Being an Author
Thoughts on this new career
Firstly, I truly, deeply appreciate every single one of you.
In brief, the plan is to issue monthly newsletters about writing, engineering, design, crafting, and my attempts at comedy. In short, my eclectic interests. Make sure you scroll to the end for a fun fact.
Today’s post is about being an Author.
Calling myself an author took a while: I had published two books and was out of engineering employment for two years before I could say the words out loud without cringing. An element of imposter syndrome contributed, as did the fact that this was never the plan.
Never.
While growing up, I had vague notions of becoming an architect, then doing physics (and maths). Everything I studied took me along this path, eventually leading to a 15-year career as a structural engineer.
So what happened?
Through my work on The Shard, I became a regular speaker, mainly to other engineers. But being an anomaly among my colleagues (short, brown, a woman) led to invites from schools, universities, and women’s groups. I was forced to dig deep and figure out how to communicate with these audiences. In time, I was out doing over 40 talks a year, and loved it, but there were only so many students and curious grown-ups I could reach this way…
Fast forward through a series of events that led me to signing a book deal (more on this in the future), publishing that, doing a children’s version, publishing that, having IVF, giving birth, and being smacked in the face with a pandemic: and I left my job to write.
What’s it like?
I write books because I want to reach curious people around the world, and inspire them to think about how the stuff around us works.
Getting there is a process.
Emotional. Unstructured. Exciting, confusing, hugely frustrating, epic fun, and I am constantly learning — and being overwhelmed by — new things. Having had such a structured career (see? I told you, comedy) for so long meant that it’s been, and continues to be, a real adjustment.
It can be lonely.
I’m blessed with an outstanding literary agent and editor, which means the generation of ideas and getting feedback and support is a given, while not something to take for granted at all. I also love our little writer’s group, and the mentoring scheme I co-founded. Staving off said loneliness meant I had to create my community.
I live from my calendar.
I set myself mini deadlines within the big deadline. I balance writing books with speaking, hosting podcasts and other work, because honestly? money from writing doesn’t come close to my former engineering salary.
But, it’s the learning, and variety, that really drives me.
One day, I’m making slime and bashing it, and trying to write for a 6yo about non-Newtonian liquids (fun). The next, I’m trawling through endless scientific papers to figure out what the earliest tools were made from (less fun). Then, I might be on a train or plane to get to a speaking gig to share these stories (the dream).
And the pure, unadulterated satisfaction of seeing your books in shops, and in readers hands, is second to none. Well, perhaps its comparable to seeing a structure that you designed still standing…
Tell me about you
I’d love to know about your experiences dealing with drastic career changes.
Feelings of imposter syndrome. Learning new skills at a ‘later’ age.
How you manage being self-employed, and any other emotions that this post may have brought up.
Do share.
Fun Fact!
If I’ve still got you, then here’s a cracker. Did you know that Americans used to burn down their homes when they were moving in the 17th century? They were a colony of Britain, who in turn banned the export of expensive, labour-intensive nails. So the Americans collected nails up from the ashes of their home, and took them to their next destination.
Listen
To me making Roman Mars say ‘jack off’, and groan at my engineering puns.