Runner-up Creative Essay Contest

Share on Facebook

As a young child, I had frequently checked out library books for pleasure. I always thought it was amazing to see the prices of books at stores, realizing that those same books could be borrowed for free at the library. Since there wasn't money for extras, the Winfield Public Library became a constant source of entertainment. Nancy Drew had me dreaming of becoming a teenage detective and the Little House on the Prairie series had me believing I was born during the wrong time.

Many years later, I met my husband and moved to Lakewood, Colorado, a suburb of Denver. The traffic was much more difficult to navigate, but I located the Jefferson County Public Library-Villa Italia Branch and as an adult began to explore other reading material. I loved handiwork and crafts, and the library offered me endless supplies of pattern and instruction books. I became very accomplished in a variety of techniques, thanks to being self-taught from books I checked out at the library.

When I was pregnant with my first child, I began my career as a professional crafter. I got paid for my creations. This was an exciting time for me. I couldn't believe people would actually pay me money for making things. I continued my visits to the library to expand my crafting knowledge. I discovered craft magazines and was intrigued when I learned that many of the submissions were created by ordinary crafters like me. I combed the fine print inside their front covers and made lists of guidelines for submitting my own masterpieces. Thus, my freelance career was born.

Several years later, my family moved back to rural Winfield, Kansas. I began volunteering and working for my children's schools. Eventually the cost of gas to drive to the schools, became more than my pay. I needed a different source of income. I continued to attend craft shows, finding information and listings at the Winfield Public Library. Submitting my designs to magazines provided a little extra income, but the time it took to send in an item and wait for an acceptance or rejection, wasn't money I could count on. The library became my research center on possible job opportunities.

I discovered the Internet. A profile in a craft book mentioned more of an author's work could be found on several Web sites. I had a computer at home, but had never used the Internet for anything but email and homework assistance. I made a list of the sites and spent a few weeks researching how to become a designer on the Internet. I checked out more books from the library. I practiced the style and format of various craft publications and Web sites. I chose a couple of sites to begin with and took the plunge. I figured I had nothing to lose. That was a few years ago. Today, thanks to the Winfield Public Library and it's helpful staff, I have several Internet clients and a steady income. I can begin my day of work in my pajamas and nobody is the wiser. The work is constant, which means so are the hours. I live in the country and can only receive dial up for my Internet service. Many times I have utilized the computers or the wireless connection at the library to meet deadlines.

Thanks to the Jefferson County Public Library-Villa Italia Branch and the Winfield Public Library I have become a professional freelance writer. I love my job. Now, how many people can say that?