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Monday 10 August 2020

What I wanted to do when I grew up versus what I do

Another topic from Long and Short Reviews, and this one is a good one. 

I wanted to do a lot of things as a child. The first thing I wanted to do was be a secretary, primarily because I wanted to use a typewriter. That wore off after my dad actually bought me a typewriter; I used it constantly as a child, but as soon as we got writing programmes on our Amiga and PC, I was using those instead.

I briefly thought about being a journalist, but then decided I wanted to be an actress instead. The theatre and cinema have always fascinated me, and I was at the time a decent actress and good singer, so I stuck with it until I was about seventeen, when I got sick and tired of arguing with my dad over career choices and picked a different subject to study at university. For a long time after that I had no idea what I wanted to be, although I always knew I enjoyed writing - I just didn't believe you could make a paying job out of it.

After spending several years as a university administrator, I now work as a debt advisor and am a writer in my spare time. I don't think writing will ever be my primary job, but I think it's less stressful to be able to write what I want when I want rather than be restricted by what pays the bills. Debt advice is surprisingly similar to my previous field - it's all about helping people and imparting knowledge, it's just that the knowledge base has changed.

So what did you want to do when you grew up?

14 comments:

  1. LOL... I was in much the same boat. Best of luck with your writing. Who knows? Perhaps it will become more lucrative :-)

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  2. Being a debt advisor seems pretty interesting!

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  3. I love using the typewriter, too. I wish I still had the one my folks had when I was a kid. Good luck with your writing. We're all in this together. :-)

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    1. Mine was given away when I left home. I'll never stop writing, whatever happens. :)

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  4. I've always told people that I love to write but I never want it to be my *job*. Glad you enjoy what you do now though, because that's makes a lot of difference in how you look at working every day.

    My post

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    1. True - I probably wouldn't enjoy it as much if it was my full-time job.

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  5. If writing is what you are and enjoy, keep at it. https://pmprescott.blogspot.com/2020/08/wc-081220.html

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    1. I'll never give up writing as long as I'm enjoying it.

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  6. Interesting. Enjoyed your post. You're right it's tough to pay the bills as a writer unless you are in the right place at the right time and very lucky! Here's mine. https://www.tenastetler.com/lsrs-wed-blog-challenge-what-i-wanted-to-do-when-i-grew-up-vs-what-i-do/

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    1. I think it's unlikely I'll ever be able to quit my day job - luckily I enjoy it.

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  7. Oh, typewriters! I inherited my mom's typewriter when I was a kid. I loved typing on that!

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    1. I did love that typewriter - probably prefer the computer now though!

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