Hi, my name is Melissa Janda and I’m a writer.
Why does that statement make me feel like I’m standing at an AA meeting confessing a secret addiction? Well, it has been a secret. I’ve been a closet writer since 2009. Before that, I only allowed the stories to swirl around in my head as I doubted my ability to translate them to paper.
I tried on other, safer labels in my search for a career. Artist? No, I’d starve to death. Architect? No, I’d design buildings that would collapse. Maxillofacial Surgeon? No, that involves blood, silly. I’ve got it: Accountant. Seriously?
That’s right. I didn’t just try it on; I wore that label for far too long. I thought climbing the corporate ladder would quell that nagging voice inside me, the voice that told me the label didn’t fit. I tugged at those ill-fitting seams for years until they were stretched and ragged and hung from my miserable frame. When I finally had the courage to write, it just felt right. No other label has ever fit so perfectly. It was snug in all the right places like it was custom tailored just for me.
Writing gives me a feeling of euphoria that no drug could possibly replicate. I have finally admitted my addiction. Better yet, I have posted it here, in cyberspace, for the world to see and it feels wonderfully liberating.
This is my story, my journey to becoming a published author. I hope it has a good ending.
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Melissa Janda - A Time to Write 
Hi Melissa,
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and following. Your description above could fit me if you replace “accountant” with “paralegal”. I have been writing since I was 8 and I agree, there is no drug quite like putting pen to paper (so to speak).
Very happy to join you on your writing journey!
Hi Lori!
Thanks for your comment! Your blog really resonated with me. We have similar thoughts and experiences. I’ve always created stories in my mind and thought everyone else did too. I’m finding it’s not that common. I’m fighting a slower metabolism too. I can just look at food and gain weight. LOL. I was also in a car accident that nearly took my life, thus the reference to the career as a maxillofacial surgeon. I am also fighting back problems (bulging disc) and a pulled hammy that are keeping me from the activities that I love (running, biking, tennis, etc.) but the plus is that it has given me more time to pursue my passion…writing! So good to meet you Lori!
Hello Sweet Melissa, I wanted to give you a personal thank you for you liking my posts and being a positive supporter. I try to connect on a personal basis with my followers and the ones I follow. I have truly found a place in my heart for you. God Bless, Barb
What a beautiful thing to say Barb. I’m so glad to have found your blog. Your kind spirit shines through in your writing 🙂
We are so much alike, Melissa! I am glad that we found each other online and can encourage and support one another. 🙂
Yes! kindred spirits. 🙂
hi,melissa!
just saying hello and to say what a wonderful blog you have here.
i share the same-ish ideals as yourself…always wanted to write full time, but always afraid that it wont pay the bills, blah, blah, blah…you know the story!
one day….one day….;)
Well, I just clicked on your name and guess what? I found a terrific blog! 😀 I like your attitude and style of writing…so hoping for more! 😀
Thank you so much! I will do my best to deliver 🙂
I don’t think you will need to try 😉
Melissa, There seems to be a case of Award Fever going on in the blogosphere! I know that you too are probably still reeling from the last award but if you check out my blog for today when you get a chance I left you a Best Moment Award. As I said to others it’s up to you what you do with your award, the point is I want to say my thank-you in return! Hope you’re having a beautiful day 🙂 XOXO
OMG! Thank you! Thank you! That is so very sweet of you Jill! I hope you are having a LOVELY (pronounced in my best Texan/British accent) day too 🙂
Nominated you for The Sunshine Award (the second one) http://petitemagique.wordpress.com/2013/05/02/wow-nominated-again-i-honestly-dont-know-what-is-happening/
OMG! Wow! Thank you so much Patty!
it feels like you are at an AA meeting because admitting you are a writer is admission of an unnatural compulsion (See my blog to see I am speaking about myself), one that, if only you could rid your life of, you would have peace, but you do not want to get rid of this part of you. Addiction? Well, I am.
Nice piece
Thank you 🙂 No, I can’t and wouldn’t want to get rid of this addiction. Writing, it’s one of the few that’s good for the soul.
Hi Melissa, I would like to present you with the Shine On Award, you may find more info at:
http://detectingblackpool.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/shine-on-award-thank-you-tazein-of-transcendingbordersblog/
Congratulations from James 🙂
OMG, I don’t know what to say…thank you! Thank you so much!
Your most welcome Melissa, its my pleasure 🙂
Lovely about page! Best of luck on writing and publishing! It’s a hard road, but worth it! 🙂
Thank you! And thanks for the follow. I’ve been checking out your blog and I have a feeling I’m going to get lost there for several hours.
Haha…thanks for stopping by! There’s some true craziness over there, don’t get too sucked in! 🙂
Hi Melissa! Happy to meet you, and thanks for the follow! Hope you like what you read on my pages as much as I like what I’m reading here.
