I’ve been thinking a lot lately about writing as a hobby, and how something that once felt a little intimidating, quietly became one of the most rewarding parts of my life. Unlike cooking, which I’ve done forever, or grandmothering, which found me whether I was ready or not, writing was different. Writing was a choice . . . and if I’m being honest, not always an easy one to make.
Starting Is Always the Hardest Part
In the beginning, I didn’t really know where to start. There’s something about a blank page that can make even the most confident person hesitate. You sit down with a thought, maybe even a good one, and somehow it disappears the moment you try to turn it into something meaningful. Almost like it quietly got up and left the room without telling you.
That’s exactly how it felt for me. I wasn’t sure if what I had to say mattered, and I certainly didn’t know if anyone would ever want to read it. But something in me kept nudging, and eventually, I decided to listen.
When a Hobby Becomes Something You Need
What surprised me most about writing as a hobby is how quickly it shifted from something I was “trying” to something I genuinely loved. Not in a dramatic, life-altering way, but in a quiet, steady, almost unexpected manner.
Writing gave me a place to think, to process, and to reflect on moments I might have otherwise rushed past. It slowed me down just enough to notice what was actually happening in my life, instead of just moving on to the next thing that needed to get done. Over time, it became less about writing something good and more about writing something that would touch others’ lives.
Six Books Later . . . and Still Starting the Same Way
Somewhere along the way, writing became more than just a hobby for me. I wrote one book, then another, and before I knew it, I had written six. What started as something I was once intimidated by turned into something I truly loved — and even more surprising, my books found their way into classrooms in my town, where they were used to teach language and geography alongside the stories themselves. That was a dream come true.
I’ve been so delighted to share these stories with children around the country. If you know a young reader, you can check out my Club Us series for readers ages 9–12, inspired by my experiences as both a parent and an international tour operator (sometimes at the same time!).
Available on amazon
Now, I wish I could say that after six books the process becomes effortless — that the words simply show up, perfectly formed and ready to go. They don’t. If anything, they occasionally show up late, slightly disorganized, and expecting me to figure them out.
Every time I sit down to write, I’m still starting from the same place: an idea, a feeling, and a blank page. The difference now is that I trust the process a little more than I used to.
You Don’t Have to Get It Right
One of the most freeing things I’ve learned about writing as a hobby is that you don’t have to get it right — you just have to get it down.
Not every sentence needs to be brilliant, and not every thought needs to be fully formed. Some of them just need to exist long enough for you to fix them later. In fact, most of the time, the best writing comes from allowing yourself to be a little messy in the beginning. You can always edit later and refine as you go, but you can’t improve something that doesn’t exist.
So you write. Even when it’s imperfect. Especially when it’s imperfect.
Writing Has a Way of Showing You Your Own Life
What I didn’t expect was how much writing would help me understand my own life. When you take the time to put your thoughts into words, you start to notice things differently. Even though I was writing for young people, the experience was the same.
You see patterns. You recognize moments that mattered more than you realized at the time. You begin to connect dots that didn’t seem connected before. And sometimes, you discover that what you thought was just an ordinary experience was actually something worth holding onto.
When Writing and Photography Started Working Together
Somewhere in the middle of all of this, photography quietly entered the picture. As I was writing more, I found myself wanting to capture the moments I was writing about — not in a rushed, “let me grab a quick picture” kind of way, but in a way that actually reflected how it felt.
That photography class I took before my trip to Paris opened that door for me. It taught me to notice light, composition, and those small in-between moments that are so easy to overlook. And before I realized it, writing and photography began to work together in a way I hadn’t planned.
There have been times when I’ve written about a moment and then realized I had a photo that captured it perfectly. And other times, I’ve taken a photo and thought, “Well, that looked much better in my head.”
It became a quiet partnership between seeing and reflecting, one hobby deepening the other. And in many ways, that has made both experiences more meaningful.
Why This Hobby Feels So Personal
Out of all the hobbies I’ve explored, writing may be the most personal. No one sees the first draft. No one hears the thoughts before they’re shaped into something shareable. It’s just you and whatever is on your mind that day.
And yet, when you do decide to share it, it has a way of connecting with people in ways you never expected. That’s the part that still surprises, and elates, me.
You Don’t Have to Be a “Writer” to Begin
If you’ve ever thought about writing but stopped yourself because you didn’t think you were “a writer,” let me gently say this — you don’t need permission.
You don’t need a title, and you certainly don’t need a perfect plan. You just need to start. A sentence, a paragraph, a thought you don’t want to lose. That’s how it begins.
And if you stay with it — even imperfectly — it has a way of becoming something more.
A Gentle Thought to Carry With You
Maybe writing as a hobby isn’t about producing something for others at all. Maybe it’s about creating something for yourself — a way to slow down, a way to reflect, and a way to capture moments that might otherwise slip by unnoticed.
Because just like photography, some things are worth holding onto.
You just have to decide to notice them . . . and maybe keep a pen nearby, just in case the words decide to cooperate.
Writing may begin as a simple hobby, but if you let it, it has a way of becoming something you never want to give up.
Until next time, keep . . .
