Trying something new.

Recently a friend of mine encouraged me to do some creative writing.

I’ve thought about it before, but I never knew what I might possibly write about. I enjoy writing. I have a degree in journalism, and although I have very little interest in being a journalist, I wholeheartedly appreciate the foundation all those journalism classes helped develop. I believe I benefited more from being a journalism major than if I’d been an English or creative writing major.

That said, I’m not some sort of literary genius. I often receive unsolicited praise for my writing, which is always flattering, but I know I could benefit greatly from the discerning eye of an editor.

Anyway, I decided to follow my friend’s advice and start writing something original. I typically write from a place of personal experience or just as a way to express my thoughts on an issue weighing heavily on my mind, so I’m new to the practice of developing something from scratch.

I’ve only been at it a few days, mostly in the time after I get home from work, but I’ve written six-ish pages. And I can tell that my heart is in it, because tonight, when 10:00 PM rolled around, I’d forgotten all about the new episode of Better Call Saul (thank God for DVR).

Anyway, I’m interested to see what I can do with this new endeavor. Best-case scenario: I become a better writer.

At some point, I might share some of what I’ve written, so if you’re interested, keep an eye out.

A Ramble On Writing

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Something interesting happened when Facebook went from being a closed community for college students, and opened its doors to literally everyone, exposing our undergrad-only environment to the world.

Suddenly, we weren’t just a bunch of college kids with a secret realm all to ourselves. Now, our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings and cousins (both young and old) were pouring into what had been an “underground haven” for university students around the country.

When it first happened, we were a little shocked. There was a general air of “What just happened?” as we all looked around with our mouths agape. We’d been found out, and now had to share this space with just about everyone we knew. And at first we didn’t know how to handle it. It was awkward. Everyone you knew suddenly had new insights into your life, and people began asking themselves, “Do I really want this person to see that? Is this post is going to confuse these people?” Continue reading

Reflecting on 2013

2013

I’m not usually this candid about my personal life, and honestly, I’m nervous about being so open. But 2013 was a strange year for me. It was the year I quit my day job and tried to make a living freelancing. Without context, that probably seems like a poor decision. I’d grown to hate what I was doing, but it was more than just the typical grumblings of a dissatisfied employee. I had gotten to the point where I dreaded, and even got sick to my stomach, at the mere thought of going into work each day. I hated what I was doing, and I wanted to put my degree to use.

I’d saved up a bit of money to live off of, and because I still live with my folks, I don’t have many bills. It’s a luxury most people aren’t afforded, and I’m grateful that I’m in the position to take this kind of risk. Now, I know some people scoff at the idea of a 25-year-old still living with his parents. To some, that’s seen as mooching, lazy or even pathetic. However, in many parts of the world, it’s not uncommon for children to live with their parents until they’re married and ready to start a family of their own.

But that sounds like I’m making excuses for my current situation. I’m not. But I’m also not embarrassed by it, either. Many of you understand firsthand just how bad this job market is, because many of you also went to college for four years or more and found yourselves in similar predicaments. Continue reading