Why Writing Is Hard (And How I Learned to Keep Going)

For whatever reason, I picked writing as a profession.

Well, I say for whatever reason, but when I think about it, there are actually a few very good reasons I chose it.

Early Writing Experiments

The first is that I’ve always had a natural aptitude for it. As a child, creative writing came easily. I’ve always loved stories – like most children – but I’ve also always been able to ‘see’ things in my mind clearly and then put them on paper in a way that allows other people to see them too. And that, I suppose, is what storytelling is.

I was always praised for this ability as a child and earned good marks at school for English and related subjects. It was just one of those things I did and enjoyed, but maybe didn’t think was that special – I didn’t understand how anyone couldn’t do it, so didn’t value it as much as I should have.

Even so, I kept trying out mini stories and book ideas, often mimicking my favourite authors without even realising it. I went from horse stories inspired by Linda Chapman (My Secret Unicorn) and Stacey Gregg (Pony Club Secrets) to historical romance and fantasy, drawing inspiration from books, TV, and films that captivated me.

Art Over Science

I disregarded my love of writing as a viable career around the time of my GCSEs, thinking more about my passion for animals. I toyed with the idea of pursuing sciences – maybe becoming a vet or a zoologist – but when push came to shove during A-levels selection, the arts won out. I did better in those subjects anyway, and I chose that path, not with a clear destination, but simply because I knew I was good at it – and that was enough to fuel me forward.

When I later did my history degree, I remember a lecture about ‘transferable skills.’ We were asked what we enjoyed most about our studies, and in that moment, I realised it was really the writing at the root once again. I loved conveying my thoughts onto paper and crafting a compelling essay from all the facts. My only frustration was adhering to strict academic rules, like avoiding first-person references.

As a result of that realisation, I dabbled in blogging, transferring my childhood experimentation into the digital world. It was fun – but I lacked consistency. My confidence dwindled when I realised no one beyond my close family seemed to care about what I was writing. Blogs were popping up everywhere, and I didn’t believe my perspective was unique enough to make a dent. I’d start something full of excitement, hoping it would be the thing, and then when it didn’t lead anywhere, I gave up and moved on.

Committing to the Craft

Not knowing what else to do, I decided to embrace writing fully in the only way I knew how – by studying further. I pursued a Master’s in Creative Writing to commit to my craft and gain a tangible qualification. It was proof, I thought, that I could do it.

I already had a novel in progress, inspired by Jilly Cooper's books that I’d devoured in the summer of 2018 while dog-sitting at a friend’s yard. That same feeling from childhood – the complete immersion in characters and worlds – hit me again. That’s when I created the Love in the Sticks setting, characters and plot. I submitted the first 15 chapters as my Master’s dissertation, and only recently finished it to a standard where I could start submitting to agents this year.

Finding a Career Path

After my Master’s, I had to think about writing in a way that could pay the bills. That’s when I discovered content writing and marketing – a field I hadn’t really heard of in 2019. My dream was always to become a best-selling author (and still is) but I needed a reliable career in the meantime.

After a few false starts – commuting daily for a marketing internship in London, a summer working as a groom at Liphook Equine Hospital, and mucking out stables where I kept my horse – I landed a role at PONY Magazine as Editorial Assistant, later becoming Staff Writer for Horse & Rider. I loved it. I gained a reputation for being the ‘resident story writer,’ creating countless ‘Real Life Dramas’ and whimsical stories for annuals – a mix of childhood experiences and fantastical creations like magic shrinking shampoo and polar ponies.

But as adulthood often dictates, I needed more money. Editorial work didn’t pay enough, so I moved into social media marketing and SEO. I enjoyed it, but the pressure to sell and prove your worth in that world dimmed my creative spark a little.

Rediscovering the Joy of Writing

At the end of the day, my career followed my passions—horses and writing. But has it made me lose my spark for storytelling? Maybe.

What I love about fiction is the freedom. The ability to put images into readers’ minds, if only for a moment. That connection, the understanding, is what keeps me coming back.

Writing for brands is rewarding in a different way: diving into the minds of customers, crafting responses, meeting outcomes. But it’s not me. I’m a ghost, voicing a company or publication, following guidelines, trying to get a result.

My ultimate dream remains being a revered author. I want people to cry out for more of my work, to feel they want to hear my take on stories because they want my voice.

Writing fiction allows me to process my thoughts and feel like, “Kiera was here.” And that’s its own kind of joy.

Writing Is Hard, But You Keep Going

Writing itself comes easily. I’m bold, unfiltered, and I can let my thoughts flow onto the page. A blank page doesn’t scare me.

But putting it out there – that’s the hard part.

People’s opinions, or worse, indifference, affect you every time. The resilience you need is a skill in itself, and it can make you avoidant after a while.

So I’m trying to go back to my childhood self – the one who loved writing purely for the joy of it. No fear of critique, no pressure to make money or please a CEO. Just me, my thoughts, and a blank page.

Thanks for reading.

K x