Hello and welcome! I am EJ (well, I am here, anyway – I blog under a pseudonym), and I gave up the 9-5 to fulfil dreams of becoming a writer. Although that time has passed, it’s left me with a desire to keep writing, as well as a portfolio of work including a full novel and two novels in the process of being written.
This blog is a place for me to share my highs and lows, my experiences, useful links and work in progress. I love to hear from others and will happily engage in discussions about life, the universe and everything!
Normally I aim to post twice a week, on Sundays and Thursdays, but I will post more whenever I have projects on – or if I come across something that I want to share with you all! Since 2014 I’ve added a Tuesday post discussing books I’ve read in the last 7 days.
Please bear in mind the work on this blog is copyright; if you do share it please ensure you state where it came from!
Finally, I have undertaken creative writing courses, which I refer to on occasion. My core textbook was ‘Creative Writing – A workbook with readings’ (Anderson, L. (ed) ([2006](2009)), Abingdon/Milton Keynes: Routledge with The Open University) which discusses many of the ideas I have absorbed as regular writing practice.
Happy reading!
EJ
🙂
Becoming a writer 
Good luck with the transition from hobby to working writer and definitely enjoy the journey – after all that’s what will get you there in end… I’m sure you’ll see the world from a totally different perspective, and get writing inspiration from all sorts of sights, events, experiences that would otherwise sadly have perhaps gone a little less noticed. I can feel the excitement in your new venture and wish you every success – happy writing! KM
Thanks Karen – I’m glad the excitement comes through, I am incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to focus on something I love. You are right: everything I see is a possible scene, setting or poem – I think I notice more now than ever before!
I hope this blog helps get your creative side going too, whether it be writing, painting, crafting, cooking or anything else; just go for it!
EJ 🙂
It looks like we are on a similar path in our writing journey’s so I will follow you to check on your progress. Good luck and if you have time pop by mandyevebarnett.wordpress sometime where I share my journey and invite other writers to do the same.
Thank you – it’s great to know others are going through the same thing, I will definitely pop by! Thanks for the follow,
EJ
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I’ve nominated you for the Inspiring Blogger Award – please collect it from my blog – mandyevebarnett.com
Enjoy
Thanks Mandy, it was fab to pick this up just as I think about my first year of writing this blog!
What a lovely, supportive group of people there are in the blogging community!
EJ 🙂
Hi EJ! Love your blog and have nominated you for the Daisy Award!
Thank you very much!
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You are welcome! Love all your writing insights!
Welcome to the writing world! I too am learning the ropes too. Your blog is encouraging! Good Luck and lets keep writing!
Thanks Ellyn – I’m glad you’ve found it encouraging – it’s still growing and developing but I try to find the positives in each week!
Good luck to you too 🙂
Huge congrats on taking the plunge and ditching the 9-5 world! I’m enjoying reading your blog =D
Thank you – I’m incredibly lucky I had the choice!
I’ve been reading your last post and just commented there, look forward to reading more of your blog.
🙂
[…] EJ […]
I admire your desire to revise and rewrite over and over. I’m getting to that point so I’m excited to follow your progress. Best wishes!
Thank you, and good luck with your work too!
Revisions are essential to me; once I start the process I am not just the writer but a reader. If anything makes me go ‘huh?’, I expect another reader will feel the same so it needs editing 🙂
Hi EJ,
You have taken a very brave step giving up your 9-5 job to become a writer. I am looking forward to reading your blog!
Out of interest, did you do the creative writing course with the Open University? If so, would you recommend it? And have you ever done any courses with the Open College of Arts or the Arvon Foundation? I’d be interested to hear your thoughts on which one you preferred and why as I am considering taking a creative writing course sometime in the future too.
All the best in your career as a writer!
Thank you 🙂 I’m lucky, not everyone has the opportunity to do it!
I did two with the OU, the 10 week intro course and the full second year.
I actually wrote a post a while ago (week 89.5) about alternatives to studying in this way because the costs are so much higher now that the rules have changed.
What works for a person is different depending on where they are in their writing experience, so I’d recommend looking at the syllabus for any course and seeing if it covers what you need/want. A lot of universities offer creative writing courses – from intro to MA level – either in person or on-line. The academic route, with grades given and so on, was fine for me but isn’t everyone’s cup of tea!
Arvon is different but would work for someone who enjoys a more intensive learning experience, with more direct interaction. Solo writing retreats are also available.
If you want more info, pop me a ‘contact me’ message and I’ll dig out what I have! 🙂
Also, I personally think related subjects are worth attention too – eg I’ve done a proofreading course; I’m hoping to undertake a public speaking course soon, plus am looking at courses on marketing and promotion; I do courses on subjects I want to use in stories, and so on!
Good luck choosing 🙂
Hi EJ,
thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my comment and sharing some advice and your experience.
For some reason, and I don’t know why, I couldn’t find week 89.5. But I found a lot of other interesting posts instead! 🙂
I’ll definitely drop you a ‘contact me’ message.
Andrea
[…] poem that Vicky’s cousin EJ wrote and read for us as part of our service was framed by herself and partner as our wedding gift […]
Hi! I’ve just found you’re blog, but I love it! I’d like to nominate you for the One Lovely Blog Award. You can find out about it here: http://teenagetailoress.wordpress.com/2014/08/14/one-lovely-blog-award/
Please do follow me on my journey and well done!
Thank you, teenage tailoress – I have a little page about awards so I’ll add you to it. It’s a lovely feeling getting them, isn’t it? Congrats on receiving your first 🙂
Good luck with the sewing – I’m no good at making clothes, myself, but a good friend of mine has a fabric studio and I love to imagine what the material could be! I hope you share some of your work on the blog!