"Your job is to write"
When will you?
Years ago I was working a corporate job. A coworker’s husband, early forties—my age at the time—dropped dead.
Literally. They were getting ready on a Saturday morning to run errands. She talked with him, went into the bathroom and when she came out he was gone. Massive coronary. Boom. Done.
I’d been working for the company for three years. First, I was part-time, “just to pay off a few bills.” Then full-time, (“Ooh, this paycheck is pretty nice.”) and then promoted to management. (“Well now I’ve got it!”)
Then the man died.
I woke up one morning shortly thereafter with a whisper from Someone. Higher Power. Universe. God. The message?
YOUR JOB IS TO WRITE. WHEN WILL YOU?
I’d been avoiding writing. Why? The lure of the income from the corporate world. Hard to resist that.
I’d had some early success writing articles and poems and I had more ideas for books. I’d put them all on hold. Fear of failure was huge. And that internalized, “You can’t support yourself with your art” playing on repeat along with, “Don’t quit your day job.”
When I heard, “Your job is to write. When will you?” it sounded like an order. A mandate. A clear call to action.
And it came with a warning label of sorts: IGNORE THIS AT YOUR PERIL
The path was clear. The next week, I left my corporate job to write full time. I spent the next twenty years writing—articles, a humor column for a national magazine, and three books of inspirational humor/memoir. I developed a companion career as a speaker, traveling around the country.
To be honest, writing never paid the bills (and still doesn’t), but the speaking gigs paid the bills very nicely, and oh yeah, I sold a lot of books, too.
Now, in this old woman’s new life, I earn my income as a psychotherapist. This day job is far more in line with my skills and my nature than working in the corporate world.
And I write fiction. My “real job” here on earth is still to write and I work at it every day.
I know not everyone has experienced that kind of clear “call to action.” But you are here for a reason. What would the call be for you?
Imagine filling in the blank: Your job is to _______________. And if you’re not already doing that, when will you?
What are you waiting for? If you’re waiting for permission, you’ve got it!
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I’d love to hear from you on this topic—the nudgings, the urgings, the clear calls you’ve experienced. Thanks for stopping by, for reading, commenting and sharing with friends. I appreciate your support more than I can say. ❤️
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BOOK NEWS: As I write this, the proof copy of Old Habits is in my hands and she’s looking good. We’ll be hitting PUBLISH in the next few days. I’ll keep you posted!
Also available at: Barnes&Noble.com Books-A-Million IndieBound
For a decade, my job was to do what I could to protect children (as a social worker). Then, for two more decades, it was to provide therapy to adults who hadn’t been protected as children. Only in the past few years has the calling to write been too clear to dismiss. I can only hope I live long enough to get all I’d like to say from my heart and brain to the page! Thank you for contributing to my inspiration.
(Me staring blankly at the sheet of paper where I wrote down the call to action) Your job is to_____.
I always thought it was to provide care; as a mother, wife, daughter, Nurse... and more recently to my garden, caterpillars, chickens and other lifeforms existing in my backyard. What if providing care has burned me out? What if my care is all used up? What is my job now? I am contemplating this. I don't know what to be when I grow up!