Why I write

I have enjoyed writing for as long as I can remember. I’m told that, as a child, when I was asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I used to say ‘a writer’ with complete confidence! (Sidenote: why do we ask young people that question? It makes them think that they should know already – and that there’s only one right answer! We need to ban that question…) To start with I wrote stories and bad poetry (I still enjoy writing bad poetry, I share it form time to time on my Instagram as an exercise in humility), but over time I discovered I also enjoyed writing academically – which is really a form of non-fiction. I love how mere words can create worlds. It’s like a magic trick I’ll never stop marvelling at.

Like most people who enjoy writing, I love reading. It’s the best form of escape, education and empathy generation I can think of. Plus you can do it without leaving your house! I read whatever I fancy, I’m not concerned about prize-winning books or high literature. I generally switch between something fun and easy (I like adventure stories) and something that might make me think a bit. I normally have at least one non-fiction book on the go too, with a massive backlog I may never clear because there’s just so much to know. Whatever the genre, any book has the power to change you.

When I realised that my work afforded me the opportunity to write, it felt like the memory of my small childish self was being brought back to life. To start with my writing was overly verbose (it often still is!) and really needed the hand of an experienced editor, but I got better over time. (Another sidenote: this is how you improve any skill, just keep going and trust in the process – even when you’re painfully bad at it!) I’ve still got a long way to go, but I’m enjoying the process of improving little by little.

I love working with people. Whether you’re coaching one-to-one or working with a group, you get an unparalleled opportunity to communicate. You get to share space, words, ideas and energy with others – it’s another form of magic. But however fun and rewarding (and useful, hopefully!) in-person work is, even over the course of a career we can only see so many people. Writing (or videos, podcasts etc) can potentially reach many more.

Careers work is my passion, if you’ll excuse the cliché. Since first starting my training in 2008 (I’m so old…) I have remained curious and enthralled by all things careers. I think about it a lot! Careers-related thinking relates to individuals, of course, but it’s also important from economic, political, sociological, cultural and psychological perspectives. There is always more to learn! And as most of us have careers, it’s an experience that unites us. Careers are personal, but they’re not only personal. There’s a lot more to it than just thinking about jobs.

Writing allows me to explore these broader careers-related topics in a way that in-person work rarely does. Plus it’s an excellent way to share careers information efficiently (telling the same fact to people one at a time is a lot less effective than writing it down for anyone to see!). Through my Substack and LinkedIn newsletter I can (hopefully!) reach an audience I wouldn’t be able to communicate with face-to-face. When I help to create resources for others through my careers writing services I become part of a project that reaches far beyond myself and my own clients.

Honestly though, I don’t write thinking of an audience of many (I am not that influential!). I write thinking of one other person. If something I write resonates with a single person then I’m happy. It’s a conversation, not a presentation (although those can be useful too). When I read something I get the opportunity to share the writer’s ideas, in a small way for a short time. It’s a window to connecting with another person. It’s why I read. And it’s also why I write.