Thursday, May 02, 2013

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!


18 comments:

  1. I think knowing what you want to do from a child and following it through must be rewarding but you'd always wonder about all the other "road not takens".
    Most writers seem to drink a lot of coffee so there is that....
    Good luck with this new direction - you never know where it may end up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, my brother is totally happy with his path. He's been a vet all his working life and still loves going to work.

      Yes, I think most writers I know drink gallons of tea and/or coffee. We need the caffeine!

      I have no idea where I will end up...it's a bit scary and a lot fun!
      xx

      Delete
  2. I'm sure that wide variety of jobs you've had could be fabulous source material for several novels. Good that you're determined to become a professional writer and haven't fallen by the wayside. Best of luck with the novella - and with the increasing immersion in coffee, as it were.

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    Replies
    1. That was pointed out to me yesterday...I sure hope it's true. Mind you, I don't feel like I've wasted time doing those other things...it just feels like time to settle into something.

      The coffee is just great fun. If I can combine the writing with the coffee - well, I'm going to be so happy I'll just burst with it!

      Delete
  3. Ooh, good luck with the novella, although I don't think you'll need any luck to succeed in the world of coffee.

    I seem to remember wanting to be a pilot when I was little, but horrendous eyesight & colourblindness (plus getting 'inhabited' by Witchface) put paid to that.
    I suppose I pilot Broom, but it's just not the same as Concorde...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm going to have to send them an email to find out what's happening with the novella, I haven't even got a 'we've received it' word from them. Thanks for the reminder.

      No, a Broom is definitely not the same as Concorde. It's easier to park and makes much less noise!

      Delete
  4. There you go — Coffee World Domination!

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  5. Hello there Roses. Just dropped by on the off-chance that any of the old crowd were still blogging and pleased to see you are - and delighted to see that you are doing things you are passionate about. I'm partial to the odd coffee - although my tastes are pretty similar to what you described yours as being before your palette was more educated.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey there stranger!

      How are you doing? How's things?

      I'm so chuffed you dropped by. Yes, I'm still blogging (just) and writing and coffee!

      Please keep in touch, I'd love to know how things are with you and yours.

      Delete
  6. you make the coffee and i'll make the blueberry pancakes! ;) or did i say that already? xoxoxoxoxo

    ReplyDelete
  7. You did and I don't mind. I'll bring the coffee with me!

    I love blueberry pancakes! Yummy!

    Xxxxx

    ReplyDelete
  8. I was a bit of a tearaway as a kid, but I was a church choirboy and one day, as I was in the vicar's vestry getting changed, he asked me what I wanted to do when I left school. You should have seen his face when I said, "A priest!" I thought he was going to clock me one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good grief! So many friends coming back!

      Hello darling, how are you doing?

      LOL. I can't imagine you being a priest either. Good to see you kept being a tearaway!
      xx

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    2. Good to see you kept being a tearaway!
      I was a cop! What are you suggesting, m'dear? lol

      Delete
    3. Well, I suppose I've left it a bit late to become an upstanding citizen.

      All the retired cops I know are the biggest tearaways ever!

      :-)

      Delete
  9. Anonymous11:48 am

    I occasionally work for the Single Malt Monitor. It's editor, Mr. Rufus J. Flywheel, is a bit of a character.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Really? Is there really a Single Malt Monitor? You're having me on!

      Delete

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