by Ruth Belena

Created on: July 16, 2008   Last Updated: October 04, 2010

I was taught how to type on a manual typewriter. After leaving school I used an electric typewriter at work, but I still needed all my newly acquired typing skills for setting out rows of words and columns of figures in financial documents. Errors could only be rectified using correcting fluid and the whole thing had to be retyped whenever something needed to be added or altered.

My career in office work lasted for more than ten years, during which time I was always expected to type quickly, often with deadlines to meet, and accuracy was also important. I was a good reliable typist and my employers were all satisfied with my work.

When I was no longer typing at work, I bought myself a word processor to use at home. I set up my own home business for the first time, while I was still working full time, by starting an introduction service. My spare time was spent typing up people's details, mailing out newsletters and lists, and I did achieve some success, with at least one pair of customers married to each other! This, of course, was before the days of internet dating sites or SMS text dating services.

By the time the many people were starting to buy their first desktop computer or laptop, I had ended my employment and was now working full time from home. I established myself as a desktop publisher, producing a quarterly magazine, small press publications and newsletters. I used a professionally designed website to promote my services to the online world, and the income I got from the website more than covered the cost.

Five years later my publishing services were no longer required, because by then anyone with a computer could put their work on a website or print it out on paper.

Now I spend my time writing web content. My articles, reviews, blog posts, discussion topics and comments can be found on many sites. Everything I publish or write is paid for or is earning money for me.

It does take some thought and a little knowledge to do it but I can produce many hundreds of words every day. My touch typing skills are of great benefit to me as a writer, because I never have to look at the keyboard, and words appear on the screen more or less as I think of them. Then I can revise and edit my work before I proofread, spellcheck, and finally submit my piece.

Knowing how to type well, quickly and accurately, has given me the opportunity to work for myself from my own home. It's still a typing job, but now I am my own boss, and I keep all the profits, except of course what I must pay in tax.

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