My Journey As a Writer So Far
A few years ago, I was writing an identical article for my own blog, theo-cracy.com, celebrating the acceptance of my submission from a print magazine. I had written for many popular websites until then, but never for a REAL magazine.
And it wasn't just any magazine; it was Games World of Puzzles, the world's most popular magazine of its kind with millions of copies sold worldwide each month.
They liked my work so much that they commissioned from me two more articles for later issues. I also wrote for Cruise Industry News, XXL Mag (Hip Hop's "Bible"), Strange and Τρίτο Μάτι.
My work has also been included in two books so far: Listverse.com’s Epic Book of Mind-Boggling Top 10 Lists and Best Rock Writing 2014, funded by Mojo and edited by LEGENDARY rock critic Reverend Keith A. Gordon!!!
A lot of awesome things (to me at least) have happened during my 5-year "career" as a freelancer writer: I worked as a staff writer for GIANTS of the web world as List25, Today I Found Out, Ancient Origins, Listverse, American Express, and Ranker, while my work has also been published by TITANS as Ars Technica, Ozy, Mental Floss and High Tech's DEITY Gizmodo.
Even though I am not an atheist, a piece I wrote about atheism for Gunaxin, was republished by Richard Dawkins Foundation. The man was so impressed with the article that found me on twitter to congratulate me and invite me to New College, Oxford for coffee and chatter. Maybe one day...
How It All Started
It all began back in 2013. It was a Saturday in April when I decided to submit an article to Listverse. It was accepted that same day and published two days later. I was SHOCKED!!! Nothing had gone my way for an eternity and a day. A long living hell had preceded that small victory.
However, I wouldn't write for the next few months as I was busy with my law career. At the beginning of the next year though, I would find myself in a really tough spot.
I had a pregnant girlfriend and a job that paid pennies. I was nearly broke and hopeless, with endless bills to pay – and all this was taking place in a country that made global headlines week after week for its tragic financial crisis. I was plenty desperate. Well...not as desperate as these folks, but you get the point!
Being Greek in 2014, I even briefly toyed with the idea of getting back in the ring to start Pankration/Kickboxing for money, but after a sparring session with a younger opponent, I realized that I was no longer the younger man who had been a State and National champ.
I was like, “Nah… this will cost me more in broken teeth than I’ll ever earn."
(Won this in a Mediterranean tournament in France back in the mid-2000's)
Meanwhile, I worked as a storekeeper for a couple of months for some Chinese businessmen, filed papers for fellow lawyers, and even worked in a friend’s restaurant as a waiter for a few weekends to make some extra cash. My wallet was still bleeding.
I can even recall one cold night in February, lying in bed watching Johnny Depp in Blow, when I had some really intense, tempting thoughts about the theme of the movie.
However, I am a man of law, so I just went to sleep, resolving to find other ways to make money. I was feeling desperate as usual one day when, by a truly Homeric coincidence, I discovered the world of freelance writing, and my life changed for the better. It didn’t change all that much – don’t imagine a Hollywood happy ending or something. And NOTHING was easy.
There were many problems, challenges, and boundaries for me to overcome, including a language barrier. My English is good enough for someone who lives in Greece, but still it’s my third language, not my native tongue.
The truth is that I was discouraged for a while, but then I faced the Do or Die question… can you make it as a freelance writer if English is not your mother language? But that’s not the subject of today’s post. It will be the main topic of tomorrow's post ;)
Notice - Wacky Facts Will Return on Thursday Again. Not that you give a shit, but oh well ;)
Notice - I won't be voting comments for 36 hours so I can boost my Voting Power a bit. It's not personal :)
References: https://theo-cracy.com
Inspiring story! Every tiny bit that happens in our life helps in forming who we are.
If anything was different, we would be someone else or not at all.
Thanks for giving us pieces of what formed this unique person before our eyes. Enjoy your life, your family, love and be loved.
And yes, we give a shit or two for the next wacky facts! You got us addicted loool
ha ha ha, thanks Katerina! Your work is awesome as well. I am not voting for a couple of days to collect some Voting Power. So, I don't want you to be mad at me again :P lol
Κοντεύω να το τερματίσω, είμαι κοντά στο 40% χαχαχαλάλι όμως! Μπορεί να γράψω για το overvoting at your own risk :P
Αι γοντ μπι μαντ αγκεν γιου @$#%$#@%Ρ΅:#Ε:$@$% χου ανφολλοου εντ δεν μιουτ εντ ριπιτ!
π.ς. Καλά, παλι εγραψε ο Τραμπ απο κατω .. πως να τον ανεβάσω ρε γμτ με 40%ΒΠ???
Don't worry, with a bit of luck, steemit will give you the Hollywood ending you desire. And then you will end up dead, alone, in a hotel room from too much cocaine.
BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Ρε πουστη μου ειπα να μην κανω like να μαζεψω λιγο Voting Power και με εκανες και εκλαψα απο τα γέλια.
I suggest Czechia ... and i will come with you!!! :PPPP
eisai megalos pragmatika ta logia einai perita. to gegonos oti dn ta paratises k sinexizes k sinexizeis k apo to ligo p se gnorizo me to xamogelo sinexeia deixnei polla gia sena!
100% ψηφο ενω κανω οικονομια γιατι εσενα σε γουσταρω τρελα αδερφουλη και το ξερεις :P
xaxaxa dn xreiazete re sto comment psifo :P parthn piso na kaneis oikonomia k otan mazepseis edo 8a eimai :P
carry on boss.
Even though I know all this story first hand, still it was very impressive read brother!!!! 😉
Τhank you so much sis. You know all the shit I have gone through period 😉
Writing helps us to finely articulate our opinions in some ways where speech failed. Enjoy the adventure, all the best in your law career.
All the best to you too mate
That was wonderful sir, life is sometime confusing until one hit the nail on the head. When opportunities re far fetch or when its not harness it could delay ones progress. Am happy you got yourself back and did what you know how to do best. Thank you and am also encourage.
Thank you :)
Your story is an inspiring and motivating one. Indeed life is not like a bed of roses. At some point we hustle in so many ways to see that we make ends meet.
Thanks for being a very hard working man where you chose to be positive and endure the hardship and hustles to get some money to take care of you and your wife. With that i believe you have grown in responsibilty as a man.
I have also realised some great wisdom in you of utilising every job opportunity at hand which made you earn some extra cash.
Thanks so much @tkappa for sharing.
Thanks mate
Don't forget, now you are improving your mad skills and contributing towards STEEMIT too. Add that to your CV! :)
I definitelly will ;)
No place for teasing or sarcasm today my friend :) You are an awesome writer who will (hopefully) get the deserved appreciation here on Steemit ;)
Thank you brother, I hope we all get the best out of steemit. I know you deserve great things too :)