My Writing Journey – A Hobby, A Passion, A New Career

A good friend recently told me not to dwell on yet another rejection of my current manuscript.  She said “It is only a hobby. Not your career.”

If I would have kept a journal of my writing path, it would read something like this:

I am invited to a creative writing class by a close friend.  Thinking I might like this as I always considered myself creative, I agreed.  Remembering how many years ago (before children) I had sent a few manuscripts to several publishing agencies and received good feedback.

The instructor’s first assignment write a short story.

I will write my “Caroleisms” as I like to call them (quotes on life I love to refer to with friends and family)  My favorite – “Don’t be a mashed potato.  Stand up and be a French fry.”

Instead I wrote about my cats.

At the time I did not know the instructor was a cat lover.  This grew a mutual bond.  She and the class loved my story and I loved my newfound aspiration to write and see my name in print.

She introduced me to a wonderful new editor and she and the editor critiqued my work.

The long learning process began.

I read, researched and discovered the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers) and through them found a wonderful children’s critique group from which I have previously spoke of.  I have been told that it takes seven long years on average to break into the world of published writer.  It has been a little over three years and I am at awe by the immense amount of knowledge I have obtained and the wonderful guidance and support I receive.

So, to answer my friends statement – When does your hobby become your passion or your new career.  I don’t know, but I do know this –

When one hour of writing, researching and reading becomes four or five hours or every free minute  – when you cannot get enough information on writing, revising and publishing – you are hooked and it is definitely more than a hobby.

I would love to hear feedback of your writing journey.

Happy Writing.