Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlotte R. Beard
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
As far back as I can remember, from the time that I could start forming words on paper to create sentences, I have had a love for the art of writing. I recall that before I started writing my own short stories as a child, I’d just copy and rewrite some of my favorite short stories from children’s books along with redrawing the cover’s artwork; I had a love for drawing as well. As a matter of fact, my initial path was to study fine art after high school. However, due to being young and impressionable, a high school teacher encouraged me to follow the path of pursuing a degree in technology. I took a break from my career in technology in 2018 to freelance full time as a writer.
Before I made that leap in 2018, for a while I was a part of the Missouri Writer’s Guild and was continuously exploring my love of writing in various ways like writing poetry, participating in open mics, and attending writing conferences before I started interviewing and writing for some local publications.
Between the years of 2018 and 2021, life for me was challenging in various ways but I also discovered that writing for me had gotten away from what drew me to it as a child—the art of it. Somehow the joy in writing was missing because the art of it began to diminish. I found that can happen when your writing becomes more about what people think you should pursue and less about what your heart desires to write. So, today I am re-inventing my pursuit of writing by focusing on the paths that allow me to be more creative. One of those paths is to complete the book that marries some of my life lessons with the creativity of fictional writing.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As I mentioned previously, 2018 to 2021 presented challenges just because it was a new pursuit into entrepreneurship in which I had positioned myself as a writing consultant and freelance writer. In my second year, my finances became more challenging, but I was resilient—I refused to give up the journey I was on so quickly. So, in 2019 I began to supplement my income by becoming a rideshare driver for Lyft. Also, unknown to me we were right on the heals of the pandemic, so building more writing opportunities during a time like we were in just added to my financial challenges.
In hindsight, I wish I had considered backup plans and plans to pivot in my writing pursuits prior to 2018.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am proud of every opportunity I have been given to interview people in public service or the entertainment industry and write their stories for publications. I am proud of the many opportunities people have given me to spend time with them understanding their work experiences to write job-winning resumes for them. I don’t know that everyone I have served has gotten the job they desired, but I do know of some people who have. And I must add that though I never planned to pursue a degree in technology, it is that degree that placed me in a role within Human Resources that exposed me to the secrets of writing a resume that would cause a hiring manager to look at that resume as a candidate for an interview.
I am also proud to have authored a book of poetry and am currently working on a novel.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
It matters most to me to do what I enjoy. When I am not enjoying something that I am doing, not limited to writing, I know that I am less likely to give it my all. Anything that I commit to I must enjoy it because I want to do my best in my commitments. For me it’s a circle—if I enjoy doing something, it will show in what I do. However, if I lack interest in what I am doing, again, it will show in what I produce. I serve people best when I serve them out of both my gifting and interests.
Contact Info:
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2STysVDRGqVPXzzDxVdsvQ
- Other: https://charsglasshouse.blogspot.com
