Above are words that describe my personal experience with being a writer.
As much as I wish being a writer was perfect, all passions come with a certain sacrifice. There are times when everything feels right, but other times when I ask myself: Is this what I should truly be doing?
On May 2014, I was awarded Blogger of the Month. This was a great honour for me and affirmation that hard work does pay off. It wasn’t long before I seriously considered: Should I become a writer for a job?
Dream
It is a part of human nature to fear being forgotten or to live a purposeless life. Writing is a way to make my mark on this world. Ever since I was a child, I dreamed of one day publishing a book. I likely won’t become the next Shakespeare, but I do dream of my work living on and continuing to impact others. There is a timeless aspect of writing: once it is published, then the story leaves the author’s hands and is now a part of human history. It’s powerful to understand that the actions of one person can affect those they may not have even met.
Not a “Real” Job
My parents were immigrants and they worked tirelessly so that I could have a better life than they did. My family primarily consists of teachers, doctors and engineers so I am pressured to go in similar paths. They say that it’s just something I should do for pleasure, but not as a serious job. I respect their opinion and they do bring up some of the potential problems of going into the writing field.
Tragedy
It’s an unavoidable part of life to experience heart-break, loss and suffering. However, it is often this pain that becomes the driving force to pour my emotions out onto paper. It’s a tough process, because I am forced to relive those feelings as I’m writing. In the end, I feel relieved to let it all out. Tragedy is something that all artists show a dose of in their work.
Expression
We all have our own special story that we long to share with others. I say what I want to say, because it is part of who I am. It is powerful and liberating as a writer to write freely and tune out other’s opinions. There will always be someone who agrees and disagrees with me, but what matters is that I am not lying to myself. Life is too short to hide who you truly are.
Loneliness
Unlike other professions, writing is one where spending time alone is mandatory. I already spend hours living in my own world, lost in thoughts. Loneliness can become a real problem if one stops interacting with others and invests all their energy towards their work. It’s an affliction that I struggle with: how do I balance the outside world with my internal world? This is something definitely gained through experience.
Connecting with Others
The greatest reward for me as a writer is knowing that my writing was able to impact even one person. Contrasted by the time a writer spends alone, it is reassuring to know that someone else relates to my words. I believe if you have something to say, then there’s someone who will listen.
Starving Artist
It’s an unfortunate reality that many people who pursue writing have a hard time making a living. I’ve heard it’s similar to being a teacher: you do it because you love it, because you won’t get paid much from it. I know one thing for sure: I don’t want my love for writing to turn into waiting for the next paycheck. I write because I enjoy it, but sometimes that’s not enough in the adult world.
Recognition
The goal is to someday make it big, to become well-known, right? It’s a double-edged sword. It feels great to finally be recognized, but that may lead down a dark path. One must not forget their humble beginnings and let greed corrupt their mind. Fame also comes with the loss of privacy now that you’re in the social spotlight. It’s all a trade-off, but I must keep in mind why I started: because I love writing and I want to help others.
Wisdom & Understanding
I engage myself in a personal conversation when I write. I reflect on my daily experiences, whether good or bad. I ask myself: what do they mean to me? Why is it important? When questioning myself like this, I am able to extract the value of day-to-day activities. I realized that I leave each writing session a little bit wiser and with a better understanding of myself and others.
Love & Hate
I’ve gradually realized that the world is as perfect as I once thought. Hearing about war, poverty, injustice – all this hate makes me realize the importance of small acts of love. A writer has the power to communicate these ideas through their work. Personally, I try to share my morals with living a better life to others. In this hateful world, we all need a bit of love.
Identity
Each person’s identity will continually be redefined as time passes by. Just because I’m a writer doesn’t mean that’s all I’ll ever be. Contrary to the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I believe that “I don’t know” is an acceptable answer. One needs to explore different facets in life to see what really resonates with them. Don’t be afraid to try new things, because they’ll all contribute to creating a more well-rounded individual.
Conclusion
I am still young and in the process of discovering who I am. My experience after joining the Youth Are Awesome team has been a valuable one. I have been able to reflect on the pros and cons of this profession. I know that if I were to pursue this field, then I will have people and experience to back me up. No real job will be easy and success comes from dedication. For now, I will continue to learn, share and of course, have fun. If you don’t enjoy what you’re doing, then there’s better ways to be spending your time.
What do you think of this article? Do you agree or disagree with any of my points, or think that I missed anything? I’d love to hear your feedback in the comment section below or on my Twitter.
