In some ways I think I was always destined to be a writer.
If anyone asked me at any point what I thought I would do with my life I would probably always have said work in care. And I have. I have been a social worker and child development trainer, I am a qualiifed psychotherpist and practiced for a number of years working with children and young adults. I have done countless hours of voluntary counselling and many, many summers as a music therapist for people with learning disabilities. But all along the way after saying I thought I would work in care I have always said ‘but I would love to write too.’
My first degree is in literature, I have written poetry since I was young, I read endlessly and I just love to share ideas. My Great Uncle was a journalist on the Telegraph and this massively impressed me. He wrote novels and reviews too. My Great Aunt has a CBE for bringing ‘literacy to the people’ (she had polio but would travel for miles on buses to support literacy at adult learner colleges all over London – wow.)
My mum and I once submitted a proposal for a Mills and Boon novel – rejected on the grounds it wasn’t saucy enough! I can recite you poems I learned at O’level (yes I am that old!) and chunks of Shakespeare. Despite the studying I would be hard pressed to tell you about the poor law or community care act in much depth though. It has always been there – my love of writing.
I had some mentoring once when I was working for social services and my mentor had my draw my dream life. I drew a beach, a glass house, 2 children, me and a handsome man and a book and a pen by my side. All nothing like the life I led at the time.
These days I have my husband, the kids and my employment is largely through my writing just as I dreamed. Good stuff this visualising I am just waiting for the glass house on the beach!
I stated to write when I was a little girl and slowly, slowly it has become how I work and I am thrilled to have got there.
I wrote my book How to afford time off with your baby because it was suggested to me that I shared what I knew, what I had lived. The blog came about becuase the same person (my husband) suggested blogs were a great way forward to share ideas. Just a prompt but it was risk and cost free and fitted in with being at home wih my babies so I took the prompt and went for it.
I have written a few ebooks now too and I write features and copy. I now review books on my second blog Book reviews for mums and this brings me immense pleasure too.
I am in a happy work place now. Though I rise early and work late so as not to impact the kids. A lot of strong coffee is consumed and I’m not yet earning enough but I do feel a satisfaction with where I am.
What sparked your business – I would love to know?
Love this Becky, it’s fantastic to see you embracing what you absolutely love to do and finding a way of incorporating that into your life in a way that serves you and what’s important to you. I often work with mums who start off with this feeling of “I can’t… because I’m a mum” and you are a great example of someone who has found that “Yes I can!” What sparked my business? Same thing that fuels it now – I’ll let you have a read: http://grace-marshall.com/breaking-out-of-boxes/
Having children and realising that I wanted to work with other people because I also have got on with kids well. I think I draw on my key skills but never realised what these were until I started coaching. Oh yes and you Becky, it was your suggestion that I do this!!!! So thank you.
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Wow a great inspiring post! It has made me think, that is for sure! I have always wanted to write but have always wanted to scrapbook for as long as I can remember, I am scrapbooking but not as much as I want to other things are getting in the way but I will get there! xx
Great post Becky – I always wrote endlessly as a child and thought I’d be a journalist one day – that day never came but I do have my own business, which was sparked by the fact that my eldest was going to school and I didn’t want him to spend all his free time in breakfast and after school club. I also wanted to make it to activities and cover the endless summer holidays! Now I walk him to school and back most days and cheer him on loudly on sports days – it’s the best decision I ever made. Glad you found your dream in the end – and good luck with the glass house on the beach (self cleaning glass presumably?!)
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Absolutely!
Fab post, I love reading how people found something they love doing. You sound so similar to me, I loved writing as a child and have always had a love for books. I had always dreamed about writing but never persued it. Instead I did Beauty after school and then moved into care work, thinking I would go to uni to be a nurse and was even accepted on the degree for both nursing and social work. But then my children came along so I carried on in care. Now i am living the dream and writing for a living and I love it.
I love this post. I’ve just 1) started my own blog and 2) discovered yours! Hooked on both. This post is so inspiring. Ive been secretly hankering a desire to be a writer for years and recently, after having a baby, I realised that I have to do what makes me happy, to lead by example. I’ve had enough of being in the rat race. With the support of my husband I now have a little plan to eventually change careers. I dont mind if takes another 3 or 4 years, at least now I can see there’s a light!
So thanks for this, I feel empowered!
KellyAnn
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I love writing too and after a lot of effort I nowhave my dream job really good luck with your path! I shall visit!