A Writer’s Life: When You Must Face Reality
Sometimes, just wishing isn’t enough. Sometimes, you have to stare at your career options wondering if it’s worth it to pursue a degree in Creative Writing, whether or not you’ll be able to make a living with that, or settle with giving priority to something like law school, or medicine, or… anything more profitable.
High school is over, and it’s time to really think about what you’re going to do.
This is something I went through recently, and I chose to go with the second option. I chose to major in International Business, while still trying to become a published author, but on my own. Only, I’m still struggling with this decision. No super existencial regrets… But, it’s hard not to ask myself how much enjoyable it would be if I were studying what I really want to be. It isn’t that I dislike Business. It’s nice enough. But it isn’t the same.
In an Ideal World…
In the perfect world, everyone would read. Authors would be better paid, and we would do what we love.
I think the most important thing, even if, like me, we choose to follow another path, is to never give up on our other dreams. That’s the conclusion I came to when I first really thought about my dilemma, two years ago when I graduated. I had to take a few dozen pills of reality, by force and then swallow them with some water. It went a little like this:
Pam, you live in Ecuador, and by the time you’re published, you’ll have starved yourself and have learned little about how to set up your own business and you know… survive. Why don’t you focus on learning about that, take it slow… and write some while you’re at it?
Huh, alright.
🙂
Let’s us all put those plans into action and flip off the world and its limitations.
Yeah, that’s for you, world.
Have you thought about what you are going to do with your life yet? Which approach do you think you will take, the I’m-gonna-be-successful-fuck-the-world one -in which case you deserve a standing ovation because you’re very brave-, or will you take the long way-and-still-fuck-the-world?
I only have a few years left ’till college and I’m honestly struggling on what to take myself. I’ve been thinking of taking Creative Writing on a very well-known university in our country – but then again, I’d love to take on Multimedia Arts on a different school that, well, doesn’t have the same reputation, but it’s the only good university that offers MA, so I honestly have no choice.
My parents are supportive of me in my college plans, and I don’t think they have any problem with me choosing either, but I just… well, still struggle. Hopefully I can make up my mind soon than make a rushed decision at the last minute. >.<
Great post, Pamela!
Mara @ Mara Was Here recently posted this awesome thing…10 Things I’d Ask A Genie For As A Bookworm
Sure! It’s great you still have time to think about it. Me, unfortunately I didn’t give it much thought until my senior year, so I’m sure whatever you pick will be okay. Plus, it’s AWESOME your parents support your decisions!
I followed my passion and took a bachelor’s in English. Upon receiving this degree, instead of looking for a job, I went to live in the woods with my typewriter and write a novel. Living in the woods was great (and difficult), but the novel did not come. Now, many lean years later, I’m back in school taking a degree in Accounting. So in answer to your question, I guess I took the brave, I’m-gonna-be-successful-fuck-the-world approach, which has led me in the fullness of time back to the ‘long way’. I still write – that’s the silver lining. Whatever you decide to do in life, writing can be a constant companion.
Unfortunately, this is a reality for most authors – you can’t necessarily JUST focus on writing until you find some measure of success. I hope you do find it!!
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction recently posted this awesome thing…From the Editor – Words and Their Stories
You’re right though that sometimes you have to decide what is best long term and hope you still have time for your passions too.
Julie recently posted this awesome thing…The Stars Never Rise Review
🙁 Decisions suck, unfortunately.