On why I am not a professional writer
When I was young, a lot of writers had this mindset:
"I want to be a writer. I'm going to take up writing in college."
Here's what I think: You don't really need to.
It could be a nice bonus, but you don't really need to.
If you want to be a writer, just read.
Then write.
Then read some more.
Then write some more.
Lather, rinse, repeat.
Keep doing this until you're comfortable.
Keep doing this until you become good at it.
If you'd like, share your work with others and ask for critique. It doesn't have to be in a university. It can be a writing circle of your choice. Getting critique might be scary at first. It might also be painful and it could discourage you from writing again (if you let it), but if you really are determined to get your work noticed, then this is probably the best way to go.
Congratulations, you're a writer.
I'm not trying to belittle those who did take up writing in college. I'm not saying it's bad that you took up undergraduate and maybe even graduate studies in writing. If that works for you, then, that's great! Keep up at it!
However, I also don't think that you should look down on writers who didn't have any formal education in writing. Some writers wish could've but are hindered by whatever reason or circumstances. Some writers have the means to get it, but prefer not to. They have every right to be just as much of a writer as those who did get formal training in writing.
Just don't forget the three steps: Read, Write, Reach Out.
*****
Let me tell you a story.
When I was younger, I took up Literature as my college major. Well, at least I tried to. However, because of a family emergency, we suddenly ran out of money. I couldn't continue my schooling and I had to find work.
I'd gotten into a really big fight with one of my former friends, and she told me:
"At least I'm putting my major to good use!" (we were in the same class)
"What about you? Your creativity is dwindling! You're just jealous that I'm actually doing something with what I learned."
"Gee, it's a shame. You were literature major and you're coming up crap like this!"
It really hurt, of course, But I still kept writing. Even though I was working, after I was done with work. My free time was spent writing. I came up with so many things and created so many new worlds, characters. It was so much fun.
Although, I always wondered if she was right. Maybe I wasn't a famous writer yet because I hadn't finished my schooling. How would I know what's good and what's not, after all? I had no one to teach me.
After three years, the family situation that stopped me from schooling was solved. My parents said "Go back to school". I did.
I couldn't afford to go back to my old university, so I decided to try what I could afford.
I thought "I can finally prove M wrong! I'm going to finish school and learn how to be a great writer".
So, I became an English major.
****
I learned a lot of things at my new university. I learned how to step out of my comfort zone. I was on my own, so I had time to read and study as much as I wanted. After a few years, I became the Council President. I learned how to socialize (more than the usual), how to deal with people, how to work as a team, I learned how to have a lot of fun (aside from studying).
But because I was so busy with studying and council activities, I hardly had time to read and write. I tried, but there was just always something that came up.
I graduated. Top of my class. With Honors. A shiny medal and spiffy 'cumlaude' stamped diploma and all that jazz.
I realized school taught me nothing about writing.
***
A few years while I was studying, I met my now fiance. Aniel is a programmer by profession. I am now working (and happier in my current job) as a business English trainer and a quality assurance specialist. We both enjoy reading, writing, role-playing (bring on the tabletop RP's). However, we've come to accept that we do it for fun. We bring it out whenever we need a break from the daily grind.
For a few years, I wasn't okay with that. I wondered where I went wrong. Why wasn't I a famous writer by 20 like I always dreamed? Was it because I didn't finish my literature course? My former friend, who is now an internet celebrity because she's kind of like a Big Name Fan and author of a popular semi-original fiction, has made a name for herself. I would be lying if I didn't admit that for a while, I was a little envious. I wanted the same thing.
At least I thought I did.
As time passed, Aniel would just tell me to "write whatever you feel like" and of course, "Can I read it?". I followed this advice. I just wrote whatever I could and whenever I could.
Recently, after taking up a home-based job. I realized I had more time to read and write again.
So, I did.
I read all the books I bought but never had time to read because of school. I kept reading and reading. I realized that I was getting a familiar itch that I hadn't gotten in a long time.
I wanted to write.
So, I did.
I wrote whatever I wanted to. I wrote how I wanted, how I felt like. It was one of the best feelings in the world. Then I noticed that it was a lot smoother than my usual. It wasn't perfect, of course. But I felt like I'd grown so much. I looked at my previous work and my more current works. I was pleasantly surprised.
I learned so much by just reading. I could tell what was wrong, what felt wrong and what I should change. And the thing was, all the decisions were still up to me.
I realized that I didn't want to be a famous writer because my works, my worlds were my playground.
I realized that I wasn't really cool with other people playing in my sandbox (except if you're Aniel, of course).
I realized that I wrote better when I wasn't pressured with deadlines, editing notes and all that.
I wanted the choice: I could either show my work or not. I didn't like being pressured to do it.
