4 months ago I made some changes in my life that have allowed me to return to my passions after 3 very long years in the corporate world. My focus is on short stories. My previous 9 to 5 included writing but a very abbreviated, mono-informative style and always mimicking someone else. In the end, I was told by my supervisor my skills were that of an 8th grader and I seriously lacked a command of the English language. I am nearly 30, have loved literature my whole life, and did rather well in college writing classes. I was brought on to that job because of my skill in developing reports specifically in Excel, not writing. Academically speaking I'm not an idiot but at that moment I sure as hell felt like one. The other night I spent over 12 hours pouring over a developing story and I was ecstatic! I felt like me again - energized and so overwhelmingly happy! I was pacing around my apartment after restroom breaks beaming ear to ear in pride. That's how the all-nighter ended anyway, before I collapsed into a nest of blankets. My boss's comments reverberating in my head for the for the first half of the night, I paused a lot when I needed to get my thoughts together or struggled with a scene just to feel that same discouragement all over again. I'm telling you all this because I learned to believe in myself again..., no I remembered what it felt like to believe in myself again. That was the proverbial turning point. I want to publish a book and rub it in his nose. I want to quit my job to write full time instead of settling for a reassignment. What I'm saying is it really doesn't matter what others think of you; if you aren't right by their standards that doesn't mean you're wrong or worthless. It's generic to say but from personal experience it's 100% truth. No matter what road blocks your facing, keep going! I learned this the hard way. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk Much love ~a sleep deprived author
Very well said and good for you. Eleanor Roosevelt — 'No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.'
First of all, most writing that people read is at the 8th grade level or below. Newspapers, such as the Wall Street Journal, if I accurately recall from some years back, is written at the 9th grade level, and is one of the highest. So, I think your boss's assessment of what is needed for customers might be off. But then again, I do not know his needs and customer desires and expectations. In any case, creative writing is different than business or technical writing. Continue to press on, and glad you joined us here. Terry
Rock on Tiff. But don't be too hard on your boss. He may have, inadvertently, made you a better writer. Welcome
