5 Signs I Knew Writing Was My Jam
Ever fancy yourself a writer and flirt with the idea but are too afraid to pull the trigger? I’ve been there, so my struggles may be similar to yours. Turning a hobby into a full-blown career is no small feat. But there are signs to know if this is something you want to pursue.
I’m no well-acclaimed writer and nowhere near the level of a seasoned freelancer. So, who am I to tell you what the signs are? But I do know that I saw these signs in myself, and perhaps some may resonate with you.
1. It Brings Me Joy
First, writing brings me joy. I’ve been doing it since I was in third grade. I used to love writing stories, and English class was always my best. The funny thing is that English is my second language despite being born in Canada.
Writing is my creative outlet. Even during school days, I would enjoy writing essays, hashing out Shakespeare and writing gothic poetry on the side. Then, it was something I neglected as an adult, but I always tried to pick up any writing jobs at my work because it was the only time I ever felt good about something. So yes, if writing brings you joy like it does for me, perhaps it’s time you take a chance!
2. This Is Not My Final Form
Writing doesn’t stop at getting words on paper or your screen. It’s about honing your craft by evolving, adapting and devouring all the good advice out there.
And in pure Kathy fashion, here comes an unsolicited One Piece reference! Did Luffy stop at First Gear? No, he continued to evolve and reach Fifth Gear. On top of all that, he learned to control his haki. It’s the same when it comes to writing.
Success doesn’t mean nailing it all at once. Nothing in life does. You don’t get the Fifth Gear overnight; you get there by getting all the Gears first and failing lots along the way. Failing is a scary thing; it’s just human nature. But it excites and motivates me. After all, failing just teaches you what not to do again; it’s how you grow, even as a writer. My writing today is much better than it was even a month ago. I enjoy learning continuously, even when it’s tough to get out of bed or feel inspired.
3. Geeking Out Through Research
Now, let's talk research. Y’all be groaning at it, but not me! I love the research part, and it’s half the fun. Especially with all the AI tools we have now, it should be much easier and faster, too! The research has helped me learn more about what I like to write and what I don’t. It’s also helped me learn more about what I love as well.
Take my Formula One article, for example. I love the sport, but there’s still so much I don’t know about it until I sit down and write. The more I find out the little details, the more I fall in love with the sport. That goes for a lot of what I decide to write about.
It’s all part of the process. You’re not just crafting words, but you’re also learning along the way to assemble your masterpiece.
4. Pushing Yourself to Just Write
Here’s the tough part—one I struggled with initially. A lot of us are perfectionists or afraid of judgment. It’s the same as posting content to social media. You want it to be perfect, or you’re afraid to get utterly destroyed in the comments. These are all very human traits.
But I say, tell those inner voices to STFU, just sit down and write. It’s hard to do at first, but it will get easier if you show up every day. If you got something that’s half-assed? Share it! Who cares. It’s the authenticity that counts, and you’ll attract the ones you want to attract. I may not publish every day, but I do write every day, big things and small things. I just keep writing.
It’s also important to accept that you won’t be for everyone. If you are, you’re doing something wrong. So don’t let this get you down. Plus, when you start, not many will see your work anyway until you start posting more and more. As I see it, it’ll be a journal of your entire journey, and you can see how much you’ve improved over time. I don’t know about you, but that motivates me to keep going.
Tap into your warrior spirit and treat each pen stroke like you would strike your sword on an opponent. Push through it, and let each stroke take down your fear and insecurity!
5. Stories Are All Around Us
Lastly, I see stories everywhere. Your whole life is a story already. You don’t have to write about it, but if there’s life, there’s a story. A good conversation with a friend, daydreaming, playing Dungeons & Dragons, reading, etc.- all that inspires me to write. If I run out of ideas, I bug my friends to see what topics they want to see or write themselves if they could.
I admit when I started, it was tough to come up with ideas. It’s easy to see what everyone else is writing about and pushing out the same thing. But that gets boring. Write stuff from your own eyes; it’s something that AI could never replicate.
Write about the time you picked up your first kitten, your first date, or the first time you experienced watching One Piece. You can spin a tale out of almost anything; just stop bashing yourself and start listening to things around you.
There Ya Have It!
Turning writing from a hobby into a career is nothing but wild. It may not be tough like sailing the North Sea, but it sure as hell feels like you’re on the Velocicoaster at Universal Studios! But spotting these signs in myself has made me realize that I would love to do this for the rest of my life and make a living out of it.
So, if these signs sound familiar, perhaps it’s time to take the leap and dive into that pool of words. Do it for fun, on the side or just jump fully into it (please only do so if you can financially - don’t come blaming me after).
May the words be with you!