Writing is my hobby
And after the longest time, I realized that I was okay with that.
"I want to be a writer. I'm going to take up writing in college."
Here's what I think: You don't really need to.
It could be a nice bonus, but you don't really need to.
If you want to be a writer, just read.
Then write.
Then read some more.
Then write some more.
Lather, rinse, repeat.
Keep doing this until you're comfortable.
Keep doing this until you become good at it.
If you'd like, share your work with others and ask for critique. It doesn't have to be in a university. It can be a writing circle of your choice. Getting critique might be scary at first. It might also be painful and it could discourage you from writing again (if you let it), but if you really are determined to get your work noticed, then this is probably the best way to go.
Congratulations, you're a writer.
I'm not trying to belittle those who did take up writing in college. I'm not saying it's bad that you took up undergraduate and maybe even graduate studies in writing. If that works for you, then, that's great! Keep up at it!
However, I also don't think that you should look down on writers who didn't have any formal education in writing. Some writers wish could've but are hindered by whatever reason or circumstances. Some writers have the means to get it, but prefer not to. They have every right to be just as much of a writer as those who did get formal training in writing.
Just don't forget the three steps: Read, Write, Reach Out.
*****
Let me tell you a story.
When I was younger, I took up Literature as my college major. Well, at least I tried to. However, because of a family emergency, we suddenly ran out of money. I couldn't continue my schooling and I had to find work.
I'd gotten into a really big fight with one of my former friends, and she told me:
"At least I'm putting my major to good use!" (we were in the same class)
"What about you? Your creativity is dwindling! You're just jealous that I'm actually doing something with what I learned."
"Gee, it's a shame. You were literature major and you're coming up crap like this!"
It really hurt, of course, But I still kept writing. Even though I was working, after I was done with work. My free time was spent writing. I came up with so many things and created so many new worlds, characters. It was so much fun.
Although, I always wondered if she was right. Maybe I wasn't a famous writer yet because I hadn't finished my schooling. How would I know what's good and what's not, after all? I had no one to teach me.
After three years, the family situation that stopped me from schooling was solved. My parents said "Go back to school". I did.
I couldn't afford to go back to my old university, so I decided to try what I could afford.
I thought "I can finally prove M wrong! I'm going to finish school and learn how to be a great writer".
So, I became an English major.
****
I learned a lot of things at my new university. I learned how to step out of my comfort zone. I was on my own, so I had time to read and study as much as I wanted. After a few years, I became the Council President. I learned how to socialize (more than the usual), how to deal with people, how to work as a team, I learned how to have a lot of fun (aside from studying).
But because I was so busy with studying and council activities, I hardly had time to read and write. I tried, but there was just always something that came up.
I graduated. Top of my class. With Honors. A shiny medal and spiffy 'cumlaude' stamped diploma and all that jazz.
I realized school taught me nothing about writing.
***
A few years while I was studying, I met my now fiance. Aniel is a programmer by profession. I am now working (and happier in my current job) as a business English trainer and a quality assurance specialist. We both enjoy reading, writing, role-playing (bring on the tabletop RP's). However, we've come to accept that we do it for fun. We bring it out whenever we need a break from the daily grind.
For a few years, I wasn't okay with that. I wondered where I went wrong. Why wasn't I a famous writer by 20 like I always dreamed? Was it because I didn't finish my literature course? My former friend, who is now an internet celebrity because she's kind of like a Big Name Fan and author of a popular semi-original fiction, has made a name for herself. I would be lying if I didn't admit that for a while, I was a little envious. I wanted the same thing.
At least I thought I did.
As time passed, Aniel would just tell me to "write whatever you feel like" and of course, "Can I read it?". I followed this advice. I just wrote whatever I could and whenever I could.
Recently, after taking up a home-based job. I realized I had more time to read and write again.
So, I did.
I read all the books I bought but never had time to read because of school. I kept reading and reading. I realized that I was getting a familiar itch that I hadn't gotten in a long time.
I wanted to write.
So, I did.
I wrote whatever I wanted to. I wrote how I wanted, how I felt like. It was one of the best feelings in the world. Then I noticed that it was a lot smoother than my usual. It wasn't perfect, of course. But I felt like I'd grown so much. I looked at my previous work and my more current works. I was pleasantly surprised.
I learned so much by just reading. I could tell what was wrong, what felt wrong and what I should change. And the thing was, all the decisions were still up to me.
I realized that I didn't want to be a famous writer because my works, my worlds were my playground.
I realized that I wasn't really cool with other people playing in my sandbox (except if you're Aniel, of course).
I realized that I wrote better when I wasn't pressured with deadlines, editing notes and all that.
I wanted the choice: I could either show my work or not. I didn't like being pressured to do it.
Writing is my hobby
And after the longest time, I realized that I was okay with that.