I Owe My Writing Career to Mac (As in Macintosh)

It took me a long time to discover that the power of writing could transform my life. English was far from one of my best subjects in school (I managed a C in high school and I was glad to get it), but in my dreamier states, I dared to speculate about what it would be like to become a writer.

In 1984, that dream started to become a reality. 

After a visit to the local Apple store, and thanks to a nice (and I might add very cute) sales lady, I strolled out with my own Macintosh, a printer, and a new credit card with the entire purchase on the account.

The computer only ran two programs: MacPaint and MacWrite. It didn't take long for me to realize it's next to impossible to draw anything useful with a mouse. By Monday morning, with a good case of buyer's remorse settling it, I became frantic to find some way to justify this irrational and spontaneous buying spree. I set about using MacWrite to type my first article.

I wrote a short piece about the reasons for spaying your cat for a newsletter called Purrrr! (with five Rs and an exclamation point). A month or so later, I received my first check in the mail for $50. It was my first exposure to "passion money." My next attempt, a short science fiction story called Dog's Best Friend was initially accepted, but never published.

I became a regular contributor to Purrrrr!, but over twenty years later, my first fiction story didn't find its way into print until I published my own short story anthology. The experience taught me that the business of writing isn't always easy but also that writing can be a powerful and fun way to express oneself. This new habit transformed my life.

And it was all because of an impulse buy of that Macintosh computer which, by the way, I still have in my garage. Please, don't judge me. I'm not a hoarder. I just have a soft spot for that particular computer.

Have you ever made an impulse decision that changed your life? I'd love to hear about it. Reply below. 

Brad Swift