Blog

February 15, 2020

My first post.  How do I introduce myself?  What is there to say that might capture someone’s interest.  Do I start with my background?  Wife, mother, grandmother, financial advisor, hobby writer, voracious reader, knitter, hiker, biker—Boring!!

Would my dreams and aspirations spark a match in someone else’s spirit?  I aspire to be a published author and not just that, but to have a book series, maybe a television series, and some self-help type books.  And yet, I don’t even know if I have the chops to write anything people would actually want to read.  So far, I’ve mostly written for my own amusement.  I’ve been into journaling for years, sometimes using my journal more as a diary of what’s happening in my life.  Other times writing about ideas that have inspired me or just thoughts at large.  I remember reading that the act of writing in a journal, actual pen to paper versus on a laptop, inspires creativity in all areas of your life.  I personally prefer journaling that way anyway.  I love having a special journal, either leather or moleskin or with a beautiful cover.  It may sound silly, but it motivates me to write in it.

Initially when I began working on my first book, Flirting with Stupid, it was all by hand.  For one thing, I didn’t even own a laptop back then, but also, I always like to handwrite my thoughts and ideas.  I did switch to a laptop when last year I got serious about actually completing my book, rather the first draft of my book.  I had been playing with, working on, diddling with it for double digit years and now finally have a first draft, thanks largely to the Write Practice, a program I signed up for that helps you complete a book in 100 days.

I recently spoke with a publisher who is interested in my ideas and believes there is a market for it.  Of course, she’s yet to read my work, so we shall see.  I’m excited at the prospect of being a published author.  Last year when I completed my first draft of FWS, in my head I switched from being an inspiring writer to a writer.  I finally had finished something!  No matter that it still needs a lot of work.  This year I intend to publish something.  It will probably be my self-help book, which is shorter and will be easier to complete first.  It will be my ‘learning how to get a book published’ book, my bike with training wheels, so to speak.

I will be sharing my ‘stupid’ stories with you on this blog and hope, dear readers, you find them amusing, relatable, or possibly even encouraging, even if only being relieved that at least you’re not THAT stupid.  I’ve decided to put aside my negative self-talk, (I call the mean ugly, person who lives inside of me and berates me, the troll), and venture onto the skinny branches of the blogging world.  I’ll do my best to entertain you and not bore you.  This is another vehicle to hone my skills, but in a more public arena, where I’m opening myself up to public scorn.  But I feel ready to take it on.  Let me know what you think.  I need to hear the good and the bad and especially the ugly, so I can grow and stretch and become a better writer.

Two bucks just walked out of the wooded area behind my house.  They have large racks and look majestic.  Just because, I am declaring them my good omens, that my writing venture will be successful.  My spirit animal, the mighty buck!