I don’t think anyone is going to be surprised (whether you’ve known me for years or since I started this blog) when I tell you what my passion is. Can anyone guess? Writing, of course. I have always wanted to be a writer, for as long as I can remember. I always dreamt I would be a published author or perhaps even a journalist at a glossy magazine – maybe even both – and my love of the written word was so great I even considered becoming an English teacher at one point.
At some point, I lost my way. I decided my English Lit and Creative writing course at university was no longer for me and basically buried my head in the sand, jumping from meaningless job to meaningless job. Whilst I loved working at the pub, it was basically my excuse to not go to uni. I’d become disillusioned with reading and writing and just wanted to live my life.
Back in 2011, however, something changed. It was as if something set that spark within me again. I started this blog, started writing an as yet unfinished novel, dusted off some old poetry and reworked them to make them better than before. I also finally took the step into writing as a career in 2013 after being made redundant from one of those meaningless jobs I mentioned before. Whilst I may not always be making money by writing what I love, writing pays my bills – and I do get to write about what I love on this blog and my two others. Of course, I would love to make money by writing about the things that I love – but that isn’t very realistic, is it? You have to take the good with the bad and whilst writing pays my bills and enables me to stay at home, I am not complaining.
Beth’s post really struck a chord with me, not least because she is my go-to girl in all aspects of writing, reading and most other stuff too, actually.. She literally put into words exactly what I feel about writing.
One day, eventually, I will find the time to get that novel finished and perhaps even get past the first paragraph on my other idea. I will eventually self publish my poetry like others have told me to do. I am determined that eventually, I will make money writing what I love..I just need to keep believing.
For now, though, I am just happy that I found myself on the right path again.
Good luck with the novel! Not many people can say that they make money out of their passion, so it's great the writing can pay your bills!
Great to hear you feel you're on the right path!
Well done. Writing can be a hard way to make a living, so you're doing well. Good luck with the novel.
This is a lovely post Bex. Quite often when we are young we want to do things but laziness ect get in the way and we kind of get side tracked. I'm pleased (although not that you got made redundant) that you have rediscovered your passion for writing and theres no better place to write in your own voice than on your own blog! I hope you get that book finished and that's it's the first of many! Deffo go get your poetry self published… you have nothing to lose! 🙂
http://justjulie81.blogspot.co.uk
You have such a talent when it comes to your writing. I look forward to perhaps reading that novel someday.
Mel
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Writing is such a wonderful thing! You're clearly on your way to making money by doing what you love. Keep up the hard work and it'll pay off in the end!