Recently, I attended a Zoom Travel Writing class taught by two talented, highly experienced writers, Sylvia Sabes and Meher Mirza. Since there were no prerequisites, I signed up. I figured if everyone started pointing and laughing at me, I would just turn off my camera and go back to day drinking.
Sparking my flames of desire
I loved the class and learned so much! As it turned out, the others in the class only pointed and laughed when it was appropriate in my writing. That class sparked the flame of my writing desire that has burned in my soul for decades (see what I did there with the “fire” words? I am digging this writing stuff!). After that class, I decided now was the time to be a writer.
A 22 year dry spell
Well, not to brag (wait, that phrase literally introduces bragging), but I did have one article published and was even paid for it. It was 22 years ago. There has been a bit of a dry spell since then. In my defense, I have been preoccupied with giving birth to three kids and then keeping everyone alive and well. And, when I say, “alive and well” it is literally that. My middle daughter for years stopped breathing every day and passed out. Sometimes, for added excitement, she had a grand mal seizure, and we took an ambulance ride, or as we referred to it, “a $1000 limo ride” to the hospital.” Talk about exciting. But she is a story for another day. My point is that I have been a want-a-be writer for decades, but now I am fired up to attempt this task.
One bird out of the nest
Last fall, my oldest child entered college which means I am down to two kids at home (and one husband who acts child-like at times). That little change prompted my desire to do something a bit different than cooking and raising children. The writing class prompted me to start writing the thousands of stories flying through my head each day. The one problem with beginning this writing life is that now I want to write EVERYTHING and EVERY STORY today. I want my website up and I want good photos and I want to take some classes and I want someone to edit my stories and what about the novel that I want to write about my great aunt? Now, where are those pictures before the time of Shutterfly? Oh, but let me write a few notes about something I just thought of…AHHHHHHHH.
Raging writing fires
My writing fire is raging, and I am having a blast, even if there is some spinning going on each day. That is OK. At this point, my writing is about me and I am fired up (Ok, I am done with the “fire” metaphors. I can hear everyone begging me to stop.).
So, a huge thank you to my fabulous, patient, and talented writer/teachers, Sylvia Sabes and Meher Mirza for lighting a fire under my butt (Sorry. Just could not help myself.). I am so thrilled that I do not have to go back to day drinking.