Finding Joy in Taking the Next Step in Your Creative Career By Alyssa Sherlock
In May 2021, I had just started recovering from a mental health crisis. I had believed that a traditional 9 to 5 job would lead to straightforward career growth and stability, but it only stripped away my joy and, combined with other factors, pushed me into severe depression. Emerging from that crisis, I realized that I needed to pursue something more meaningful if I wanted genuine recovery. I decided to go after what I had denied myself out of fear for so long: publishing a book. That decision initiated a two-year journey of self-publishing my book, this is a love story: poems and essays on friendship, love, and mental health.
Here are some of the joys I discovered when taking the next step in my creative journey:
Shifting my mindset and prioritizing my creative practice: By committing to publishing a book, I had to make writing my main focus. It's easy to neglect creativity when it's just a side hobby or hustle because it seems less important than earning a living, for example. However, I realized that if I wanted to see my book on shelves and in people's hands, I had to carve out time for it. Setting a timeline and deadlines for the project also forced me to take my creativity as seriously as, if not more than, my day jobs.
Believing in my voice: It took me two years to write and produce my book before it entered the world. To create, produce, market, and share it, I had to believe that my voice and words mattered. Creatives are often their harshest critics, but embarking on a journey to share your work with the world requires confidence in your abilities. Reminding myself why I was writing my book and who it was for became a constant practice.
Professional growth and development: Transitioning from creating art in my bedroom to sharing it with the world was a significant learning curve. Pursuing self-publication meant I had much to learn. I invested in multiple books on how self-publishing in Canada worked, covering everything from formatting to using distributors and obtaining ISBNs. I attended various workshops on publishing as well as craft, taking courses on poetry, creative non-fiction, character development, and dialogue. I learned how to engage with local bookstores to get my book on their shelves and organize events. I benefited from the wisdom of more experienced writers about publishing and the realities of a writing career. A writer friend who had turned her writing into a full-time endeavor shared that her career had developed slowly over ten years, helping me appreciate each small step in the publication process.
Building an intentional community: Throughout my publishing journey, everyone emphasized the importance of networking. I attended as many events as possible at my local bookstore, participated in retreats, and joined various online writing communities. I reached out to friends and mentors and had writing sessions with both new and old friends. Meeting new friends and supporters was one of the most rewarding aspects of taking this next step. The people I met on my journey to publication became my cheerleaders, reviewers, and comrades with whom I could share the challenges and nuances of creative careers. Having my book on my shelf at home now is even more special because it's accompanied by books from friends.
Taking the next step in your creative career, no matter what it may be, can be daunting. Moving into the unknown, uncertain of success or failure, and facing potential challenges can be frightening. However, if you never take that next step, even if it's risky, you'll never grow as a professional, a creative, or a person. I made excuses for years, such as being in school, not wanting to be part of a business, just wanting to enjoy my writing, and being too busy. But there is tremendous opportunity in trying something new and different in your creative career, whether it's pursuing publication as I did or something else you've been dreaming about but hesitating to act upon. It might not turn out as you initially envisioned, and it will likely be challenging, but you may discover more life and purpose than you ever imagined, rekindling your passion for creation in the end.
Alyssa Sherlock is a writer from Winnipeg, Manitoba (Treaty 1). In her fiction and creative non-fiction, Alyssa explores topics of loneliness, mental health, family, and friendship. Her illustrated debut, this is a love story: poems and essays on mental health, love, and friendship released April 2023, and in 2022, she was shortlisted for the CNFC/Humber Literary Review Creative Non-fiction Contest. She regularly connects with writers and storytellers to interview them about their stories. You can find more about Alyssa and her work at alyssasherlock.com.
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