And That's a Wrap (Almost)

Tomorrow my year mark is up. And that will make three-hundred and sixty-five!!! 365!!!!!!!!

Wow. And I'm going to have a book review for you tomorrow...as my last entry for this year-long experiment. Since that seems apropos.

But tonight I'm going to write about writing and why I love it.

I actually remember my first journal. I don't remember what it looked like, but I'm sure that it is somewhere in a box in my brother's attic. I know this; I wrote my first entry in red pen. And I committed the cardinal sin of journal writing. There were times I used pencil. GASP! I did not understand then that pencil was not permanent. Oops. And sometimes I wonder what I said in that early journal and if I'll be able to read it when I'm an old lady, and I want to reminisce about my youth.

Oh, but I do remember writing about McDonald's. That was my fave, and we probably went there for someone's birthday because that is what the birthday girl/boy requested, and my poor parents acquiesced to such desires as McDonald's, even though I am pretty sure they did not like it or want to.

So that is one reason that I love to write. I love to see what my ten year old self thought about life, and I love to see what I thought when I was eighteen, and I was just sure that I would live a certain life. Oh that life is far different from this life.

I also remember writing a short story for my ninth grade English teacher, and oh Mrs. Godfrey was just fancy. She dressed to the nines and conducted herself always the lady. When I got my short story back...a real nail biter about a babysitter and an earthquake...she had written the nicest note about how the story could become a book! A BOOK!!! (Can you imagine?) And wasn't that nice of her?

So that is what I learned next. I learned that I loved to write for an audience. And I love to tell a story.

But probably the best piece I ever did write (perhaps in my entire life, and I do not exaggerate) was a piece about my early childhood best friend. Our junior honors English class had to write character sketches on important people in our lives. It was probably the most personal thing I have ever written, and my teacher loved it because it was raw and real, and I discovered the importance of connection and passion. Writing is best when you know what you are talking about and you care about it. I wrote it because we had once been best friends, but then time went by and neither of us were prepared for the way things would change. I remember writing about how we were strangers now. And I must say, it was beautiful.

So the third thing I love about writing? I love honest connection. You can always sense that in a good writer.

I also remember writing a research paper on Langston Hughes. One of my professors allowed me to do an alternate writing project. I used poetry and letters and journal entries to tell the story, instead of the traditional sort of paper. Of course, trust a professor like Cutler to allow for it. I don't think most academecians would allow for such shenanigans. What a great guy for letting me. And I got an A...for awesome! He loved it, and I sort of hope that he encourages his students to write that way now.

Love number four: even research writing...ye olde academic staple...can be creative and exciting.

Another very kindly professor sat me down and explained to me how to organize my thoughts. He praised my ability to write, but he made it clear that I was all over the place. Like everywhere. And once I got it, I got.

My fifth love...writing is more than just a brain dump. It's a way to follow a logical thought pattern. There's no excuse for sloppiness. I learned to love taking pride not just in a well formed sentence but in the structure of the entire piece.

And now I'm learning something new about writing. I'm learning that writing a novel is much harder than I thought. I'm learning that I can write a mean essay of all types...personal, academic, etc. But I'm learning that writing a story is much more challenging and personal. I think I've shied away from it because I know it is hard, but maybe that is the very reason I should be writing it. Like it's the next step in the process as a developing writer.

I'm really glad that I did this, even though there were times I sighed and rolled my eyes and wished I had not committed myself to it. But I am glad I did it, most especially because I stuck to it. And I'm thinking now, that the next step is this. Now, instead of writing this particular blog on a daily basis, I should be writing my novel on a daily basis. I know, now, that I can commit myself to something for the long term.

In the end, there is this...I LOVE WRITING!!!