"And she died of hunger!" Sayofunmi said looking deadly serious.

"What do you mean?" I won't know until I try," I responded in an unsure tone.
"That's going to be the inscription on your grave when you die. Humor me please, just how do you think you are going to make it work with all the bills in front of you? I suggest you make use of your brain before you make an irredeemable mistake."
Sayofunmi was my elder sister, we were both seated in my living room and she was trying hard to discourage me from the step I was about to take. I had informed her that I wanted to quit my teaching job to focus on full-time writing, and she just wasn't buying it.
"It's just something I need to do and if I fail, I'll know I gave it my best," I said with a little more conviction.
"You cannot afford to fail, you have two kids relying on you, and that's why you shouldn't risk it. It's going to take you a lot of time before you get the recognition you need to start making the big bucks."
"Just let me do it, you are only giving me more reasons to go harder, and harder I will."
She left that day thinking I was insane. The funniest part, she landed me my best-paying gig this year.
I'm presently chewing gum, and smiling cause it's only been a year and in words that I can't explain, things have turned out great.
My sister and I look out for each other, we are from a family of five and we have an older brother. The point is, my sister and I are the tightest. I would worry too if I were in her shoes.
It was only last year that I became a single mother with no job and no support system. I picked up a teaching job earlier this year to get income to sustain my family. 
"So, you will be taking English language for KS 2 and KS 3. We are glad to have you." I smiled and patted myself on the back, it wasn't so hard to get a job after all. The pay wasn't good, it was basic but it meant something. To think that I could easily land the job despite what I thought initially, made me proud of myself.
"Are you with me, Ma?" The headteacher who was giving me the welcome orientation jerked me out of my thoughts.
"Sorry, sir, I got carried away. Do you mind repeating that last part?"
"I said we operate a no-phone policy in this academic environment. You are to submit your phone upon signing in each day on or before 7:30 am and pick it up after you close. I suggest you keep it at home, it saves you the stress."
"I don't understand, you didn't tell me this before. I have a son in school, and I need to be reachable in the case of an emergency."
"You can give your son's school the admin officer's number. They can contact you in the event they need to tell you anything."
It was a good environment and establishment, their no phone policy wasn't a big deal, but it wasn't good for me. I'm working because of my kids, if I can't come through or be available when they need me, what's the essence?"
I stuck there for two months and quit afterward, my kids come first even before me.
I got another teaching job, this time closer to the house, but I quit because I changed my environment.
Why only teaching? I've had lots of experience teaching English Language and Literature, plus it was the job with the most flexible working hours. I can always pick up my younger son from creche on the way home, and get his older brother from school too.
I had had enough of teaching that paid stipends to graduates, took advantage of you, and overworked you. The job market isn't so great, and usually, employees don't have a choice.
I have a gift, writing, so, why not just put it to good use? I have written lots of books, and stories that I've been cheered for. I have never seen it as a major deal, everyone can write, right? No matter how terrible it is.
One thing that sets me apart though, I have a way with words, the moment I have an idea, I don't have to do any thinking before putting it down. I'm not perfect, but I'm really good if I do say so myself.
I quit the second teaching job and forged ahead with the sole aim of making a living through writing. What's the worst that could happen right?
The worst did happen, I kid you not. My sister indeed said that you need popularity before you can begin to make money. I would choose money over popularity any day by the way. I'd rather be rich than be popular, but then, I needed connections that came with popularity too. 
Setting out alone is not always easy, and there were days when there was nothing at hand.  
I forged ahead and tried to get writing jobs, but you need to know the right people. Mind you, I'm not new to writing, I even have a few books on Amazon and a few other platforms, but the pool is full of many talented writers striving to be known too.
"𝑯𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒏't 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒈𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔. 𝑾𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒈𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒇𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓'𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒇𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆𝒕𝒋𝒎𝒆. 𝑾𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔 𝒉𝒊𝒎, 𝒘𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝒐𝒏 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒉."     
"I loved the quote, thank you for phrasing it exactly how we wanted." That's one of the deceased's son for whom I wrote a funeral quote for his late father above for thanking me for a job well done.
I'm good with words and penning down emotions, a client could be crying while describing what he or she wants done, and I'll deliver because I can relate to the pain. 
A boyfriend might want to write a romantic inscription on his girlfriend's birthday card, and I'll know just the perfect words to guarantee she loves it and she's moved. 
I could take on the role of an antagonist in my story in my head, and deliver just the right reaction on paper.
I know how to do all that and more, I don't know why, no, I do. It's because that's my gift, some people struggle with what to write In a text and how to present it. That's where I come in, I've never had such a challenge, It's hard work though. I stay up many nights to work, and I always keep analgesics handy cause after sitting for hours to type with your fingers, your back, legs, arms, and fingers conspire to torment you. There's also the neck that's usually stiff from stretching and eyes that are usually water from being glued to a screen. One thing I can say though, it's worth it. Many people are stuck doing jobs they don't love just to make ends meet, I'm lucky cause it's not that way, I have a writing gift, I love to write and even better, it pays my bills. who am I to complain? How many people can say that about their jobs?
"It's a series, I want it shot in Nigeria, so we'll release the episodes in batches."
"That's not a problem. How many episodes are we looking at for a start."
"You should start with the first episode and let me see. We'll discuss your contract as our in-house writer after. I have credited your account with the advance payment. I look forward to hearing from you soon." Mr Ojay said, ending the video call we just had.
I excitedly dialed my sister's number, I started talking the moment she picked up. "Ojay just said I should write the first episode for him to see."
"Congratulations. You had best get to it."
"Thank you so much, Sis for connecting me with him." 
That was just last month, I wrote the screenplay for the first episode and my contract is currently being prepared. I would be placed on a salary and I'm even allowed to take on other gigs by the side. I have other projects I'm working currently and things are starting to fall into place. Never did I think a day would come when my gift could be my source of income. 
I won't sugarcoat it, taking the first step is hard, almost impossible, but as long as your mind is set on it and you become your cheerleader, you will be just fine.No one said it was going to be easy, thankfully, I'm the only player in my team, and that's enough motivation to succeed.I also don't mind saying that I'm not in the big league of writers, I'm nowhere near, but I'm doing good and someday, I'll be up there with the big shots.