Aneesh Shukla
As a writer, I subscribe to Stephen King’s assertion that art is a support system for life. Now, knowing that writing is not known to be a particularly lucrative profession (generally speaking), he must be referring to how writing enhances life with joy, creativity, spirit, and passion. I have been writing for over a decade and I know only one thing with absolute certainty and that is that I was born to be a writer.
After taking a creative writing class in high school and further pursuing creative classes in college, I began to find my voice as a writer. Over the course of many different shifts and life changes, though, that voice has evolved and shaped itself in a plethora of ways. Studying abroad, graduate studies, living in tapovan-style institution of philosophy in India, working as a high school English teacher in a neighborhood school in Chicago – all of these experiences amalgamate into my identity as a writer. I bring different stories, virtues, styles, cultures, and memories with me and they bleed through into my writing.
As I take my first steps into my new career as a full-time writer, I realize that art is a support system for life in more than just a lofty, inspirational way. As a storyteller, I work hard and spend a lot of time each day crafting short stories and poetry – and I am also working on a fantasy novel at the moment that I hope to finish by the end of the year. In addition, I have started moving into the freelance writing world – I write articles for Game Rant as well as for IAPWE when I can and I am always looking to increase my opportunities to write as much as possible. Working from home and being a full-time writer allows me to be prolific and spend my time solely on writing – which is a luxury that I am truly humbled and grateful to have.