I Left My Cybersecurity Job to Write—Now I’m Chasing Success (and Hoping for a Coffee)

From Cybersecurity to Serial Fiction—Reinventing Myself One Chapter at a Time

A year ago, I walked away from a career in cybersecurity—a field that’s in high demand and pays well. But for me, it wasn’t the battle against cyber threats that made me question myself—it was the work environment.

At first, I told myself I could push through—that this was just part of working in a competitive field. But over time, it chipped away at me. My confidence eroded. My passion for the work faded. I started dreading logging in every morning, knowing my ideas would be dismissed or second-guessed.

Then, one night, after another exhausting day of wondering if I even belonged in the field, I turned to my husband and said, “I can’t do this anymore. I want to be my own boss, make my own decisions, and stop depending on a team. I think becoming a writer could give me that freedom.”.

This isn’t one of those stories where I say, “I made it! Here’s what I did.” This is a story of honesty and resilience—of what it feels like to be in the middle of chasing a dream when success isn’t guaranteed.

Here’s the truth no one tells you—starting over is terrifying. I’m constantly fighting the thoughts that whisper, What if I fail? But for the first time in my life, I’m doing something I actually enjoy.

Even though I had no formal experience and no published books, I had a love for stories and the drive to do something different. So I walked away from the security (no pun intended) of my career and threw myself into writing.

I spent months learning everything I could about storytelling. I explored different ways to share my work and ultimately chose serial fiction on Substack because it gives me a direct connection with my readers and helps me build a community around my stories.

Many days, I wonder if I made a mistake. Every day, I stare at my Substack stats, hoping for a miracle. Some days, I think about going back to cybersecurity just for the paycheck. But I know how that story ends—I’d have money, sure, but I’d be miserable.

So I keep going. Even when it’s scary. Even when success feels out of reach. Because the thought of going back to a life where I feel small and undervalued? That’s even scarier.

So if you’re standing on the edge, wondering if it’s worth the leap—maybe this is your sign to go for it.

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If you’re here, reading this, you’re already part of my journey. Your support not only keeps this dream alive—it fuels the stories I love to share.

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Check out my latest story, The Velvet Room Conspiracy—a tale of power, ambition, and deception. What starts as a journalist’s search for answers among New York’s elite pulls her into a treacherous world where trust is scarce, desire is a weapon, and pretending to be someone else isn’t just a disguise—it’s a dangerous trap that could cost her everything.