How the corporate world killed my passion & how I reclaimed it! A story of love, loss…and writing
In the clamour of the digital age, where content is king (or queen) and the pressure to conform is pervasive, lies the essence of a writer’s challenge: how to stay true to oneself. It’s a journey akin to navigating a sea of expectations, where the siren song of popularity often leads one off course. For me, the voyage began with a question that touches the heart of every true scribe: Does my writing reflect who I am, or is it merely an echo of what I believe others wish to hear?
The Raw Beginning
My odyssey into the world of words started with a raw authenticity that resonated with readers like a strike of a gong. There was something in the unvarnished truth, a certain kind of purity, that drew people in. They weren’t just reading my stories; they were experiencing my truths, my heart, my unfiltered lens on the world.
I mean, how much truth and unfiltered experiences can one find in a two page story about a giant child and a female wizard written by a 6 year old PJ Sherman, am I right?
But that was the point. I wrote what I wanted, how I wanted.
There were no rules. No one to tell me this structure was wrong or what wouldn’t appeal to a mass audience.
I just wrote.
And guess what?
I LOVED it.
So much, I used to write Doctor Who fan fiction scripts for my friend’s YouTube channel (check out LAP Studios, you may spot a familiar face from 2007…), pages upon pages of Final Fantasy fan fiction (7 for Sephiroth before you ask), poetry that was littered with the emotions of a traumatic childhood (that’s another story), before finally embarking on my degree in Screenwriting.
It wasn’t until the grim reality of what a future in ‘writing’ would look like thanks to the less than excitable words of my University professor did the rose tinted glasses come off…
A Corporate Detour
But then, the corporate world beckoned. With its sharp suits and sharper expectations, it moulded my writing, pressing it into a shape that fit neatly within the confines of its walls. My words, once wild and untamed, began to tame, to soften, to conform. It was a slow, creeping change, but I felt it keenly — like losing a piece of myself. The realisation was dreadful, a wake-up call to a slumbering aspect of my identity.
I tried to push back, I really did. When I was in Dubai, working as a financial adviser, I started a financial newsletter. I filled it with allegory, personal opinion and it was less than corporate, but it was effective. And I enjoyed it.
Then my boss called…
The newsletter stopped. It wasn’t professional enough. It was giving the wrong impression. “But people are engaging. I’m seeing more clients” was my reasoned argument. That wasn’t good enough. It didn’t fit the corporate picture, so it had to stop.
Fast forward years later. I had joined a new company that seemed to ‘get it’. They welcomed my creativity and pizazz. Until they didn’t. I had started to post things on my LinkedIn, which highlighted my human side, the personal bits. Again, engagement was high and feedback was good. But again, it didn’t fit with the corporate image. It had to go.
So did I.
I was sick of being silenced and constrained. I wasn’t writing anything offensive or detrimental, but it didn’t conform. So I took my life back.
Rediscovery and Liberation
The path back to myself wasn’t immediate. It was a gradual reawakening, a peeling away of layers that no longer served me. But when I finally shed the last of those corporate shackles, it was nothing short of liberating. I understood then that my messages wouldn’t resonate with everyone — and that’s perfectly okay. The right people, those who vibrated on the same frequency as my authentic voice, would understand. We would vibe together, in a symphony of shared understanding and mutual respect.
So I find myself before you today, opening up.
A Formula for Greatness
In my quest to aid others who found themselves adrift in similar waters, I devised a simple yet potent formula that I share with my clients:
Knowledge + Authenticity + Storytelling = Great Writing
It’s a formula that champions the core of what makes writing truly compelling. Knowledge grounds your words in truth, authenticity breathes life into them, and storytelling ensures they soar. It’s a trifecta that, when balanced, can turn the mundane into the extraordinary.
The Final Word
To my fellow writers, I offer this: whether you’re penning a novel, crafting a blog, or scripting your life’s work, remember the power of staying true to your voice. It’s a beacon that can guide you through the foggiest of nights. Some voyages are long, and the waters are not always kind, but the journey back to the heart of your writing — to the very essence of your authenticity — is the most rewarding journey of all.
It is here, in the unyielding pursuit of our true voice, that we find not just our best writing, but ourselves.
For those who walk the path of the written word, remember this tale. Let it be a reminder that authenticity is not just a component of great writing — it’s the soul of it.
