I love to write. I have always written stories and tried to make them exciting and engaging. Even as a girl in Jr. High, I would spend way more time on a creative writing assignment in English than anyone else. I always got A's. Like most writers, my love of writing began with a love of reading. I can remember babysitting when I was ten and eleven and taking all the money I earned and walking down to The Village Book Shoppe in Glendora and buying the Little House On The Prairie books. I had the whole series.
When I got a little older I was reading way more sophisticated stuff then anyone else my age. I read the book Exodus by Leon Uris and loved it. I think I read most of his stuff. The librarians and my teachers were always amazed at my choice of reading material.
I now read just about anything that catches my eyes. Books, magazines, blogs, the newspaper you name it I'll read it. About fifteen years ago, I tried to find a western romance that I could really sink my teeth into, but everything out at that time left me flat, so I decided to write my own. That was a catalyst to where I am today.
I have so many stories I want to write, yet finding the time to commit to it is not easy. Writing is a very solitary activity and finding alone time in a house with twelve other people is a challenge. And when you do finish something you have to find the courage to put it out there and let other people read it. I can only relate it to having other people critique your child. You know how wonderful they are despite their flaws. On the other hand it can be a case of the Emperor's New Clothes. All your friends and family say how wonderful it is because they can't hurt your feelings. My family has by passed that by not reading any thing I write. You would think I had asked them to donate a kidney or something. Only one of my daughters has even read my completed book, all 454 pages. Thanks, Katie.
So here I am, putting one of my stories on my blog for all of my friends to read. It can be very scary standing in front of all of you naked and waiting to be critiqued, but I figure if I can give birth to eight out of my ten kids without any pain meds, I can do this.
So for those of you who have been kind enough to read it and let me know what you think, thanks so much. And for those of you who don't like it don't be afraid to say why. A writer can't fix what they don't know is broken.
3 years ago
Too true. I'd rather have brutal honesty from my beta readers, so I can at least try to correct big problems before I give my writing to the world at large. But it is hard to stand there and take the criticism. Writing is hard, folks. If you write - you know this. If you don't - it is harder than you can imagine. But, having read some of your stuff, my dear, I like it. I'll cheerfully read more AND be brutally honest :)
ReplyDeleteMom, I love your writing!! In fact, once in a while I think about your other book and the story and characters, just because I loved it so much. I hope you make an awesome sequel. :)
ReplyDeleteWriting naked is the only way to your true voice. Don't be afraid to bare all.
ReplyDeleteWhat you write is so true. It's like running naked and holding your breath at the same time, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI don't like to read. Period.
ReplyDeleteI don't like to read either so don't think its just your books that I don't read. I have a hard time reading blog posts, my mind just starts wondering...I like true story books. I can sit there and read the encyclopedia no problem, but fiction stuff just seems blah to me. Same with movies, I LOVE documentary's and can't stand star wars...
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