Considering this is my first blog, I decided it would probably be best to introduce who, exactly, I am. As most of you probably know, I’m Emily S Brown, an author of three self-published books! I was an eighteen-year-old student until a couple of days ago, but now having left college I am an eighteen-year-old woman struggling to find my identity, especially after deciding I don’t want to go to university (at least not just yet).
Currently, I work weekends at a local garden centre which I really enjoy. It’s something that gets me out the house, and my colleagues are great people.
So, with my weekends full, that leaves the rest of the week free. I’m a bit lost on what to do with these extra days, at least currently. I’ve decided to dedicate the time for my writing, for recreating some of what I’ve written to make it even better, and something I find difficult, self-promotion. This includes a whole redesign of my current and future book ideas, journaling (which makes me sound super organised), these blog posts (hi) and a whole lot of social media.
I wasn’t entirely sure what to put in a blog post as I don’t really tend to talk about myself, but let’s give it a try:
Let’s talk about my future goals. Currently my main goal in life is to become a successful writer. So successful that I can make a living from it. That is slow but currently heading in the right direction, after all I have written three books so far with the fourth on the way. Things I am struggling with are the marketing aspects of ‘getting my books out there’. I don’t know the first thing about getting my books known and even less about how to successfully build up a career in writing. As for book promotions and social networking platforms, working out how to boosts posts without blowing all my savings is somewhat challenging. So, I’m soon going to investigate taking some evening courses in marketing, web and social media that can put me on the right track.
Something else I’m looking into is driving. Yes, I’m eighteen and I don’t know how to drive yet. In all honesty, I’m quite excited to learn to drive, I think it’ll present more opportunities for promoting my books, travelling to author events, etc. and with a bit of luck I will be able to pick up extra work hours to help fund the start of my career.
A long-term goal I am aiming for, but a few years down the road, is an English Literature and Creative Writing degree from University. A lot of my peers are off to University now, and I’ll miss the few friends I have, but I know that venturing off to University is not the right thing for me
currently. It may also never be something I feel comfortable doing (as I’ve got quite bad social anxiety – which I’m working on improving), and so as a result I’m looking into the Open University which, not only has more affordable options, but can be completed from the security of my home.
currently. It may also never be something I feel comfortable doing (as I’ve got quite bad social anxiety – which I’m working on improving), and so as a result I’m looking into the Open University which, not only has more affordable options, but can be completed from the security of my home.
Apart from the things listed above, I’ve not really got much else planned. Career wise, I’m looking into either easing into a lifetime of writing (with a part-time job along the side so I can have some social interaction) or securing a full-time job. But at the moment, I don’t want to think too far
into the future because:
into the future because:
- It’s a little way away off and I need to live my life in the present, and
- The thought of my future approaching sends me into a panic of crushing self-doubt and negativity, which I’m trying to keep out of my life.
So, I guess after finishing my first blog, if it can even be called that, I hope you now have an insight into who I am and my aims for the future. If you’ve taken the time to read this, thank you, you’re awesome. If you haven’t that doesn’t matter, you are awesome too, but you don’t know how
much, as you are not here to read it.
much, as you are not here to read it.