Really, posting to this blog is throwing my words into internet oblivion, but hopefully I will make me some online writing friends in the near future! I don't have my real name here, as you may have noticed, but I figure that will enable me to be more free in what I write. So, my oodles of future blogging buddies will just have to deal with my anonymity. Besides, who doesn't like a little mystery? (And just so you know, I may or may not dress as a middle class woman from the 17th century as I write.)
I've got a lot of insecurities when it comes to my writing, but then again, what writer doesn't? I didn't start writing until, maybe, three years ago--seriously--when I started my first story about a teen girl who 'wins' a trip on a cruise ship (except it isn't a vacation cruise after all, Dunh Dunh Dunh...ah, yet another story to finish) and so I feel, even more so insecure about my writing. I mean, when I was a child, I didn't want to grow up and be writer. I wanted to be a nurse. I didn't know, then, that a nurse would have to see lotsa blood. Add to my late jump into creative writing, the fact that I married young, and had kiddos soon; My schooling has yet to be finished as well.
So my writing consists of a whole lot of google-search self teaching. The fact that I have a novel almost complete (of which I cranked out all 56,048 words in about 3 weeks!) makes me feel pretty secure in my efforts. I'm not just climbing that sand mountain, constantly tearing myself down when I read my suckiness. I've learned that to succeed, you have to allow yourself to fail. And with writing, if you fail and crap up an entire story (not that I feel that has entirely happened yet, but close), you can always edit. So I have come to allow myself to just enjoy the process, in all it's first draft, beginning writer, crappy glory, then I can fine tune until it's beautiful.
But, I have to say that I already find beauty in my rough draft. My characters so have a life of their own, I can't help but lay awake at night wondering (using my current story as an example) are they going to get together in the end? Augh! It's worse than reading the first novel in a series and having to wait for the other two or so to come out. Because it's all on me. If I don't complete, it isn't going to happen.
Did I mention I don't sleep much anymore?
Anyways, for this blog's future, I hope to post my poetry, creative writing exercises, blab about the stories I am working on and maybe, just maybe post little tid-bits from them. We'll see.
For now I am going to focus on at least one exercise a week, just to record my process (and hopefully progress?!) as a writer as I work toward writing that novel that, you know, like everyone is going to fall in love with and steal the names of the characters to name their kids after. Just kidding. But seriously, I love my story and can't wait to find even just one person in the world who would enjoy it. That would be so rewarding.
Until then, here's to perfecting the craft!! (Imagine an alcohol-free beverage toast.)
2 comments:
Welcome to the fantastic world of blogging. Note: You will become addicted and find a ton of fabulous people who love to write and love to chat with one another!
I just started blogging in January of this year, as did I actually start to consider myself a writer. I wanted to be an architect when I was a little girl but realized math wasn't my thing. The more I grew the more ideas that spat out of my head (not one being a writer) I tried them out and realized they weren't right, until I one day I asked myself how I could get all of those jobs wrapped into one... writing. I would write a book and my characters could work in those jobs.
Turns out chick-lit wasn't my thing either, though I love to snuggle with an excellent Susan Elizabeth Phillips book. My calling was Young Adult Fantasy and the two first drafts I've completed are YA. I have two more in the works and one that I'm especially proud of.
I look forward to following your journey and hope you stop by later on!
You know, I never thought about writing that way (being a way to experience all sorts of jobs). I was the same. I had tons of different jobs, none in the same fields at all, and having no idea what specifically I wanted to do; I liked a little of everything.
I'm writing YA as well, one of my current stories (lets face it, I have too many I am currently working on--3)is fantasy as well. So fun to meet a fellow YA Fantasy writer learning the ropes as well! Good luck in your writings and I will definitely be visiting your blog!
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