my long road back to writing
When I was younger I wanted to be a journalist. I had a knack for wanting different career paths than my peers, a scientist was also on my list.
Sadly, I wasn't good enough at maths for science and my journalism days never really started.
I made the decision to never pursue journalism aged roughly 14. We were asked if we'd be interested in creating a piece for Red Nose Day and that the best one's may have a chance of being published, I jumped at this.
But I still remember after printing my finished story off to submit it for checks, the snot-nosed teacher told me I'd copied it from another student. Looking back, I wish I'd argued for my creativity, after all, I was the one who had been wronged! Instead, I walked away from the project and from the thought of touching writing again.
Even now, I can only imagine that my ego-fuelled 14 year old self was thinking of how I was hurting this teacher by not giving them my talent. Of course, for anyone reading, we all know how stupid that is now.
It's taken 21 years, but this week, I started working on some writing again. Yes, I'm aware I've had this blog, but I've not been counting that as I've treat this as a journal rather than writing with a specific purpose of entertaining.
Also, looking back, I do think that journalism probably wasn't what I wanted to do, I wanted to be an author of fiction and I do wish I'd gone for a creative writing course instead of graphic design, but alas, that's water under the bridge now.
They say everything happens for a reason so I have to hope that writing has dragged me back for a reason.
But as some unsolicited advice from me to anyone reading, always stand up for your creativity, don't let someone else drag you down (unless you do actually steal someone else's work, in which case, do better), and please, if you want to write, don't stop. Ever.