Today Is the First Day of the Rest of My Career

NEW YEAR, new beginnings.

New job.

Writers write, yet as my career in higher education administration advanced, I found myself doing less writing and more, well, administering. Last summer, seeking to shake myself up, I left higher ed to take a job doing marketing and media relations for a law firm. As different as that scratch was, the itch remained. I came to realize that an even bigger change was necessary, and so at the end of 2006 I resigned my position to do something I had dreamed of for years.

Whenever anyone had asked me what I'd do if money were no object, my answer was unwavering: "I'd sit at home and write," I would say. During the autumn, as the new job, as fine as it was, failed to do anything about those bells ringing in my head, I did some serious soul-searching and concluded that I needed to turn my dream into a reality. It didn't have to be permanent -- I have a family and a mortgage, after all, and if I couldn't adequately contribute to the household cash flow, I'd go back and work for The Man. But if I didn't give it a crack, I'd be left with a perpetual, lifelong "What if?" And that's no way to live.

So: Here I am, full-time freelance writer and editor. You can find the details here. At first, I'll be mixing institutional work with more traditional journalism, both online and print; as time goes by, I hope to throw in fiction writing as well. I'll probably post here from time to time on the challenges and issues and, hopefully, successes of freelancing. Meantime, if you need editorial services, feel free to drop me a line.

Comments

[Jeff Martin]

Best of luck, TD. If you've taught me anything, it's that, if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything. Unless that was Doc Brown. I can't remember.

[Tom G]

All the best TD. Let me know when I can buy you a beer to celebrate.

[Mark]

Very cool. Good luck and congrats!

[Tom Durso]

Thanks to all for the good wishes. Jeff, if I had the flux capacitor, do you think I'd waste time writing? TG, will do. Mark, I appreciate it!

[Tom G]

Flux capacitor?! Did you get the idea to hang out your shingle when you fell and hit your head in the bathroom? Will your company car be a DeLorean? Will official company attire include an acid-washed jean jacket?

OK, I'll stop.

[Iain]

Good luck with that, Tom, and best wishes for 2007!

[Tom Goodman]

Bet of luck, TD.

[Geoff Young]

Great news, Tom. As someone who recently took the leap myself, I wish you the best of luck -- enjoy your new job!

[Tom Durso]

TG1: All I'm sayin' is, when this blog hits 88 ...

Iain and TG2: Many, many thanks.

Geoff: Thanks! Can you e-mail me? (tom@shallowcenter.com) I'd love to pick your brain a bit.

[Randell J]

Anyone who quotes Kirsty MacColl is a true writer, and a musician, at heart.

[Oisin]

Tom, best of luck with this. Go at it with a vengeance, and hope to see your name in the Bookseller sometime soon. Preferably before the phrase 'recently signed a deal to publish his best-selling book in the UK for a 6 figure sum . . . '

[Tom Durso]

Thanks, Oisin -- I'd love that, too!

[Latanya]

Well said.

[Lydia]

Great work.