Any writer out there can probably identify with this: writing without a finish line in sight is difficult—the kind of difficult that has me wanting to curl up into a little ball, quit school, and just bury myself in retail work for the rest of my life. At least then, I’d be making some kind of secure income. At least then, people wouldn’t be questioning my career choices (maybe they would a little, but my point stands). Life as a writing student is difficult.
Oftentimes, I find myself questioning whether I’ve chosen the best career path for myself. Am I even good enough of a writer to make this lucrative?
Whenever someone asks me what my dream job is and I tell them that I want to be an author, it’s like time stops for a moment. You can see the cogs in their brains turning.
Click…
Click…
Trill…
Click…
Click…
And almost always the answer is something along the lines of, “And what do you plan to do to make money while you do that?”
What a buzzkill, right? I mean, if any statement could ever offend me and discount my work, it’s that statement right there.
And yet, I always have an answer prepared because……it’s a valid question. Writing is such a broad career path—so many different trails to choose from and very few of the talented chosen.
And that’s when imposter syndrome kicks me in the teeth. Used to, any time someone asked me what I wanted to do with my life, I would have to mentally prepare myself for the responses. I would dread the weird looks and the unsolicited advice. I actually got to a point where I would just give a basic answer and be on my way—wouldn’t even mention writing.
But when you’re actively going to school for English, people start asking questions like, “Don’t you already speak English?” or “What do you plan to do with an English degree?” My answers to those questions started determining the kind of person I was in these peoples’ heads. People would assume teaching or news journalism, and I would just smile, nod, and walk away, feeling worse about myself than moments before.
It’s moments like those when I have to remind myself that being a writer begins and ends with my own work. No one else’s. The work I put in will produce an ever-growing amount of benefits—the kind of profit that mattered more than that of the monetary variety.
One amazing thing that I’ve encountered as a writer is the growing community that will join alongside you in your journey. Community is so important and can be an incredibly empowering motivator for continuing to pursue the career and putting pen to paper. Community also allows for feedback. I think attending college is really good at building communities that allow the proper space for feedback and growth. However, outside of college, it’s important to continue building a strong community that can back you up and hold you accountable in your personal writing journey.
Additionally, I’ve noticed that the inspiration you will bring others by continuing to pursue your career is reward enough for the difficulties you may go through along the way. Being a writing student is difficult, but when the accomplishments come, it makes it so much more worth it because I can say, “Those odds that everyone set before me? Yeah. I defied them and I worked hard for it!”
