This is the place I'll come and share random thoughts, comments and some basic BS I feel is worth sharing. You, however, may not feel like it’s worth reading. I make no promises that any of it will make sense, or will even make you laugh… Although, I will certainly try.
I hope you enjoy my musings and my insanity!

P.S. Don’t forget… Tip your waitress on your way out the door!

Monday, June 13, 2011

Writing is… The hardest thing I’ve ever done.

I was tagged by Carrie Clevenger for this meme “Writing is…”

Writing has become like breathing for me. I have to write. HAVE to, but it’s also the hardest thing I have ever done.

Just under two years ago a few friends, personal and online, encouraged me to write. I was a big reader and I honestly thought they were completely and totally out of their minds.

I started with poetry mostly, which was an accident and finally, last year I graduated into writing short stories. The poems came as a result of a falling out with a friend. I didn’t plan to write in a poetic way, but that’s what bloomed from those first things that I wrote out. I am glad to say that the friend I mentioned, a brilliant writer, is still a friend. A very close one, in fact. I remember her telling me, when I admitted to her I had written those first posts because of our falling out, that she was honored and sad at the same time. I look back on it now and I’m glad it all happened, because it got me started.

So, why is it the hardest thing I’ve ever done? Well, I could probably list off a million reasons why, all of which make no difference in the grand scheme of things. I think what makes it so hard is, I want so badly to be better. I certainly don’t expect to be perfect, that’s not attainable, but I want to be good, great even. I want to grow and learn. I’m not afraid of feedback or criticism from fellow writers. I prefer you to tell me what I am doing wrong and then also offer suggestions on how to do it better. There are times however when I sit back and think to myself: what the hell am I doing? Can I even write? Am I a really a writer?

I’ve told many people that if they write, no matter what it is, they are a writer. I had someone tell me this exact thing almost two years ago. “You are a writer,” they said. I don’t know if I believed them because I couldn’t imagine how it was possible that I could be a writer. Now for the most part, I know and believe I am a writer and then, just last week that old feeling crept up on me again. Am I a writer?

What makes writing so hard? I do.

Here’s the thing, I am the one that decides what I am. I am the one that has to do the footwork and write the story. I am the one that has to reach out and ask for guidance and help. I am the one that has to put the tools and suggestions I am given into practice.

I’m lucky. Twitter has allowed me to meet and become friends with some incredible writers. These writers offer their experience freely and I try to soak it all up and learn. I also try to offer others what I have learned.

I want to be a great writer. Someday, I will be.



Love to you all.
WookiesGirl

I tag:

Nancy McGregor

WookieStyle

Megan Hart

Melissa Ecker

Shawna Thomas

5 comments:

Carrie Clevenger said...

This was great. I love reading what everyone has to say about what writing is to them.

Unknown said...

Great post, so true. I often doubt that I'm a writer and want to give up. We make it so hard for ourselves when really it's just a case of letting the words flow and believing in ourselves.

Nerine Dorman said...

And the trick is to go at it until it is second nature.

Megan Hart said...

What am I supposed to do? Write about what writing is on my blog? D'oh! See...clueless! :)

M

Leigh K Hunt said...

This is a really good post. I know that I have only just stumbled across this now... and you wrote it a couple of months ago - but I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed it.
Its always really interesting to read other writer's journeys, and to see how far they have come.
Some say that when you can admit you are a writer publicly to randoms, then that is when you have truly crossed the line. Technically, I'm published, and I still have issues with admitting that I'm a writer to randoms. One day - I would love to break that barrier. One day...

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