I have a thing about George Orwell. You’ll find references to him all over this website. Here’s another one:
.
‘I knew that when I grew up I should be a writer. Between the ages of about seventeen and twenty-four I tried to abandon this idea, but I did so with the consciousness that I was outraging my true nature and that sooner or later I should have to settle down and write.’
.
That was pretty much how it went for me too.
.
Before becoming a writer I was a graphic designer, beginning my career when the job meant T-squares, scalpels, setting type by hand and trying to decipher marked up visuals from smudgy faxes. I worked on everything from nightclub flyers to banking forms and freelanced for practically every design agency in the north of England – or so it seemed.
.
Then I had some success with the writing I was doing in my spare time and decided to focus on it properly. I moved to Cornwall to do an MA in Professional Writing – a course I ended up teaching on – as well as setting up and running a copywriting business. I did this for a few years before realising I was going against my true nature again. I like the work, I just don’t like all the other trappings that go with running a business.
.
Freelance copywriting gave me more freedom and a CELTA qualification gave me more options. Now I find myself in Sofia teaching English literature at the country’s most prestigious school.
.
I teach, I freelance, I write. It’s the perfect balance for me.