Along the Writing Journey~~The truth and consequences :)
Being an
author of fiction is a wonderful and sometimes frustrating pursuit in life. On
any given day emotions can swing from top of the world to the bottom of the
heap and back again. After hours of tweaking a chapter you might sit back, tap
your chin and think, “Wow, did I write that?” Only to find yourself moments
later scratching your head, and wondering how the next chapter’s dialogue came
to sound like it was written by a tongue-tied chipmunk.
Humility and
cringe-worthy moments are common pieces of my writing puzzle. But it’s the
satisfaction after editing and re-editing a book that keeps me moving forward.
The final version, the one that the editor accepts and loves.
I’ve written
several books, 2 are published and I can honestly say writing is tough.
Storylines often sway in unexpected directions and new character personality
traits can pop up when you least expect. Heroines and heros turn into a villains
and vice-versa. A plot can thicken or end up going nowhere. Like planting a
seedling, a story sprouts, grows and produces a creation that is far more
complex than where it started. Often very different than what we expected.
Like most
writers, my stories are crafted out of passion, determination and love. I
learned that I must put myself in the story. See the plot through my characters
eyes. Feel their emotions, frustration and pain. Bring out their insecurities
and show their faith. And mostly bring them to the brink of collapse before
rescuing them. I want the reader to
sense what we actually live, feel and experience: chaos, absurdity, humility,
sadness, beauty, love… If, as I read, I don’t bring tears to my own eyes, I
haven’t done my job.
Life is
about fiction. From folks rewriting their own memories to daydreaming about
hopes and dreams. Fiction gives a writer a way to rewrite mistakes and sorrows
or find forever love. Threads of truth blended within a story of fiction. Although
frustrating at times, the passion to write burns within a fiction writer’s
soul. And like food for my soul, I can’t imagine not writingJ
