I am a writer.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012 at 8:25PM When people ask me what I do, I so badly want to reply with a simple "Oh, I'm a writer!" Coz in my heart that's what I am. That's what I am at the moment. That's where my drive and passion and time lies at the present time.
But I don't.
I reply with: "I'm a primary school teacher" and then I go on to explain that I'm currently on maternity leave and then without any prompting I quickly justify what I do with my time. I explain that I stay home with two small kids, and I design wall prints and run a home-business and then write in my spare time!!
I always feel like I need to justify myself and what I 'do' all day and with my life. It's like I'm trying to prove myself. Make myself sound worthy!!! Not good I know! Something I need to work out within my own battled mind I guess.
I wish I could confidently say that I'm a stay at home mum who writes. I'm a writer.
I'm working on that response....ok :)
I've been writing for as long as I can remember. As soon as I learnt how to put pencil to paper as a small child, and I realised letters formed words and then words meshed together to make beautiful sentences and then sentences entwined to make stories, I was hooked. I have discoloured scrapbooks from my childhood filled to the brim with scribblings and stories. Lists and ideas. Plans and facts. Meshing words together is a major love in my life. At age 5, I won a story writing competition aimed for over 7 year olds. I still have that story - perfectly handwritten on school lined paper. A story about a scared kangaroo.
I called myself a writer at age 5. Why can't I at age 30?
Lately, my writing has paid some of our bills. I'm getting paid to string my words together and share my thoughts. This is massive for me. I'm in a bubble of bliss right now. And more importantly, putting money aside.... my confidence has grown and my desire to write and share and weave words together has peaked.
A few recent online publications that you can find me at:
http://www.ivillage.com.au/i%E2%80%99m-a-breastfeeding-failure/154497
iVillage AU published my article on Breastfeeding on Oct 29th.
I'm now a contributor to the lovely, inspiring site: we heart life
My first publication with them was on Oct 29th; titled: Igniting your Creative Spark.
I'm excited to say that I'm now on the panel of GOOD STUFF Bloggers for Cenovis.
My first post with them went live today, Oct 30th, about finding a work/life balance.
And here is my new website to direct my writing career:
Come visit me at www.clairechadwick.com.au
I also have a magazine article in the pipeline for later this year and another for early next year.
I'm pitching ideas to magazines, I'm making contacts and connections, and I'm working away busily on my children's chapter book. It's busy times here at the Chadwick House. And I love it.
I'm Claire Chadwick. A Mum and a Writer.
There I said it :) Happy Happy :)
Thanks for your support everyone. You egging me on, helps...it truly does.
Reader Comments (3)
This is just brilliant. Love it! Go you. You are a writer and I hope you continue to say that more and more. N x
Love reading your blog Claire, you are correct you ARE a writer(a good one as well). It's funny how in life we feel we are judged, and almost instantly we have to justify our response to someone when they ask us a simple question "what do you do" your not alone I think the whole population has done it at one stage or another, I find myself in that place almost daily, I work in childcare, but I find if you just say that to someone they brush it off like oh your just a childcare worker, so I always elaborate with, i prefer to call myself a educator teaching the next generation crucial learning opportunities in the first 5 years of there life:-), and then so you get talking and people extend there questions and you tell them your actually a carer at the moment...which leads to 50 more thousand questions...I gues we all like to feel worthy and what we do is important so we make sure other people know we are not just another ordinary person walking this earth..:-)
Claire, I'm so proud of you for writing this post. If I could jump through the screen and dance a happy dance around your living room with you, I would :) You ARE a writer and a damn good one. Your words inspire me and motivate me and I think it's wonderful you're going down the path to making your dream of being a 'writer' come to life. Your breastfeeding article is awesome, so are the other too in fact. SO happy for you. And when that chapter book of yours is published, I want to buy the first copy :)