Thursday's Writing Essential

Greetings, Gather writers, and welcome to Thursday's Writing Essential. I'm settled into my southern office for the next couple of months and want to thank John Philipp for filling in for me last week while I was furiously driving toward sunshine and palm trees!

For today's post I'd like to read submissions pertaining to how and/or when you felt you were meant to write. Did you experience an epiphany of sorts? Did someone say you had a knack for writing? Did you study it in school?

Please be sure to use "Thursday Writing Essential" as one of your tags...or mention it in the title of your piece. I'll check back throughout the day and feature a few selections.

The following is a piece I wrote nearly ten years ago. It's a (sort-of) explanation about how and when I knew I was meant to write.

Freelancing Later in Life 

Have you ever wondered how many college freshmen enter the campus life each September with no idea why they're there? I was that vulnerable freshman once. Brainwashed by throngs of well-meaning relatives, I entered college to "study" elementary education. Was teaching school something I'd shown an interest in or aptitude for? Certainly not! I was a budding thespian and fairly decent pianist.

"You won't make any money doing that!" my mother scorned.

Neither did I make any money as an elementary school teacher.

Nearly three decades later, having dabbled at a number of unfulfilling jobs in addition to being a stay-at-home mom to five children, and the wife of a business owner, it seemed like the time was right to be what I wanted to be when I grew up. It had taken me that long to fully realize my potential and my calling.

Was I leaving the family and heading for Broadway? Did I book myself into the corner bar to tinkle the ivories? No, and no again. Instead I thought back to my span of many years, and realized that I was always happiest when writing.

I had excelled in English and Creative Writing in high school and college. I had even had a little something published way back when. However, nowhere along the way did it occur to me, or to anyone else for that matter, that I could actually be a writer!

So here I am. Kissing the youngest of my five children goodbye as he headed off for school, I charted my course toward becoming a professional freelancer. Was it easy? No. It took hours and hours every day of studying, research, and reading-and more reading, and more reading, too!

In all honesty, I spent the summer prior to Jonathan's foray into Kindergarten thoroughly cleaning out the "Writer's" section at Barnes and Noble. "Writer's Market", "Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market", and "Novel and Short Story Writer's Market" became my first mentors. I read them , re-read them, and then I read them again. I studied markets ferociously, because that is the source of financial gain.

My next rung on the ladder to becoming a freelancer was to investigate my options for some interactive learning. Since four of my five kids were still living at home, and I was needed for transporting to and from schools, a plethora of activities, and part-time jobs, the conventional methods of learning looked like scheduling nightmares. I turned to the virtual world sitting at my fingertips, and found more options than I could count.

I knew I wanted something focused. I didn't need a primer for developing sentence structure. I needed straight-to-the-point information on how to fuel this passion I'd developed. After researching numerous options, I decided on a workshop. The title of the four-week long workshop was "Secrets of the Professional Freelance Writer~Revealed", and it definitely lived up to it's name. In four weeks we thoroughly covered developing ideas, writing blockbuster query letters, revision, and submission. In addition we perused markets and how to develop an existing piece to fit several markets at one time.

The instructor was amazing-fielding questions from several of us scattered throughout the country. The answers I received were in no way generic. Rather they were tailored specifically to my needs, and answered with honesty (sometimes brutal) and a direct constructive approach. By the end of the course I had received acceptances from two fairly small markets.

My successes have far outweighed my failures. I have been published now nearly a hundred times. A few of those markets have been non-paying or low-paying, but initially one needs to procure clips, and it's great practice at the same time!

With respect to non-paying markets-my philosophy differs from many freelancers in that I believe my writing is meant to be read. If a non-paying or low-paying market reaches the audience to whom I've directed my message, I am fulfilled by its being published there. The knowledge I have gained, as well as personal contacts in the writing and publishing business, have afforded me unlimited opportunities. Were they cases of being in the right place at the right time? Maybe. But had I not taken my chances and written for these publications, I might never have known.

I admit I found myself in an extremely fortunate position to become a freelance writer. I had my husband's commitment and complete emotional support. Also, being a stay-at-home mom, I wasn't giving up an income to give writing a shot.

I have reaped multiple benefits by becoming a freelance writer later in life. My realized passion has provided me with a new source of excellent income and an avenue down which to explore new realms of living. The education it has provided has been phenomenal. I have learned some of life's lessons and lessons about lives gone by. I have learned about other cultures and have gained a new sense of appreciation for cultural events. Most of all, I have learned so much more about the person I am than I had ever fathomed knowing. It has shown me that I posses an undying perseverance and a will that can't be broken. I have acquired a healthy regard for rejection, but will never let it stand in my way of accomplishing those goals I set for myself.

There are several milestones in the life of a freelance writer. I have many yet to achieve. However one that stands out in my mind as a tremendous victory went something like this. I was introduced to a few people at an organization in our community. Standard? In many ways, yes. It was the way I was introduced that I regarded as the milestone. The evening's host made the usual round of introductions, and told a little about each guest. When he came to me, my mouth nearly dropped as the words flowed from his mouth.

"She is a published writer," he said as part of my introduction.

My first inclination was to look around the room, eager to meet this author. And when reality finally settled and I understood his words were about me, I felt like I was truly on my way to fulfilling my dreams. I was recognized publicly for my craft. I was there. I am a writer.

PLEASE NOTE:

I'll be hosting a live chat with author Ariana Franklin later today, and we'll be talking about her book "Mistress of the Art of Death." It starts at 3PM EST. I hope you'll join us!