I guess it depends on who you ask? I have been somewhere between the arts & entertainment and media communications industries for at least 12 years but because it's guerilla, people act like it doesn't count.
When I imagine my career as a Creative Writing Specialist, I feel I have put in more than enough effort for three or four jobs at least.
In the past five years alone, I've published a book, released 20+ songs, started this newsletter (30 weeks straight!), developed a website, designed logos and merch, in addition to organizing and performing several musical events.
But when I scroll through LinkedIn, I often feel like the quiet kid who managed to get invited to my classmate's party where I don't know anyone.
I'm watching other people do my party tricks but I don't have the rapport to prove I could do it better. And I really don't want to. I don't want to hustle, I want to work towards a goal for the greater good and I want a guaranteed compensation for all the effort I put in.
Maybe it's even more of flawed lifestyle than I realized especially because it usually ends with me spending more than I'm make just for the sake of creation. Whether it be the employers or the customers, the fish are not biting.
So how do I get them to want me? Get experience. How do I get experience? Volunteer or do an internship for free. Oh, and if I need a new degree or certification, I would need to have a spare five digits to pay for it and an extra three hours in every day to study. I'm in my 30s, married, and responsible for kids expecting to be fed so that is not a commitment I am willing to attempt.
The funny part is that I sent my ideal job qualities to chatGPT and it listed ten jobs that would be perfect for me. I was honestly surprised at how successful it was. It gave me stuff like nonprofit communication specialist or mental health writer. But none of them actually sounded like they could support a family.
So I revised the question and it came up with even better answers. Except for the fact that they seemed even less obtainable like movie director or ghostwriter. It's not as if I can just go walk into the nearest studio and ask for an application.
So what am I if none of this counts? Is it too late for me? Have I doomed myself by not getting serious in time? I guess I won't know that exact answer till much later.
But I'm realizing I am a lot more qualified than I previously gave myself credit for. I've learned that I already started down that path to my dream job when my elementary school awarded me a trophy for being the best writer amongst the whole student body. And I started my internship after I received my BA for creative writing from ODU.
The only thing I have left to do is to figure out a way for the pay to match the worth. For now, I'm still searching for a solution but I'm feeling hopeful.
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