Sometime Writer
The count-down widget on the bottom of Lisa-Jo's post tells me Five Minute Friday submissions are still being accepted. So here I am: writing for five minutes on a Sunday, in my proper writer's book (even though the rules mean I won't be altering my draft), while my laptop lays trapped in the room with the sick-but-finally-sleeping baby. I usually wait until I've posted my own bit before browsing what my fellow writers came up with each week, but this weekend's snuffly baby meant I had plenty of time to read on my phone, but none to sit at my keyboard. I'm glad I broke my own rule. So many gems! Do check-out the link to get the gist of Five Minute Fridays and find these gems for yourself.
This week's word: writer.
The dream started long ago. Words scribbled furiously in notebooks, empty pages in agendas, angsty poems I was certain were fathomlessly dee, as only Thirteen can believe. The first change to learn beyond English class, however, left me frozen. Thirty pages produced by the end of term for Creative Writing was too risky for Sixteen, with eyes on high school's honour roll. Could I produce that much that quickly? Would it be any good? Could my average survive the it of a mediocre grade? I didn't know, and wouldn't risk it. I switched Creative Writing for Physics.
Nearly a decade past, hundreds of pages written in emails, essays, dialectic, lab reports. But the dream lived on, That niggling desire to create, to weave with words, and through them, be known. And so I blog, intermittently, with each hit of the publish button met with twenty stats checks. Has any one read it? Was it any good I still don't really know.
But still, I write.
This week's word: writer.
The dream started long ago. Words scribbled furiously in notebooks, empty pages in agendas, angsty poems I was certain were fathomlessly dee, as only Thirteen can believe. The first change to learn beyond English class, however, left me frozen. Thirty pages produced by the end of term for Creative Writing was too risky for Sixteen, with eyes on high school's honour roll. Could I produce that much that quickly? Would it be any good? Could my average survive the it of a mediocre grade? I didn't know, and wouldn't risk it. I switched Creative Writing for Physics.
Nearly a decade past, hundreds of pages written in emails, essays, dialectic, lab reports. But the dream lived on, That niggling desire to create, to weave with words, and through them, be known. And so I blog, intermittently, with each hit of the publish button met with twenty stats checks. Has any one read it? Was it any good I still don't really know.
But still, I write.
Someone read it, and thought it was good! I am with you, girl. This piece that needs to be expressed, that seems to matter, that stands up and raises it's hand shyly saying "present".
ReplyDeleteLove this bit, "That niggling desire to create, to weave with words, and through them, be known. And so I blog, intermittently, with each hit of the publish button met with twenty stats checks."
Thanks, Joann! Always good to know I'm not just talking to the ether :)
DeleteI don't think having any views is really relevant though I completely understand and have allowed myself to get stuck to the stats too many times to count. The point in writing is to spill your heart, keep your memories and have a way to look back and recall where you were a day ago or a year ago or ten years ago. Maybe you ran from writing those 30 pages but I have no doubt that the pages you have written since then were from the heart because you made the CHOICE to write them instead of HAVING to. There is always a difference between want and need and when its something you want to do it is definitely easier. Bless you and keep on writing!
ReplyDeleteI keep reminding myself of that too - I'm writing for me, not to compete with say, Glennon Melton. And yes, choosing to write is much different than having too. Still, I do miss the push to finish a deadline can provide. As Bill Watterson so aptly put it (speaking through Calvin, of course), there's inspiration to be found in "last minute panic" ;) Thank you for your insight & encouragement!
DeleteI'm SO glad you keep writing. :-) I love reading your thoughts and observations. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm so glad you do :)
Delete