Even though I haven’t written a full response to a prompt yet, I can already see feel the juices flowing. Glad to be here ✌️

I used to do well in my school's English exams, especially the creative writing essays. I remember I was in the 11th grade, we were on study break and I was so bored. It struck me that I could write a story to pass the time, doubling as 'prep' for my English exam. I wrote a story that I thought was good and I was really happy with it. So I kept writing to please myself whenever I could.

Fast forward to a few years later, and college was getting super boring too. (I did chemical engineering. Not sure why.) There was this 'media club' of sorts that ran a content website exclusively for stuff happening in and around the college area, and it was pretty popular. They were running a competition where you could send in past work, so I sent in this story I'd written in 11th grade and they were impressed enough to ask if I wanted to join. I did, made it to managing editor of the team, and generally developed a passion for the written word.

I currently work for a small marketing agency startup, but looking back I can see that writing has always been part of my life. From staying up late at night to read the fattest books, to attempting to write (and eventually scrapping) two books by the time I'd left school, I always knew I wanted to be a writer.

I think most of us end up writing for the joy of it. The puzzle, the challenge of making your story fit onto the page; it's so thrilling. Animating narratives frame by frame, building worlds brick by brick, tugging at heartstrings word by word. So that's what I continued to do, until I realized that engineering really wasn't my thing. I started a blog (which only my friends read, and I haven't posted on for years), and this helped me hone my craft, publishing stories, gathering feedback, and publishing more. I still write there sometimes, but I don't expect an audience anymore.

I went through a few years of really bad depression where I believed I didn't have what it took to make it in this world. Writing (and alcohol) got me through that. It helped me get a grasp on the horrible thoughts I was having.

I think the biggest problem for us writers is learning how to monetize our skills. Writing isn't easy, but it seems easy. Most writers (at least the ones I know) are very private when they're at work, so no one gets to see the amount of effort that goes into a great piece. And this means that society doesn't value good writing as much as it should. It's appreciated just fine, but not valued as highly as it should be. At least, not without putting in additional effort outside of writing itself.

I'm in a position where writing is a big part of my work, but it isn't exactly the kind of writing I enjoy. Instead of telling stories, I'm selling stories, convincing people that they need to use this platform or buy that product. Some people will tell you to follow your passion. I'm more aligned with, "Do what you're good at until it becomes your passion." I'm entering my late 20s now, and while I definitely do not have my life figured out, I know I can always turn to writing to level my thinking.

Writing is powerful -- it's what civilizations are built on. It gives us the ability to communicate into the future. Stories preserve lessons, and writing preserves stories. I still try to write stories for myself on occasion, but I'm not always successful. I remember joining that club in college really helped me out, so I figured joining this sub would be my first step back into a community of writers. Cheers to telling stories 🍾