What do you Want to do when you Grow Up?

I remember I was asked that a lot when I was a child. I think my family was spoilt by my brother who knew he wanted to be a vet when he was 13 and then he went and became a vet. My mother said I should go into Public Relations. A family friend suggested I should read law. Instead, I upped and left and didn't become anything.

I've worked since I was 18 years old. My time out of employment and economic activity in my working life does not tot up to more than 12 months. Though I hasten to add, I pursued 2 bachelor degrees in this time and whilst I worked, it tended to be on a casual or part-time basis.

After I finished my Creative Writing degree, I took my CV to a supposedly different kind of employment agency. There was no logical career progression. I didn't fit into any of their neat boxes.They looked at it and told me I was unemployable. I left their offices slightly miffed and was once again in employment 10 days after that ridiculous meeting.

I don't know what I want to do when I grow up. I'm not even a grown up yet. I've tried out a lot of things: barmaid, receptionist, shop assistant, economic development officer, office administrator, marketing assistant, call handler. Most of these jobs, I would rather not do again. I've been there, burnt that tee-shirt. 

Writing, is my only constant. I wrote my first book when I was 13. I tried to write for publication when I was 21. I started my Creative Writing journey in 2003 and I'm only now ready to call myself a writer.

It never occurred to me that my chequered job history and daft way of looking at life, might give me insights into things that other people might find interesting. Yes, I've been blogging since 2006, but I blog for my own pleasure and my followers are my friends, not my "audience".

In the last few weeks, I've become more confident about calling myself a writer. This year, I completed a 15,000 word novella. It's sitting with a publisher now. I would be ecstatic if they take it, disappointed if they don't - but determined that it won't be the last submission. I've also been writing articles as well.  When I went to the London Coffee Festival last weekend, I approached various trade magazines and made some contacts for freelance work. 

Whilst I was doing all of that, it came home to me that my being uncertain about my career path has become one of my strengths, not my weaknesses. Following my interests and my bliss will be my career from now on.

Today, I've been setting up my new bliss: coffee. I'm going to train to be a barista. I want to learn and write about all things coffee. So, I've set up a separate twitter account and I'm thinking about a Facebook page. There will definitely be a blog. Watch this space!