This post is my entry to Make A Living Writing’s contest for a one-year memberhsip into the Writer’s Den.

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I live to write.

I write a lot. I write on my blog, and I’ve written for other blogs. I hand-write a journal every night, and type at least 750 words every morning. I love everything that’s related to words: books, dictionaries, text editors (I have at least 5 different writing programs on my computer). I can write in two languages. If I’m confused, I write. If I’m happy, I write. If I’m sad, I write. If I’m elated, I write. When something doesn’t work, I write about it until I figure out how to make it work; when something works, I write about it to remember what I did.

I’ve been told for years that I write well. I’ve written literally hundreds of essays, proposals, summaries and other academic-related documents. I’ve also written thousands of words of comments on students’ writing as a teaching assistant for a writing course.

I don’t need to learn how to write. In fact, I teach others how to as my main occupation. What I would love to get from Writer’s Den, however, is how to use this talent to make a living writing for others.

Don’t get me wrong–I like teaching. It’s meaningful work that lets me share my knowledge and help students succeed in their academic and professional careers. But I feel that I need to write professionally to be a well-rounded and knowledgeable teacher. The more I know about writing in different situations, the better I can teach my students.

In academia, writing is easy. It’s sollicited. Teachers ask you to write, and then spend a lot of time reading and commenting on it. You don’t get money, but you get grades. It’s gratifying and makes you feel valued when you do well.

But the world of professional freelance writing is the other way around. Writers have to sollicit people to write for them. They have to negotiate compensation. Some writers literally spend years begging for someone to publish them, to give them a chance and to prove that they can move readers to buy, or subscribe, or simply to read more.

I know how to write–but I don’t know how to reach those people who would gain the most from my talent. Learning the ways of professional writing and publishing is something I am willing, and ready, to take on, and the resources offered and shared by the Writer’s Den mothers and members are perfect for this new stage in my writing education.

I will be an active, involved member of this community. Sharing thoughts, ideas and tips with other writers is an essential part of our work, and I have a lot of thoughts, ideas and tips to share from my own experience as a writer and teacher of writing.

Everyone dreams, at least once, about turning their passion in their profession. “Choose work you love”, said Confucius, “and you’ll never work a day in your life”. I want to stop working, and start living. I choose writing.

In other words, while I already live to write, I also want to learn how to write to live.