What did you want to be when you grew up? Are you doing it? Antique Mommy has a great post today about that exact thing, and it, with a little help from Manic Mom's post, inspired a lot of thinking.
I've ALWAYS wanted to be a mom, but that's the only thing that I've consistently wanted to be. And now I'm a mom. I love it, just as I knew I would and despite the lack of sleep and lack of personal time.
The other thing I wanted to be that I still have the desire for - a writer. When I was a kid, I used to write short stories, poetry, and even started a novel when I was 13, though I only wrote about 7 chapters. I wrote it in pencil in a wide-ruled spiral-bound notebook, and my handwriting is so atrocious that by the time I was working on the 7th chapter, I couldn't read the first.
Well, now I type. I type MUCH faster and, of course, more clearly than I write with a pen. What's stopping me from writing a book? I can type almost as fast as I can think and still be able to READ what I typed, whereas when I'm writing by hand, if I'm on a roll, it takes an interpreter to figure out what I wrote. Seriously. And even then, they're guessing.
I have a couple of book ideas rolling around in my head. I might as well spit them out, let them have a bit of water/sunshine/love, and watch them grow just to see what they become.
What's stopping me, you ask? Laziness. Fear of failure. Fear of success. Fear that I won't complete yet another project.
I use the excuse that I don't know how to start writing a book. That's B.S. I know how to start writing. First, I have to get the idea out. I just don't feel like I know where to take it from there. I've done copy-editing, so I know that most books go through many changes before being published. I am just afraid that I won't be able to get it to the point where it can even be SUBMITTED to a publishing company.
Okay, now that I've exposed my fears, maybe seeing them in black-and-white will help me overcome them and get motivated enough to start writing...
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Other things I've wanted to be when I grew up (in no particular order):
Actor
Singer
Musician
Dancer
Marine Biologist
Medical Doctor
Librarian
Veteranarian
Massage Therapist
Naturopath
Lawyer
President of the United States
Herbalist
The ones I still have interest in are blue, and those are things I can still do while writing. You know what's not on there? My current profession. Nor is the profession I was going to get a degree in. I chose the degree to persue based on practicality, not what I want. I chose the degree because it's safe, and there's always a need for it, which means job security. I think I'll still get that degree because that degree can easily lead into other degrees, but I think I will also go ahead and start writing.
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6 comments:
What's a naturopath?
I want to write a book too. But I haven't gotten off my lazy ass to do it yet. I claim that i'm too busy, but... priorities are priorities, you know?
A naturopath is someone who specializes in naturopathy - a system or method of treating disease that employs no surgery or synthetic drugs but uses special diets, herbs, vitamins, massage, etc., to assist the natural healing processes.
AKA practices alternative medicines... :)
heh. and you tease me about my (lack of) writing! ;)
seriously, though, you should write. i think that blogging is a good start. there's a particular narrative form that comes with blogging, and you picked it up quickly. it's not much more difficult to fall into the rhythm of a novel or short story.
besides, if you don't like it when it's finished and can't see editing helping it... there's always the delete button! just finish one to say you did.
My best friend is a massage therapist, and would talk your ear off about naturopathy and ayurvedic things. :)
Blogging is a great place to hone your voice .... I say go for it! A page a day, and in one year you'll have a book.
I still want to be a marine biologist when I grow up.
Oh, I was just reading about procrastinators and one reason for procrastination is the FEAR!
You can do it! Do what Swishy says... make an easy goal--write one sentence a day! By the end of the year, you'll have AT LEAST two pages, and my guess is, you'll be motivated enough to have A WHOLE BOOK DONE!
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