Reflections on Deciding to Become a Writer

Alright, so I've recently decided that I want to write for a living. Okay, maybe not so recently, but I've just now started to do something about it.

I've always enjoyed writing, but it never occurred to me in college that I could make a career out of it. Back then the idea of a creative office job, such as graphic design, really appealed to me. So I went and got my degree in Art.

What I didn't realize while dreaming of a cozy cubicle in a tall building, was the actual experience of being inside a box for 8 hours a day. What was I thinking!

Now I'm dreaming of the day I can say goodbye to my four partition walls, rush hour traffic and inept managers, and say hello to my home office. Getting any writing done, though, while working full time, and then doing 'musts' such as exercise, laundry, bills, cooking, eating, washing hair, drying hair, etc... is not easy. Some days I just want to give up. Then, I think of that home office dream and start plowing again.

The best way to get this thing going is to become organized. Yes, I know, easier said than done, but I thought if I'd start by setting aside a time frame each day or at least every other day and dedicate it to writing this thing could work. Well, it was a good idea, but only until I found myself on the internet for like two hours instead of writing. I said to myself to try again tomorrow, being that it was now 1 am and my cozy box was waiting for me in the early morning. This scenario went on for quite a few days until one afternoon while in a 3 hour meeting at work, I decided I really had enough.

That night I sat down in front of the computer and had my husband on 'internet watch'; if I as much as moved my cursor towards the Microsoft Explorer icon he was to bang my head with an iron saucepan. Ok, I'm exaggerating, but you get the picture - I was not to use any other program than my word processor for an entire two hours. So on I went, reluctantly pecking away, but the more I typed the more into it I got. And there I was, two hours later and I had a whole article written! So it can be done, I proved that to myself. It's time to get serious about this writing thing.

A few more evenings at the computer and I can be onto a start to my dream. It's time to get ideas and write. Write, write, write! Although it's not easy and it requires lots of dedication and hard work, a stay at home job of writer is possible and it is worth the effort. That certain satisfaction after having finished an article is incomparable and to be able to make money with it is even better. Well... that is until I will realize what it is like to be cooped up at home all day!