Thank you! And yes, you have a lovely blog. I’m enjoying it very much.
Hi Melissa. Thanks for visiting and following my blog. It does sometimes feel like a bit of a bald confession to call oneself a writer, doesn’t it? But I believe the first step in truly being a writer is thinking of yourself as one, and having the courage to say the word … not unlike a 12 Step program, eh? 😉 Happy writing!
Yep, the first step is admitting you have an addiction 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
I don’t know if you do blog awards, but I’ve nominated you for the Liebster Award anyway. Please don’t feel obliged to respond; it’s just my way of letting you know that I appreciate your blog. 🙂
Oh wow! I am very honored that you think enough about my little blog to nominate me for an award. Thank you so much Daniel!
So glad you found your niche in writing, Melissa. Keep up the good work!
Thanks Julie 🙂
You have been nominated for the Wonderful Team Member Award and the Versatile Blogger Award. Congrats! Here are the details: http://lmarie7b.wordpress.com/2013/05/18/one-post-to-thank-them-all/
Thank you again! Very much appreciated!
Yay Melissa! I’m so glad you are writing. I always thought of you as such a creative person! I know Accounting wasn’t intended to be your career, but I’m grateful it was for a season. For if it weren’t, you wouldn’t have hired/took a chance on me, an overly confident accountant who jumped feet first into compliance. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you taking a chance on me. I’m so excited you are taking a chance on a new career. I can’t wait to read your book when it comes out. I’m happy you have this blog so I can keep up with you and be inspired. You have always inspired me. So very proud of you friend!
Aww, Andrea. You’re going to make me cry. You give me too much credit, though. You’re the one who had that spark that told me you would take on whatever challenge was given to you and flourish, even exceed expectations. And that you did, my friend. Miss you girl!
Nominated you for the Best Moments Award! http://petitemagique.wordpress.com/2013/05/19/all-those-awards-how-can-that-be/
Thank you so much for the nomination, Patty! I’m honored! {{HUGS}}
Great to see you have a passion for something , keep up with your blog.I gave you a follow can’t wait to see more!
Hi, fellow writer here! Say it loud and proud. Cheers for the follow, I am returning the favour and look forward to what you have to post!
Thanks for the follow 🙂
kudos to you for doing what your heart wanted!
you are now included in my Heroes List….;)
{{Blushes}} Thank you. It took me a while but I finally listened to my heart 🙂
Thanks for the follow. I must tell you that I wish I had been blogging BEFORE I published. I have learned so very much from this warm community of writers and readers. I am in the process of updating my “package” for Red Clay and Roses. I wish you all the best with getting your book out there! 🙂
Writing is freeing!!! 🙂
hey =) i recently got nominated for a couple of awards and was asked to nominate others in turn, so i nominated you. you can check it out here (http://windandlaughter.wordpress.com/2013/06/23/me-awards/) and pass it on if you want to ^_^
Finally found my way here, although I know you’ve liked several of my blog posts. You are in good company, Melissa, as you probably know well now. In the few months since I resurrected my blog, I’ve found so many people who, like me, put off their writing, thinking they were supposed to follow “real” career paths and the like. Through corresponding with other bloggers, in particular those affiliated with the Rome Construction Crew, I’ve finally embraced myself as a writer. It is a good feeling, like you say, a good fit 🙂 I’m looking forward to reading more of your blog! Cheers, Marie
Thanks for visiting Marie. It is a good feeling, indeed 🙂
I’m loving your blog, so glad I stumbled upon it 🙂
Aww, thank you! You just made my day 🙂
I have nominated you for The Versatile Blogger Award! Thank you for developing an engaging blog that I enjoy reading. I have enclosed a link to The Versatile Blogger Award on my blog for your reference should you chose to accept. http://barefootediting.wordpress.com/2013/08/05/the-versatile-blogger-award/
Thanks so much Jill! I just read your post. Congrats on getting the Versatile Blogger Award! You deserve it 🙂
Thanks for the follow!! Looking forward to reading more about you! ~ Gina
Thanks so much for following What The Hell, Melissa. Delighted to follow you back!
Hi, Melissa! I’ve nominated you for the Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award. Details are at http://wp.me/peiX1-kN. Of course, you don’t have to participate. Nominating you is just my way of saying thanks for being part of my blogging world 🙂
Thank you Marie. I really appreciate the nomination 🙂
You’re welcome 🙂
Great blog Melissa! I look forward to following!
-Andrew
Thank you Andrew 🙂
nice blogs.. and best of luck… as I too have a similar vision like you..! 😉
Congratulations on finding a label that fits so well, and I’m honored that you’re following my blog. I hope you’ll find lots there to help you as a writer, and I’m looking forward to reading more of your writing here!
