And so it begins…
Writing can be a bit of an adventure. I suppose, for those who consider themselves writers first and foremost, that journey might be more direct. For those of us who like writing but don’t have a clue about what or if we can do anything with what we write, that journey is a bit more complicated.
Coming up, I loved two things academically: science and writing. When it came to science I read as much as I could, asked for things like microscopes and chemistry sets for Christmas, and declared early on that I would be some sort of scientist when I grew up. I was sure that science would become my means for making a living.
However, while I was pursuing science in hopes of making it a career, I was always writing. Along with the science books I read in my youth, I also read an assortment of fantasy books. In between my makeshift science experiments, I would write my own short stories and poems. I liked writing almost as much as science, but I never saw a future in it.
Fast forward to now. After getting two degrees in physics, I now work in a technical field that leverages my love for and knowledge of science and math. That feels right. I found a career in science just as I wanted, but I never gave up on writing. I’ve continued to do it all this time. While I was doing my undergraduate studies, I wrote my first real novel The Book of Zeal. In graduate school, I wrote The Abomination. When I first started working, I wrote The Trials of Mariah. Since the pandemic I’ve written The Rise and Fall of the Forever King and The Comings and Goings of the Night Vagrant. I’ve also outlined more stories for the future.
At some point I looked at everything I’ve written and realized that it would be a waste not to do anything with it. That begged the question. What can I do? I work a full-time job and have a family. After looking into traditional publishing, I didn’t believe it was something I really had the time or money to do. I realized that self-publishing was a more realistic option. I decided I wanted to give it a shot. I talked to a coworker (who just happens to be a published author) about it, and he said “Writing the book is the easy part.” That sounds counterintuitive given that it’s not exactly easy to write a full novel, but he was right.
Figuring what level of editing you need, getting a book cover , selecting a publishing route, trying to market effectively… It can be overwhelming, especially if it’s something you’re doing on the side in addition to the job you’re doing to pay the bills. What got me over the hump was setting goals. I had to ask myself what I actually wanted to do. The answer was: share my stories. I don’t want fame. I’d like to make a little money in the process, but I’m not expecting to get rich. Ultimately, my main desire is to have people read and enjoy my work. Coming to that realization made moving forward much easier. In today’s world, it’s a lot easier to put your work out there for the masses to see than ever before. I most likely won’t become some internationally known author whose work will be lauded for the ages. That’s ok.
When it comes to writing and everything that goes with it, if you find a way to enjoy the journey, it becomes easier to be happy wherever it leads you.
