Writing a Life
In the first fourteen days of November 2009, I wrote a novel. That sounds absurd to me and yet I know it is true. The story was one that had been rattling around my brain for a long time, so while I did go through the exercise of putting all those words into a cohesive form and committing them to the page, I did not feel like I was writing. Not truly writing. There was no suspense, no angst of wondering where the characters may take the plot, no excitement, no frustration. It felt rote and dull and uninspiring. I may have been writing but I was not experiencing being a Writer.
My life, to a point, felt very much like writing that novel. I knew what was expected, what I would do next, what the outcome would most likely be. I was going through the motions of living--going to work, volunteering, spending time with friends--but not having a Life. It was living by rote, dull and uninspiring.
I am currently working on a second novel. It is a fantasy, which is astounding because until recently I had never been a fan of the genre, and yet works perfectly with my recent craving of the unfamiliar. I am creating a new species of 'people' who live in a world that I am building and yet there is a second thread of the story that takes place in our world, with human characters. How the two worlds meet and interact and face their differences are the questions I am trying to answer. I started with a single scene in my mind and have been building on that and I honestly have no idea where the story will take itself. It is like watching a movie unfold with the clicking of my fingers on the keyboard. It is difficult, exciting, empowering, and at times, overwhelming. Anything could happen and that gives me the sensation of cresting the top of a rollercoaster each time I sit down to write. To me, that is being a Writer.
My life should be more like that second novel. I want to create a brand new world to explore. I have a vision of what it looks like but have no idea what could happen. I am opening the door to new opportunities and am poised to walk through them but there are no guarantees, no known endings. At times I am sure it will be difficult and overwhelming but I want to pursue it. I cannot exist by rote any longer.
To set a direction or to declare a theme for this site would be to assume that I know what lies ahead so I cannot do that. I will just write what I can, when appropriate, and let things play out as they will. Each day I wake up with the ability to write a new ending. This blog will try to capture them all.
blogging, new endings, writing in About My Day 
Reader Comments (7)
I love your new start! Your site is tranquil but inspiring and just feel like a comfortable, beautiful home for you, the writer. (I read your "About Me;" to me there is no doubt that you are truly a writer, love.)
Looking forward to seeing how this plays out; awaiting the adventure ahead for you.
This is a lovely web home. And a beautiful start. You have such a way with words...I've always been jealous of your ability to so effectively communicate your feelings. I can't wait to see where this goes.
Love the new blog! :)
The more I dig around here, the more enamored I become. I can't wait to see what unfolds in this space of yours. How exciting. :) I'll certainly be back for more!
Love it! Can't wait to read more...
WOO HOO - I'm so happy, relieved, excited and etc etc about the new space! I can't wait to see how this unfolds. Congrats on beginning to write your new ending!