Thanks Candace. I’m glad I stumbled upon your blog. I’m finding it very informative. Thanks for the follow 🙂
Thank you so much for joining us at wePoets, it’s much appreciated. We’d be happy to showcase your work should you want to share. 🙂
Nice to meet you 🙂
Hi Melissa! Just wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the WordPress Family Award. I’m sure you have one already, but I couldn’t help but think of you when I received my nomination. 🙂 If you’d like to pick it up anyway, stop by my blog when you have a sec. http://wp.me/p38Uaw-fO . I’m doing NaNoWriMo this month also! 🙂 I haven’t figured out how to buddy anyone yet on the site. My NaNo user name is lilicasplace. If you know how, can you buddy me? You would be one heck of a motivator! Thanks, Lily (((Hugs)))
Thank you Lily! So sweet of you to think of me! I’m honored! The buddy thing was a mystery to me too! It’s not easy to find. I finally found the instruction under the FAQ’s, I think. Anyway, you enter your friend’s user name in the search box at the top. When their name appears there is an option to add them as a buddy. I’m adding you now 🙂 Good luck with NaNo!
Just happened to run into your blog. You have got a beautiful space running here. Loved some of your write-ups. Its very subtle. I guess I will be hanging around here a lot. 🙂 Great work
Thank you for your comment, Prasad. So glad to find you on WP. I’m enjoying your blog too.
I have nominate you for The Versatile Blogger Award. I am not sure if you accept awards, but if you do you can find the rules of the nomination here-
http://queenzdesire.wordpress.com/2013/11/09/maheshwari-sarees-scarfs-and-stoles/
Reading that Tolkien quote everytime I look at your page is a reminder of just why your blog is so good. I haven’t been on it long, but you really have a cool blog with inspiring posts so even if you don’t accept, please accept the compliment of how much I rate it http://alexraphael.wordpress.com/2014/01/02/awards-versatile-blogger/
Wow! You just made my day! Thank you so much for the nomination. I’m honored. 🙂
Hi Melissa.
Love your about page. I found you via SA Larsen’s Blog on the ‘Writers Creed 2014 post’. I also see your participating in the A to Z Challenge too, so I look forward to meeting you on the journey. 🙂
Sarah
Nice to meet you Sarah. Do you know what you will be blogging about in April? I look forward to reading your A to Z posts 🙂
I have a project that has been sitting around, and lucky enough it has everything to do with the alphabet. So, I thought I’d use that. 🙂
Keep going with your wonderful site http://alexraphael.wordpress.com/2014/03/22/awards-3-in-one/
Hi Melissa, thanks for your comment on my blog! I know EXACTLY what you mean about being a ‘closet writer’ and feeling like you’re guiltily confessing something when you tell people you’re a writer. It’s taken me years to get over that feeling, and whilst I’ve got quite used to blogging about writing, I still find it really difficult to talk about in real life. I suppose I’ll get used to it, though – eventually!
I haven’t grown comfortable with it either. Id feel like an imposter calling myself a writer to my friends when I still haven’t published anything.
Wow Melissa I like your blog and I wish I could write like you, I just cannot quite get the words out the head on to the paper/blog very well. But I was never the best at spelling, grammar and all those important writing things 🙂 any advice ? Cheers for following and commenting on my blog, big hugs Gary x
Thank you very much, Gary. 🙂 Translating the words from my head to the screen is something I struggle with, too. The most consistent advice I’ve seen among well-known authors is to read and write…a lot, but stay true to your voice. You might want to check out Grammarly. You can paste your text on the site and run a grammar check on it.
Hello Melissa! Thanks so much for visiting my blog and for the follow! I see that you are also a fellow A to Z-er 🙂 I’m very much looking forward to reading more here on your blog, and I wish you the best with your writing career! It’s so awesome to do what you love ❤
Thanks Kelli! We seem to have a lot in common. We’re both in our forties and fantastic! We’ve been married for about the same length of time, enjoy fitness, writing, and well, I can’t fly planes, but I can fly in my dreams, lol.
I’m looking forward to reading your posts. Yes I think we do have a lot in common! “Dream flying” is way better than real flying. No long lines or angry people 😉 So far on your site I can see a lot of books that are working their way onto that “reading list” I have on my kindle…
Hi, Melissa, I hope you are enjoying your summer! I just wanted to let you know that I have nominated you for a readership award. I see in your awards you already have it (no surprise there), but I wanted to let you know that I have appreciated your supportive comments! Details are here: http://doorwaybetweenworlds.com/2014/08/07/readership-award/
Thanks Sue! I haven’t been on WP in a while so I guess you can say I’m enjoying my summer a little too much. Just trying to make the most of my time with my kids before they head back to school. I appreciate the nomination! I’ll be back to regular blogging soon!
I’m doing the same – I realized I just can’t do in-depth posts while the sun is shining outside. 🙂 I’ll see you in September!