I will be learning interview, editing, and PR skills at Marble School starting in August | Added after the 8/2 kickoff

Maybe SEO writing isn't for me...

This past March, my first job as a writer was in financial SEO writing.

I was enthusiastic, thinking I could leverage my previous work experience, but honestly, I felt like, 'Wait, this isn't what I expected...'

I have been a writer for about four months. After leaving the company where I worked for 15 years last year, I am currently building my track record as a local writer while working a part-time job.

For someone like me who only knew one place and one way of working, the six months since leaving the company have felt like a completely different world.

I have been blessed with connections to people I surely would never have met if I had stayed on my previous path: freelancers, people with side projects alongside their main jobs, and even someone who published a book based on their experience of a mental breakdown.

On the other hand, I have also started to struggle with the dilemma of being a 'nobody,' wondering, What exactly do I do, not belonging to a company... I often find myself hesitating when I reach the occupation field on medical forms.

When I was feeling conflicted like that, I suddenly remembered Marble School.

I originally learned about the school through taking the Personal Editor® course. The trust I had in the instructors was a major factor in my decision to enroll, having asked Marble School instructor Yuki Ishikawa (Yupi) for a note consultation at a student event, and having had the opportunity to talk with Ai, the PR lead, during a Personal Editor interview project.

Then, in May, I took on my first interview job as a local writer.

The interviewee was such a wonderful person, and the time spent listening to their story was so enjoyable that I felt an urge to 'write it!' as soon as I got home. It was the moment my image of 'writing work' completely changed.

Around the same time, I encountered a company that handles products perfectly described by the term 'local production for local consumption.'

There were times when I felt that even though their products were all attractive, they weren't very well known, and my desire to 'convey the creator's thoughts through writing and provide readers with the experience of choosing items by empathizing with their stories' grew stronger. At the same time, I also felt frustrated, thinking, I want more technical skills!

Marble School is a practical school where you can acquire 'writing' plus alpha skills, focusing on interviews, editing, and PR. It was a huge draw that I could learn skills beyond just 'writing,' and that I could have peers in a small-group setting working on the same assignments.

Even when I thought 'I want to try this,' I felt that there were limits to what I could do with my current experience and skills, and I have never been able to shake the lack of confidence that came from jumping into writing work without enough preparation.

Through these three months, I want to aim to be able to say with confidence, I work as a writer.

And I have a desire to support the promotion of attractive local people, products, and events, and furthermore, convey the thoughts of creators regarding products and services through writing.

Honestly, I also feel anxious that I might not be able to work in a way that involves flying around for interviews while raising a child. However, there are graduates of Marble School who are active while raising children, which is very encouraging!

You never know until you try, so I want to make these three months a time to acquire the strength to look back and think, 'I'm glad I took on that challenge.'

▼ Marble School has kicked off!

It finally began on Saturday, August 2nd.

The kickoff was held via ZOOM and included messages from the three instructors, an explanation of the mindset for taking the course, goal-setting workshops, self-introductions by the 6th cohort, and a networking session for participants.

Here is what left an impression on me during the talks.

Course Mindset

• Think of this as a period to develop your own unique strengths, interests, and skills without comparing yourself to others, and make it a time to put in your maximum effort toward your own goals

• Work on as many assignments as possible

• Take full advantage of opportunities for feedback from instructors and mentors

• Real-time participation in lectures is recommended (it's a chance to ask questions on the spot)

Mindset as a Freelancer

• Research things yourself first

• Don't hold onto anxiety; consult via DM or other means!

• For freelancers (and not just freelancers, but also side hustles, etc.), action and connections are important; participating in projects is great, but proposing your own projects is also welcome!

Learning Flow

• While it is a given that you should meet assignment deadlines, the most important thing is to submit them even if you happen to be late!

About SNS

• Repeat input and output (outputting after the lecture is also great)

• Feel free to communicate on X, etc.

• Try writing a statement of purpose or a monthly report

• Sharing information leads to solidifying learning and finding work

Sometimes I end up comparing myself to others and feeling down, but I will achieve my own goals!!

With that said, during the goal-setting workshop at the kickoff, I set my goals for 4 months and 1 year from now.

Goal-setting workshop

Everyone creates the same thing, but in my case, I set my 4-month goals and 1-year goals as shown above.

I want to do my best over the next 4 months while looking back at this goal sheet!