About Carollyne Hutter
I remember the moment I discovered I was a professional writer. I was sitting at an outdoor café in the Dupont Circle area of Washington, DC, writing a report for a client. A woman at the table next me leaned over and asked what I did for a living. I told her I was just working on a consultancy—I didn’t have a profession.
“Yes, you do,” she said.
I stared at her. What was it? “You’re a freelance writer,” she said and then left.
Now many years later, I still want to thank that woman. What an amazing experience it’s been. As with Lina’s tree above, my career in communications has branched out in many directions. From writing, to editing, to managing and marketing publications. From print, to audio-visual, to new media.
The other day I counted: I have managed and produced over 100 communication products. I love starting with an idea and cultivating it as it grows into a publication, or website, or video.
Side by side, on another plot, my life as a fiction writer has also developed. Initially, I focused on writing fiction for adults. Since then I’ve branched out into writing for children, especially young-adult novels and early-readers.
Whether I’m working on nonfiction or fiction, print or electronic publications, I still enjoy sitting at cafés with my laptop. But now when people ask what I do, I easily reply. And I smile—I love the writing life.