @IVPbookcentre, for the sake of my health and family after a tough few years personally and in leading IVP through the pandemic and consequent challenges

ivpbooks.comChanges to the IVP Team - a short updateChanges to the IVP Team - a short update

At some point, I will probably want to write about my burnout, to reflect on my experiences and to share some of what I might have learned.

But it’s still too soon: I need time to process, to rest and reflect, to sabbath and to restore myself physically, mentally and spiritually.

If you’re the praying type, your prayers would be very much appreciated!

What's Next? 🌟

After leaving IVP, I've been pondering ‘what’s next?’, such as the time below in a nearby cafe, and some time to reflect at L’Abri Fellowship in Hampshire.

Caleb Woodbridge @CalebWoodbridge

Time to reflect, pray and plan about what to do next work-wise, with the help of ‘What Colour is Your Parachute’ - and cake and coffee! instagr.am/p/Cpzq3zENpJn/

While I’m open to a new full-time role, I’m leaning strongly towards freelancing, and I plan to be available for freelance work from late April onwards.

If you'd like to collaborate or think my skills might be useful for a project, please contact me on calebw@hey.com! I’ll soon be updating my personal website calebwoodbridge.com with further details of my services and experience, along with case studies and testimonials.

Here’s a sneak peak at the services I’ll be offering:

• Writing and speaking

  • Articles, talks and seminars on the themes I am knowledgeable in, including":

    • imaginative discipleship and theology of arts and culture

    • faith and philosophy in pop culture

    • sci-fi and fantasy

    • children’s literature

    • medieval literature, e.g. the Arthurian mythos

    • Tolkien, Lewis and the other Inklings

  • Talks and workshops on writing and getting published, whether in Christian publishing or more generally

• Editorial services

  • Content strategy – defining the why, what, who, how, where and when

  • Developmental editing and/or copyediting

  • Commissioning/writing/editing/posting articles and other content (podcasts, social media etc.)

  • Advice and support on getting your book published and navigating the publishing industry

• Digital services

  • Digital strategy – how to make the most of digital to achieve your goals

  • User experience (UX) research and design

  • WordPress web design and development

  • Digital marketing, SEO and analytics