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At the beginning of 2020, I was half a year out of college and already burned out. I was rejected from dozens of writing jobs, barely published anywhere, and unclear as to what editors were looking for. As a first-generation immigrant, I wasn’t sure I could navigate the hurdles of the American publishing world, and I wondered whether writing was a viable career choice at all.
10 months later, I’ve written for major news outlets including The New York Times and The Washington Post, and have even been signed on to write a book with two literary agencies: Folio in the US and Peony in the UK and Asia.
Ian Kumamoto
I got here because I took my education into my own hands and learned what no writing school had taught me: how to read like a writer, make connections, and sell my work. I found a treasure trove of free and cheap online courses, books, and podcasts that taught me the ins and outs of combining my writing skills with an entrepreneurial spirit, which allowed me to achieve milestones beyond my wildest dreams.
Some of the instructors from the courses even became my mentors: Susan Shapiro, the New York Times bestselling author of more than a dozen books and counting, still invites me to her Zoom classes. And Meredith Talusan, the award-winning journalist whose memoir “Fairest” was released this year, reached out and suggested I write a memoir, then helped revise my book proposal.
For many people who don’t think going back to school is an option — especially during a major recession and a pandemic — making a career out of writing can feel like an unachievable dream. For a while, I felt locked out of the industry, but once I got the ball rolling, the opportunities became exponential.
