MAJ Archives

A journalist's profile, stories and career in the field of journalism. Know a journalist who should be profiled here? Send an e-mail to Janet E. Bardon.

October 5, 2001
Carol Matthews
Writer/Editor/Photographer
deltas@auracom.com

I've wanted to be a writer since I was fourteen years old, and never considered another career. I've worked at other jobs but I see now they were all in preparation, a resource well, for my writing career.

Although I studied journalism at Mount St. Vincent University in Nova Scotia after high school, it was 20 years later before I sold my first poetry, then another 7 years before I became a full time freelancer, writing non-fiction for magazines and newspapers.

One of the terrifying highlights of my early career was interviewing a member of the 13th Tribe Motorcycle Gang in Halifax. This was part of a journalism assignment, and quite possibly what scared me away from journalism for the next 20 years. That and covering town council meetings.

When I returned to paid writing in my middle years I chose to write about topics I truly enjoyed - gardening, travel, and people - I would relish that interview with the 13th Tribe member now.

Life in general is the best experience for a writer, meeting people, travelling, trying different jobs. A good liberal arts education is a definite asset so that you can make sense of all you experience.

One of the hardest parts of being a freelance writer is the isolation. As a member of the Periodical Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) I learn, laugh, and labour with a group of people who share my same interests and challenges, and it is a wonderful, supportive family.

I have several mentors whom I met after joining PWAC. They have inspired me to write better, taught me how to obtain better pay for my work, and convinced me that writing a book is just another step in a writer's life.

The writing life is not easy, and certainly not the fast road to riches, but it is an abundant life in many other ways - things learned, places travelled, people met. If someone feels called to be a writer - and non-fiction writers feel the need just as much as fiction writers do - give it a try. Talk to some writers, join a group, learn to sell your ideas to an editor, and then do it. Journalism schools are great, a writers' group is better, and the individual motivation to write is the most important of all.

Lots of people want to be a writer. I am a writer. You can be too, if you want it bad enough.

Carol Matthews is a columnist with Canadian Gardening and Saltscapes magazines, and also writes for various other Canadian and American magazines and newspapers. She is the host of a new Cable TV gardening show - Garden Magic, and has been part of a Garden Club on CBC (Halifax) radio.