You never know where writing is going to take you. This is what I tell students during my elementary school author visits. It might sound like some vague, empty-worded statement. But I can honestly say that it’s been tried and true for me as I’ve spent the better part of the past three decades just ‘going’ where the road has taken me. And it’s all been due to a series of seemingly unrelated events that had something to do with writing.
The love for stringing words together came early. An essay contest in 8th grade won me some nice accolades, and I think it was then that the lightbulb went off and it may have been the first time I realized that I was really pretty good at something other than kick ball and jumping rope. And it continued through those blue book essay tests, a stint as my high school newspaper editor and some well-written college papers. Yet I never fancied myself a writer.
So I majored in business; the thing the do in the 80s. And I did learn some very useful skill: time management, marketing which is invaluable. And a little about finance, which I’m sure should have come with a minor in chutzpah, since I always want to be ‘nice’ when discussing my fees (ok, Catholic school girl guilt, but that’s another story altogether).
The jobs came in marketing and sales promotion. But my first gig landed me right back in a communications role as layoffs benefitted me in picking up the role of one of those less-fortunate. And again, accolades came from my peers where writing was concerned. Yet again, I never fancied myself a writer. But the next gig was at a magazine, but back in a marketing role. Yet once more, I benefitted from my writing skills and was eventually promoted to Business Editor. But I still didn’t fancy myself a writer.
So I wound up in another sales promotion role in a very corporate environment, but was drawn to writing copy. And it was then that my second light bulb went off, and I realized that I might really desire a career in writing (turning my back on becoming a rich business woman).It’s good that I was such a quick study, huh? So I left for a freelance writing career, but it was still more on the corporate side. And I can honestly say that I had little interest in the topics, even if the money was pretty good. So a re-entry into the magazine biz finally afforded me some very interesting assignments–speaking to international chefs, trips to resorts, fashion showrooms, ice cream parlors, trade shows.
So with technology, for me, there went the magazine biz and I was left to figure out what the next trick would be. And it was then, with not much on my plate, that I began observing my dogs and their funny antics, which brings me back to my opening statement. When I looked around there were some pretty funny events happening in my house, but I never really noticed. My pets always gave me joy, but also a tickle. So hey, what about capturing their antics on paper? It would be fun to finally try a hand at fiction. But mostly, it was just for my own jollies.
I now knew I was a writer, but not a fiction writer. So I took some children’s writing classes and was encouraged. I showed my work to some elementary school teacher and librarians and was encouraged. So I went off on my own having all of that corporate marketing and sales promotion behind me to go out on my own and take a ride with The Adventures of the Poodle Posse. That decision has led to a five book series, a picture book called Once upon a Poodle and a whole different wheelhouse with The Upside-Down Gardener. But more importantly, I’ve found my calling.
As much if not more than writing itself, I love the teaching–the school visits. I love when kids are mesmerized by my presentations, when the lightbulb goes off in their head, when they start furiously writing their own stories and telling me theirs. I’m a writer. And finally, I can say it with my head held high,. My life has let me tell the stories all around me. And even if my pockets aren’t as nourished as my sense of accomplishment and internal reward. Know what? That’s my story.