Dear Reader -

Hello! I’m Andy Brown. I’ve been a fulltime freelance writer and writing coach since 2014. I love what I do, but my dream is to write books for a living. The kinds of books that a small but dedicated audience of kindred spirits will buy and recommend to their friends!

It’s a big dream. Is it even possible? I’m in my late 40s. Should someone in their late 40s have dreams? Shouldn’t I be grateful for what I’ve already accomplished and start gradually winding down? What is the point of aspiration at this age?

It’s a calling. It’s a vocation. That’s the simplest explanation I can offer. I’ve been writing nonstop since I turned nine years old, when for Christmas I received my first journal. I always figured my life would involve writing, but I never knew how. I went to college, got a degree in English, went to graduate school, got an MFA in poetry, graduated, and got a job working for a bunch of magazines.

Because it is nearly impossible to make money writing stories and poems, I began a long career in publishing. It was good for me. In fact, I loved it. I love publishing, and magazine publishing specifically. I consider myself lucky to have worked in a field doing the kinds of work that I found challenging and rewarding.

The problem? The more I advanced in my career, the less time I spent as a writer. I reached a crossroads. I could continue climbing the corporate ladder or dedicate more time to writing — the one thing I never tire of doing.

I chose writing and quit my job. I’d like to pretend that success was a foregone conclusion, but there were many times I thought self-employment wasn’t going to last. Now, nearly 10 years since I made the leap, I’m confident I can freelance for the rest of my working life. Most freelance writers don’t make it past two or three years, so I feel pretty good that I’ve built a sustainable business as a writer.

The problem? To make money as a freelance writer, you trade one set of compromises for another. My compromises have been pretty minimal — for the most part, I love my clients and their missions – but ultimately the type and quality of writing I produce is determined by the people who pay me.

I’m not complaining. At a fundamental level, you can never work for yourself if you don’t love what you do. And I love the problem solving that writing entails. I love navigating the constraints my clients impose and then producing something pretty damn good.

But it’s not my dream. When I’m busy writing for other people and not myself, that’s when I wonder — what am I doing? Despite the joy I get from work, my goal is to spend more time writing what I want to write and less time writing what others expect of me.

Your Support Means A Lot

Although this is not my first blog, it is my first attempt at a blog that combines all my interests and makes it easy for you to support what I’m doing. I hope there’s something about my writing or my story that sparks a connection. If so, I’d appreciate anything you can do to lend a hand:

• Email to say “Hi.” A word of encouragement is worth as much to me as any other item on this list.

• Follow me on social media. If you want to stay connected, I mostly hang out on Instagram and Twitter.

• Join the mailing list. I won’t clog your inbox. I will share news about my writing and new publications.

• Tell your friends. Do you know someone who would be interested in my project? Please share the website with them.

• Buy a book. This is the number one thing you can do to support me. That said, if my writing doesn’t connect with you, please don’t spend the money out of obligation.

Sincerely,

Andy Brown

P.S. Here’s where you can find my “official” biography