My 2018 - This is my Hobby: Writing on paper and online

I have lots of hobbies in my 24 years of existence. I like to read books, I like to play games, I like to watch movies and tv series - both English and Asian dramas, I like to hang out and talk with my closest friends, I like to shop - online and physical stores, I like to take photographs, I like to blog and write, I like to journal, I like coloring, I like to sing and listen to music.

Honestly, the list is endless. I have so many hobbies that I can think of but in this particular post, I think I will concentrate on sharing and talking about my love of writing - both on paper and online.

Writing is my means of release.

I have been writing since I was in grade school. I remember keeping a diary of my thoughts because I found it easier to express myself by writing it on paper than speaking it out loud. I always doodle out a few words that I just think of all of the sudden. My mind is always a jungle of words and to release them, I would write them all down to feel relieved. It was, in a way, a means of release for me. I felt right at home in my room with just a pen and a notebook in my hand.

In school, writing exercises for my academic subjects were a breeze for me and I really loved it when my teachers would critic and praise my work. I don't know if this is still practiced in today's elementary teaching, but in my time back then, we were always asked to write about our summer vacation, our Christmas vacation, our likes and dislikes, our autobiography and the biography of the people we love. I liked those exercises because if it weren't for those, I wouldn't have the building blocks of my writing career today. I didn't have the perfect grammar then (and now) but as I am getting more and more experience as the years progresses, I can really say that my writing has improved by a mile.

Come high school, I composed short poems to release a lot of my hidden emotions. It was in high school when I first encountered love and heartbreak and I took those feelings and converted them into words on paper. I also used to write stories that come to me in dreams. I even dreamt of being a renowned writer. I dreamt of working in a magazine where my articles will be published for the public to read. Today, I dream of publishing my own book. I know it's possible, I just need to have the drive and perseverance to really do it and put my dreams into action.

It was in 2009 that I discovered the wonders of blogging. I was reading a Candy Magazine and I read an ad about Tumblr. I registered and that was how I started blogging.

At first, I just made my Tumblr account an online diary. I would write what I did, what my thoughts were, and how I felt in my little space. It escalated into something more when I began discovering other blogs with specific niches. Being someone who has so many interests, I couldn't pick just one niche to blog about and so I decided to make my blog a personal one where I can write about anything my heart desires.

I would write about the books I've read, I would write about the feelings I felt then, I would write about my life adventures and my journey in my college life.

In 2016, I moved from Tumblr to Blogger and got more serious about blogging. To date, I have already published a total of 130 write-ups. I have also gotten numerous opportunities from different brands for collaborations and clients who want to have me write for them because they liked my writing style on my blog. It was a dream come true because I only wished for those things to happen to me. I really loved that my passion turned into something I can earn from.

Writing is really my means of release. I write not only to share my opinions, thoughts, and beliefs. I write because I want to. I write because I love the process and the challenge of creating something from scratch. I write because it is therapeutic for me. Writing calms me down.

Writing has always been a part of my life, may it be on a piece of paper in my notebook or in a blank page of my blog page. I love words. I love stringing them all together to create coherent thoughts that make sense. I write to save and relive memories. And today, I write to survive, haha.

If you didn't know it yet, I have turned my hobby into a means of something that I can earn from. I have been writing for a living by working as a freelance writer to clients who would contact me. Aside from managing my own blog, I have also been writing for other clients' blogs.

In my experience, writing is not a pot of gold all the time. I have also experienced a lot of downs with it. There are moments when I am at a loss for words, they call it a writer's block, wherein you wouldn't have the energy to write something good enough. And I've experienced this lots of times already. It becomes frustrating but I have always come out of the slump eventually. I would just do something else during my burnout and when I go back to writing, I would be surprised that I have a lot to say again.

I'm really blessed to have turned my hobby into something I can be proud of and that I can earn from it on the side, too. If I didn't love writing, I wouldn't be where I am today.

I've been saying that I really love writing but I'm not really an expert in this field yet. I am self-taught. My grammar isn't perfect yet, and I make mistakes all the time. Reading books have really helped with my writing and grammar, though. And I'm so happy that I love reading as much as I love writing because these two come hand in hand.

As I have mentioned, I like keeping a diary or journal of some sorts. Last 2016, I started keeping a bullet journal and until today, I have been updating it. I have already emptied out my last journal and bought a new notebook to make my bullet journal for this year. And I have been obsessed with it since then.

I've spent some money to buy markers, pens, brush pens, and other stuff to beautify my journal. Some will say that it's excessive but I see spending a little dime for my hobby as an investment to better myself in this craft. And so far, I am improving my calligraphy. This is taking my love for writing to a whole new level. I can now write my thoughts in beautiful lettering and, who knows, maybe someday I can sell what I have created, right? 😊

Writing has already been a daily habit for me. I cannot go on a day without writing a little something in my bullet journal. And also here on steemit, I am so happy that aside from my blog, I can also write somewhere else where I can share my thoughts and opinions and then earn from them, even if it's just a little something!

Writing is more than just a hobby for me now. It is a part of my life and I don't know who I will be if I don't like to write.

I would now end this post here. I am so ecstatic that @anomadsoul has hosted another contest and this time, it's about our hobbies. I had so much fun writing this post and I hope that you had fun reading it as well. Thank you for dropping by my blog!

Check his post about the contest now and join in the fun!

Lots of love,

🌻@renalexis🌻