What to do with the rest of my life?!

[JCWiatt]

All my DC are now at school and I'm facing a lot of questions around, 'What will you do?' I've loved being at home with them and I'm really feeling the pressure to come up with an exciting answer, but the truth is I just don't know!

I was quite career driven pre-DC (brand management) and managed a team etc. I have no interest in going back to that level of responsibility at the moment, as I don't want full-time hours. I want to be around with my DC as much as possible.

My DH is very supportive of whatever I do. TBH I'm content at home, but would like something that I can take pride in and be passionate about. I am financially sound, so I'm lucky to be in a position where I can take my time. I don't want to rush into something just so I can answer the ever probing questions on my work status.

Looking for advice on where on earth I start. I've been giving it thought and the one thing that sparks my interest is writing. I've considered post graduate study or perhaps some industry leading courses as a starting point. I need to learn the craft and want to be as professional as possible. Not looking to make big bucks, just to be fulfilled.

Anyone else faced this crossroads? How did you approach it? Any resources you'd recommend?

Yep, my youngest starts school tomorrow and I start university.

Like you, I didn’t want to go back to my old career. I did some volunteering while I was home with the kids and that has led to my new path. I’m doing a qualification that will allow me to work in the field I’m volunteering in. It’s a huge change of direction and the work will be self employed and part time. I honestly can’t wait.

Part of me is excited for this next phase, but I'm also daunted by it. I've always known my next step, so this uncertainty doesn't sit well with me. Staying positive and hoping if I take some steps forward a path will become clearer.

if you want part-time and rewarding work, then volunteering is a good idea. I'm sure there are lots of charities that would love to have someone with your skills on board.

Yes, I have been pondering volunteering. A good way to dip my toe back in, whilst giving something back. Not sure it would quieten the, 'But what are you going to do now?' questions though. I think people see me in my previous role and expect me to go back to that level. I've been out too long to do that anyway, but I also don't want to!

I had a similar marketing background to you and went back to uni (online) to study Literature and Creative Writing. By all means do it if it interests you as a hobby, but be aware that there are likely to be few writing jobs in the future, as AI is really having a major impact, especially in areas like copywriting and PR.

BTW - I did volunteering in the form of marketing and PR for charities and arts organisations I was interested in once my kids went to senior school.

I started volunteering in 3 areas I was interested in (3 sessions a week). Two led to job opportunities and I took up one of them.

Yes, I have seen a course like this. It would predominantly be for my own interest, but would be nice to have the possibility to lead to something. I was reading on the creative writing thread about lack of jobs, which is a real shame.

This seems like a practical route. Just need to work out volunteering possibilities locally.

Ah, this would be so good on the Mature Study and Retraining board, @JCWiatt!

I wasn't sure where to post!

I'll see if I can get it moved.

Yep AI will make this trickier. What about starting a small marketing agency - and by small I mean help a couple of small local businesses. Or volunteer your marketing expertise to a small local charity?

I'm still working out if I want to continue in marketing or move in a different direction, so I think volunteering could prove useful to see what lights a spark. I haven't worked for 6 years, so feel I need to walk before I run.

You mention an interest in writing; are you actively involved in writing currently?

(I have known people to feel crushed when, on enquiring about one of the more highly regarded creative writing masters courses, they were asked which prices they had won.)

I have been reading up on this and realise I would't be accepted. Not too despondent though, as not sure I could face a masters!

It’s not all or nothing! And of course I can’t tell you what the outcome of any application would be - I only know that the best of those courses attract a very competitive cohort. Which means even if someone without an ongoing practice were accepted, they’d possibly feel a bit intimidated by their fellow students’ CV’s, websites and sharp elbowed career-minded-ness.

So by all means, apply. Just make sure you have something vaguely impressive to bring to the table first.

One other thing! If you did mean ‘creative writing’ - it’s inevitably going to be a dead end for most people. Everyone with an X account is a ‘writer’. Decide if you’re a poet, or a playwright, or a song writer, or an essayist, or a games developer, or even an actual novelist - and find the best course for that.

Stupid typo earlier - ‘prizes’ obvs.

Definitely lots to think about! Fiction writing is my main interest.

I'm in a writers' group and three of the others have done MA Creative Writing courses. They have all confessed that they wouldn't recommend them to someone else - mostly because they don't actually do much in the way of 'teaching you to write' and there's a lot of critiquing of other students work, which given that a lot of them are early 20s is heavily biased towards fantasy adventures apparently!
Two of them said they would do a Faber type course instead.

That's really interesting - not a fan of fantasy! I have been looking at Faber and Curtis Brown.