I’m taking part in the 30-day blogging challenge and the goal is to write a post every day for five days each week for four weeks. It starts today 4th January and ends on 4th February. Sign up here if you would like to join. Throughout the challenge, I will be posting things relating to writing, marketing, and self-publishing.
Today’s theme is just to introduce yourself. So I thought the day would be a good day to talk about what inspired me to become a writer
So here’s a bit about me. Hi, I’m Tiffany! I’m a twenty-something freelance blogger, editor, urban fantasy author, and entrepreneur. I run my own freelance business Eclipse Editing and Writing. I also have two demons – I mean cats or, at least, I think they are – and a fluffy hamster.
One of my earliest memories is writing short stories – which were most likely about my pets. I especially liked writing about my border collie, Jack and probably my hamsters. I read books from a young age and I think that was a big inspiration for me becoming a writer.
When I left school at 13 due to health reasons and became homeschooled I didn’t know what to do with myself. I lost out on the social aspects of school as I always had to go to the hospital or be off sick all the time. But this also provided me with the time to actually sit down and write.
Over the past few years as my health declined, writing became an outlet to help with chronic pain and illness. I started writing novels in my late teens – most of which I never finished. My grandparents bought me a writing course when I was 16; I started it but didn’t pick it up again until several years later.
After my being told I would never be able to work and giving up on my dream of studying law, I decided to give the writing course another go. During that time, I still carried on writing novels but doing the writing course introduced me to other forms of writing. Typing on the computer became very hard for me so I switched to using voice recognition software called Dragon Naturally Speaking. Without that, I wouldn’t be able to do any of the things that I do.
I later went on to study copywriting, proofreading and social media marketing through the College of Media and Publishing. These courses really inspired me and gave me the confidence the start working from home.
With encouragement from my grandparents, I decided to have a go at publishing my first novel myself. I’m a very independent person so self-publishing was the right route for me. Despite a lot of ups and downs with a bad editor and bad formatters, I published my first ever fantasy novel in March 2015.
I honestly think writing helps me to cope with my disabilities and seeing my first book in print was an incredible feeling.
Check back tomorrow for my next post.
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AnnaRosenblumPalmer
Wow. I love that you are getting so much from writing.
tiffanyshand
Thanks!
Amanda
Amazing! I may have to use you an editor for future writing projects. It’s always been a goal of mine to publish a book so this is really inspiring. I’m also inspired by the way you don’t let your disabilities hold you back from having a meaningful and fulfilled life. Kudos to you!
tiffanyshand
Thanks! What kind of book are you going to write? I’m planning out my first non-fiction book about building and author platform as well as a lot of fiction books.
cassieoxo
Writing is what I use as an outlet to anything – happiness, pain, sadness. It’s how I escape from the real world. I’m so happy that you’ve found this, too. Cheers to us writers! 🙂 Happy writing.
tiffanyshand
Thanks.
Sharon
Wow, your drive to write no matter what shows both the strength and the power of writing. It can change your life! Keeping writing and never give up!
tiffanyshand
Thanks!
Anonymous
Good for you! I’m a professional writer as well–many years now–and I still feel the same way. Writing is a form of self-expression that is truly healing. I’m happy you’ve found your path.
tiffanyshand
Thanks!
Chrystal | Nevermore Lane
I can relate to a lot of what you are feeling. I had a terrible childhood and tried really hard to get through it. I was sexually abused for the first 12 years of my life. Writing was an outlet. My mother was a writer and she wet to college for poetry and English. While I wanted to go to school for writing and literature, I had a high school teacher that pushed me more into accounting and law than my English teacher pushed into the writing field. I followed the accounting path, but continued writing and even published works of poetry , non fiction and fiction under a pen name which I still write. Due to my past, I have some mental illnesses which make living a normal life somewhat difficult. I started blogging 20 years ago. I still do some accounting work here and there, but mostly, I am a freelance writer. I also do legal proofreading and transcription – all from home. Here I am at 40, and I still struggle, but I also know that there are good days and bad days and sometime you have to push through the storm knowing you will get through on the other side.
tiffanyshand
Good for you! And thanks for reading my post. I have good days and bad days myself when I’m too tired or in too much pain to do much which can be very frustrating. I can’t always type much because of pain in my hands and when I lose my voice I can’t use my Dragon either. But I push on.
Mary, Living a Sunshine Life
It’s amazing how writing can be such an amazing tool for us to use for so mean reasons. Not only does it help us communicate but it can be such an emotional connection, an outlet for creativity, and a place of healing. I’ve been looking to do more journaling and writing on one of my many started but never finished novels, in addition to my blogging. I can’t wait to get to know you better!
tiffanyshand
Oh wow, thanks Mary! I really loved your post on creating an editorial calendar. It really helped me to get more organised.