When I started to relate to my characters as if I hadn’t created them myself out of thin air, I knew that I had a bit of a talent and should probably write more.

I wrote my very first piece when I was 10. It was a poem describing a fictional (yet very real) poor family. Though I grew up middle class and didn’t want for much, my teachers were surprised by how accurately I was able to describe the realities that many very poor families experience on a day to day basis.

I continued to write here and there throughout the years, but never took it seriously. Instead, as I got older I started to pursue the path that many people around me wanted me to pursue: working at a corporation.

It took several years as a corporate drone for me to finally realize that my calling was elsewhere. I started experimenting with stories and characters. It eventually led me to writing both fiction and non-fiction as a profession.

As I continued to grow in my craft, I finally found a way to combine my passion for woman empowerment issues with my writing. I recently completely my first Jayelle Hughes special entitled Men Don’t Matter, a concept novel that asks what the world would be like if women no longer cared about men, love and marriage. I also just put finishing touches on my second work, a novella entitled 5eX, which will be available on Amazon next week. Both have girl power themes, are a little humorous and offer readers a whole lot to think and talk about.

These days I write not because of some type of deeper level of awareness or because it sounds cool and hipstery. I write simply because I want to and because I can publish my writings in so many ways.

Even though I haven’t quite found the golden ticket and at times have struggled to make ends meet in my profession of choice, I’m mostly happy with the course I’ve taken. The opportunities are endless. The ideas and inspirations I get on a daily basis are myriad. Sitting in Starbucks over a hot coffee as I create new characters is priceless. It's a beautiful thing.