Deep down inside, I have always felt a compulsion, an inner drive, to write. It is a talent that I feel that I have, as undeveloped and unnurtured as it may be.
I cannot sensibly explain why I have feel this desire to words to paper - and yet have few significantly tangible and completed works of this supposed internal passion.
I wrote on the the high school newspaper some 15 years ago. I did well, I thought. Better than most. For some reason, I chose not to explore journalism as a college degree, as a fellow writer in my class eventually went on to become an established sports journalist for a major city newspaper.
No regrets, write? I mean, right? Of course not, but this energy to write is not dead.
For the very modest degree of early success I am able to claim, it is because of my bias to write in the personal essay format. I won a scholarship in college for a 750-word essay about why I chose my profession.
I also was later published in a technical professional journal early on my career. If letters to the editor count, I have a few of those writing credits also. Many of my high school newspaper contributions were editorial in nature.
Fiction, on the other hand, scares me to death. I have several unfinished "projects" ranging from 50 to 10,000+ words.
What do I hope to achieve with my writing? Long-term, I would like to have a book published. One that is meaningful to me and that is a work that touches those who read it. Sure, it would be nice if it were to sell a ton of copies, but that's not why I am in this game.
In the short term, I hope to just get something in print again. By Friday of this week, I hope to submit a short, short story to Writer's Digest in response to one of their many competitions.
I have found myself checking writing instructional books out at the library, reading others' work on the web and tormenting over how and why I want to try to write.
I have started this on-line journal to capture my thoughts, my pain, my ideas and my energy toward the craft of writing, with the ultimate aim of finding and understanding my writing self.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Well hello. I was looking up knee injuries and came across your blog. You seem to have the heart of a writer and although I am a complete stranger I offer you my encouragement. I have been writing all my life. Have completed one book , as well as many manuscripts and have so much stuff I still want to write about. Fact and fiction. Sent my completed book off to publishers that do not publish that type of material but otherwise told me it was very good and to keep trying in the right category. Well life got in the way and five years later I am proof reading again and making a few changes before I send it off again. All I can say is you are on the right path. Do your homework , have someone edit your manuscript for you just incase they catch something you missed, and never give up on your passion.It seems people put their passions aside when circumstances change. I honestly believe that if people put their passions in life first, then all of their other relationships will do better because you will be a happy fufilled person who is able to give your all in other aspects of your life.Keep a notebook with you at all times and jot down those ideas. They will come in handy someday. And keep a pencil with you, they never run out of ink.
Post a Comment