Since 1999, I have been writing. Well, no, that's not accurate. I have been writing all my life; for as long as I can remember. It wasn't until 1999, that I became a paid writer.
I had recently moved to a rural community and was looking for a job. I answered an ad in the local small town newspaper for an affiliate newspaper seeking a 'stringer'. More or less, they needed a freelance writer to fill in where their staff writers couldn't. I called, set up the interview and headed 45 minutes away on the appointed day.
The interview was going great, then the senior editor asked me for samples. Ummm... well, I told her, "I didn't bring any with me today. I didn't come from home and must've forgotten them..." oops!
She shrugged her shoulders and gave me a few pieces of paper and asked me to write up an article, get it to her and then we'd go from there.
All the way home I smiled. I had an opportunity to be a real writer! A paid writer!
I took my time interviewing the people necessary, wrote and re-wrote my article. Then feeling satisfied, I turned it in. Then waited.
Two days later the senior editor called and assigned me two more articles. I was IN!
Since those days I have accomplished so many different writing jobs and assignments.
- I spent a combined 14 years as a newspaper reporter/freelance stringer/staff writer
- I wrote over 20 ebooks (all out of publication due to re-writes and edits I still need to finish)
- I have ghost written over 40 books for other authors
- I was asked to contribute to USA Today's magazine for two articles
- I have written hundreds and hundreds of blurbs and outlines for other authors
- I have written hundreds, if not thousands, of online articles for various websites
- I have done reviews for publishers
All of these were either paid positions, assignments or had royalties attached. I did reviews just to keep sharp with my writing and the trends of genres. Plus I am a HUGE reader. I have so many in-print books and my kindle is full. It is how I relax. I enjoy getting lost in fiction. I enjoy reading political non-fiction. I just LOVE to read.
Then in 2012, I was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease and the effects of the illness began to take its toll around mid-2015. I lost my interest in writing. I lost my go-getter mentality. I became depressed (a symptom of this auto-immune disease). I isolated myself.
Countless times over the last few years since this downfall, I would sit down with a pen and notebook and start an outline for a new book. I have so many ideas rattling around in my head. I would maybe write a few chapters and character descriptions, then I'd be done.
It was pathetic.
Then along came steemit.
Writing? Blogging? A new platform?
And it was free?
No way! Get out!
Suddenly I felt... rejuvenated! I had that writing spark in my eye. My husband was happy I had rediscovered my love for writing. He asks daily how my posts and comments are going. He shows such an enthusiastic interest in what I am doing. I am happier than I have been in a long while and am lovin' the steemit experience.
I have even opened my old notebooks and started sifting through them to construct an outline. I am on a writing roll and want to keep it going. Wish me luck and maybe I'll post a chapter on here in the near future
The added benefit is the steem cryptocurrency. After just over two months on here, I did my first 'steem buy' today. Check it out. I feel empowered for this transaction today.
ENJOYING LIFE, WRITING AGAIN AND GONNA KEEP ON STEEMIN'
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