The name “Insight of a Born Again Writer-Editor” implies that I’ve recently started writing again. You see, I did give up writing about 5 years ago — but now I’m getting back in the saddle as a blogger. It’s good to be back and I’m having as much fun as ever.
I’m actually not as rusty as I thought I would be. All the hours I put into writing and editing paid off. I believe I’m a superior writer with more life experience and maturity to draw upon.
Now, let’s rewind about 9 years — back to when I first started writing seriously.
A couple of years earlier in High School I dabbled in writing. I even started a novel but only got as far as the second chapter. I had yet to master the basics, my editing skills were limited to the spell-checker, I had trouble describing what I pictured in my mind, and I had a major case of writer’s block.
9 years ago, I woke up one morning with an idea for a story (two characters and a basic setting for a brief scene). One and a half years later I had written a 240,000 word monster of a juvenile fantasy novel, in my spare time while studying. I was impressed with myself. Looking back at it now, it’s unpublishable for many reasons, but I gained a lot from it.
Being too daunted to write another novel, and lacking the discipline, I switched to short stories. I wrote at least 30 over the next 2 years. At the same time I was an active participant in a wonderful writing community with a tight-knit group of supportive members.
I dove into editing and my skills in that area grew rapidly. It was not long before my inspiration dried up, however, and I moved on from writing. I also moved on from editing soon after. A business venture took my focus and I put both writing and editing on the backburner, permanently it seemed. Yet I had no regrets.
Now as a part-time internet marketer, I’ve had to draw upon my old skills once more. Mostly ad copy because most of my websites use outsourced content, but not this one. I feel such a buzz starting a new writing community that I have no problem sitting down each day to start writing blog posts. Believe me, this used to be a huge issue.
The time is right again. My passion is back, the inspiration is flowing and I look forward to getting home from work each day so I can write.
Life is a rollercoaster, writing included. Don’t be afraid to take an extended break. If you are lucky like me, you will wake up one day with a good reason to write like a madman and enjoy every second of it.
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24/09/2009 at 10:41 pm Permalink
I liked your story here, it describes what I went through as a writer. I loved writing back in high school. it was the only thing I ever did and loved besides hockey. I wrote a ton of short stories for the school, and my friends. I lost them over time from moving around so much. I never wrote until tens ago and even that took off nice, before I had suddenly stopped.
I started writing a book, based on a short story I had found what I had written in High school. I totally forgot about it, but I remembered my characters and the story as I read it, so I had decided to write between the lines of the short version and expand it. But that was short lived, and it sat on my computer and hard disks for 5 yrs, before I woke up one day and had a great idea for my book, so I starting typing away 5 in the morning and worked solid for 4 months to complete what I had started, and believe me, I cried at the end of my book. a journey I had started 10 yrs ago, now is being published.
A dream that I envisioned 10 yrs ago, now a reality today. I have written 6 more short stories after I had completed my book. and I hope to write enough to publish another book. but my friends have already read my shorts, and it had an impact on some, and the others, well they kept to themselves. I just want to say thank you for sharing your story, I loved it. and it reminded me of my life as a writer, or a wannabe writer. lol but I only write what ever I dream up.
lawrence bear