Hello World, I’ve got a voice to find.

Danielle Kirkwood
Aug 9, 2017 · 3 min read

I’m a content writer working for Intuit QuickBooks UK.

I’m a writer.

Sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreamin’.


Yesterday

My journey to ‘writer' has not been smooth, not least because it was never my intention to get here.

I want to blame the high school English teacher that told me, age 14, I’d be lucky to pass my exam. She also told me that I’d be lucky to get my English to a level good enough for acceptance to the university of my choice. Ultimately, I think I’m just a maths person.

Her input did confirm my suspicions though, and that meant I never even thought to pursue a career in writing. When it came to expressing myself creatively, I stuck to watercolours, graphic markers and programming.

Of course, one can never truly avoid writing. Whether it be college essays, university reports or corporate emails, writing was going to be a part of my life.

So how did I make the jump from reluctant student to employed writer? Beats me.

Today

Internal transfers, mobility moves, a reallocation of resources… However you refer to it, it’s my explanation for my current job. Rarely do I admit that I was hired to be a writer. I’m even reluctant to tell people that’s what I do. I don’t think I’m worthy. I have a dream job, and it’s not my dream. How is that fair?

Still, I’m here, and I love it. I learn something new every day and when I stop to reflect, I can see how far I’ve come. How I’ve grown.

It is still scary. That English teacher shot my confidence, and I have a responsibility; to maintain the high quality of writing produced by my company.

How do I balance the two?

At work I have guidance. A clear direction, a set of rules to apply. For the most part I don’t have to think about subject or style. I’m representing a collective and have the safety net of cohesion and consistency to catch me if I stray. An inside-the-box creative style. Suits me.

Tomorrow

But what about at home? I’ve never written for pleasure, I don’t even know where to begin. How I write and how I sound at work, that’s already defined. I am QuickBooks. So what happens when I choose to grow as a writer, to find my voice? To find my style? Who knows…

Let’s find out.

Part one of unknown

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