Emily’s Story: From Marketing Executive to Children’s Book Author

Emily, at sixty-three years old, had worked in marketing for thirty-seven years, climbing the corporate ladder but feeling creatively stifled. She always dreamed of writing children’s books but never found the time to pursue it. One day, she stumbled across the stories she wrote for her first child to entertain her at bedtime. Inspired by this memory, she joined a local writing group and started sharing these stories, receiving positive feedback and helpful advice. Emily also volunteered her time to write for causes that aligned with her interests.

Emily committed to writing for two hours every day before work, slowly developing her craft. Over the course of one year, she hired an illustrator and self-published her first book, promoting it through her network. The book gained traction, and Emily landed a publishing deal for a series of children’s books. She transitioned to part-time consulting work to focus more on her writing career. Now, Emily feels fulfilled by creating stories that educate and inspire children around the world.

Emily chose her work by

• Using her child’s bedtime stories as a creative outlet to explore her passion for writing.
• Joining a local writing group to gain feedback and improve her writing skills.
• Volunteering to write for causes aligned with her interests.
• Committing to writing for two hours daily, consistently dedicating time to her craft.
• Hiring an illustrator and self-publishing her first book to take control of her publishing journey.
• Leveraging her professional network to promote her book and build an audience.
• Transitioning to part-time work, allowing her to focus more on writing while maintaining financial stability.

This article is an excerpt from Chapter 4 of Choose Your Work