My Story

The first time I remember writing a story that wasn’t a school assignment was when I was eight. I went downstairs to the boxy desktop computer in our basement and drafted a wild sci-fi tale, heavily inspired by Star Wars, which I had just recently watched for the first time. I ran upstairs afterwards to regale my mom with the exploits of my characters as she cooked dinner.

Eight-year-old Joy would be thrilled to know she eventually became a full-time writer. But thirty-year-old Joy (hi, that’s me) is still working towards the goal that first sci-fi story planted — becoming a traditionally published author.

I used to think that the activity of writing was enough to get there. All that mattered was words finding their way from my brain to the page. What I didn’t know until a few years ago was how much I didn’t know — about storycraft, getting an agent, publishing, etc.

In 2020, I realized that I had to “get serious” if I wanted to land my dream job. I needed to first learn some of what I didn’t know and then take the steps that separate writer from published author.

For me, that meant quitting my job as Senior Writer at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, packing up my apartment and driving across the country to live with my parents so that I could put all my time and energy into writing and publishing my debut fantasy novel.

So, that’s what I am doing now…