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Alena Hadley
Psychology and English major, Class of 2004
Hometown: Dayton, Ohio |
As a social science researcher, I use writing to produce
data reports and issue briefs. Though I did a fair amount of creative writing
when I was younger, I more recently pigeonholed myself as a technical writer
and consequently became insecure about my abilities to express myself more artistically.
So, when a friend of mine forwarded me a job announcement for freelance travel
writers, I was hesitant to apply. My intense desire to be involved in the
travel industry eventually compelled me to get over my anxieties. I typed up
some writing samples, applied for the job, and was swiftly rejected.
I felt discouraged, but only briefly. Before I completed the
application I had shown my writing samples to a small group of friends,
including one who is an established travel writer. They all enjoyed my pieces
and assured me that their praise was impartial and not rooted in their love for
the author. My rejection letter had conveyed a generic message: “We typically
reject pieces based on issues such as the quality of the writing or lack of
subject matter knowledge.” I became incensed instead of discouraged. My writing
is great, and I’m a travel expert. Even the travel writer said so. What did
these people know?
I decided to start a blog, which I reasoned would give me more
creative freedom than I would have writing for a magazine. As I started
churning out entries on my travel adventures, an incredible thing happened: I
found my creative voice and began to love writing again. Writing about my
passion has given me the confidence to show my pieces to the world. For the first
time in a long time, I feel truly excited about what I am typing on the screen.
That is not to say that I don’t see the importance of my nine-to-five work. I appreciate
the place that my reports have in the world and am satisfied that they are used
to inform policy. But I love my blog posts. They are my creations. They enable
me to savor my experiences and, hopefully, inspire others to explore.
My blog’s reception on the web has been positive thus far, and
I am exceedingly grateful for that. However, the amount of personal
satisfaction I get from this pursuit greatly outweighs any outside praise I
could receive. If you need a platform for voicing your passion, create it. If
you’re writing about what you love, you’re certain to be a success.
Check out Alena's blog!
