Alright, so I have a confession for you guys...
And this one is a REAL one. Unlike other confessions on this blog.
I've been writing.
Why do I write?
Well, there are lots of reasons for this...
1) I have always loved to write. When I told my mom I started writing she nodded sagely & said, "You just tell those publishers that you won the 'Best Creative Writing Award' in 9th grade". Thanks mom- I'm not talking to ANY publishers, but if I were I'm sure that would sway them.
2) When you're a mom almost nothing is your own. That's where writing is helpful. It's just for me. It's a creative outlet that give me an excuse for alone time. My babies are so much fun, but they also eat food off my plate, wear my shoes, & follow me into the bathroom when I pee. As a mom there isn't much that's just yours.
3) I REALLY enjoy it. I've wanted to rip my hair out a couple times & then there are moments of clarity where I literally laugh out loud when my fingers can't type as fast as my mind is going.
Why have I been keeping it a secret?
I'm not sure. It seems such a presumption to think I could write something worth reading. For someone who is a perpetual "over share-er" I get really shy about sharing some parts of me. This is one thing I almost cripplingly shy about. I gotta get over it.
Why am I tell you now?
Well, I WAS writing a lot. Slow at first, then I was flying. I got about 1/2 through my story. Then stopped. Re-wrote the WHOLE thing to about 1/2 through. Then got off track & started something else. And now I've been in a non-writing slump for about a month & 1/2. My hope is that by sharing I will feel more "helpful pressure" to keep writing.
What am I doing to get my groove back?
A little something called NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). It's a great little motivator website. The goal is to write 50,000 words in a month. I'm probably going to pick up where I left off on my very first try at my story. One thing I learned at my writing conference was to just finish. The act of finishing a story is important to get to writing the next thing.
So basically...
I'm writing a lot this month. So, if posts are spotty or short I apologize. It's going to take a chunk of time (though most of it will be late at night & early in the morning when everyone is sleeping). I will probably post a word count occasionally (I need to be accountable somehow). It's something I love, a favorite thing, that I hadn't yet shared with you guys.
So, there it's out in the open. I'm writing.
Here are a couple pictures of the journey thus far...
22 comments:
Yea Olivia! I wish I had something like that! I love that you have found an outlet, away from being a mom, and it works for you! That is what I want. An out, that I don't have to do in the middle of the night! Good luck!
also, a blog for you to check out. http://makeitandloveit.blogspot.com/
She is always finding something she loves, like a shirt or something, and making it. The most recent one is a shirt from JCrew, that totally reminded me of you. Check it out.
you go girl! Good luck!
Good for you! Writing is such an accomplishment. Good luck with it all!
Hooray! Even if it is not "officially" published, it would be so fun to print/bind it and pass around to friends. hint hint.
Good job! It's hard not to get hung up in details early in the process. Take it from a guy who writes for a living. It's painful if you do it right. But the pain is exquisite when you get it.
Great great great! I love writing too....unfortunately, it is the "creative" writing part that gets to me. I love to translate my feelings and experiences into words, but I can't think of original storylines or plots to save my life. Seriously. Never have been able to. You however - I can see you being able to handle the "creative" part. I really admire when people can do that. I am so glad that you are enjoying it, and I know exactly what you mean about it being "yours" when very not much else is as a mother.
Yeah Liv!!!! I didn't know that about you but now I do it totally makes sense! I'm writing too for so many of the same reasons...doesn't it just recharge you when it's going well?! Maybe we can keep each other moving since we now know what the other's up to :)
p.s. I've been writing a blog w/ just vingettes about my daily life. It's been good practice to do a 20 min burst and see what kind of picture I can paint. If you're interested, you can find it at littlebigstuff.blogspot.com
I have done Nano before. It's a bear....don't give up! Love, Anty Triss
Good luck!
Good luck and happy writing. And it's not "over-sharing". We are your fans!
sweet! i'm shellie28 on nanowrimo... we can be writing buddies!
Kristie- Yes, I believe every mommy should have such an outlet. And thanks for the link. That JCrew shirt was to die for.
Carolyn- Thanks! I need the good thoughts.
Mandi- We'll see how it goes. This could be a true test as to how much I love writing. I might hate it or love it more after all this.
Smithy- HA! We'll see. It's rough to let people read part of it. Eeekkk! Seriously need to get over it.
Dad- Painful & exquisite sounds about right- thanks!
Katie- We'll see about the creative part. I think stories based on "real" life things are brilliant. I have lots of things in my life I could write about & I think it would be MUCH harder for me to write about them.
Jennie- Hooray! Yes, please! have you thought about doing NaNoWriMo. We could be writing buddies! And thanks for the link to your blog. Loved reading it so far. glad you shared it with me!
Aunty Triss- I didn't know that about you! How cool! How'd it go? So far I'm already behind but I'm going to dedicate atleast a couple hours tonight and catch up ont he weekend.
Cat- Thanks!
dawn- Thanks for the kind words! And I'm still working on that bookcase thing!
Shellie- I added you as a writing buddy! Hooray! I'm liviecarter. So great to have someone doing it too! THANKS!
I have been waiting for this post (after someone - linds? - spilled the beans when I was visiting). I can't wait for the other post - the one that tells me what you're writing about. Then I'll look forward to the next one when you have a synopsis or excerpt. Then the next....
That's SO awesome Liv! I think it's a great idea!! I hope that you share when you're done because I KNOW it will be great!!
Awesome! Just dont forget the little people when you become a famous writer and have people acting out your story on the big screen, so you are sharing interviews and stuff with them, and telling people your inspiration and stuff. Just when it comes to casting, make sure they cast people who can give an interview without running their fingers through their hair 15.3 times a minute :)!
Good for you! I always knew that there was a writing inside that mind of yours. You are too creative to not be a writer. Now I just need to come up with a creative hobby for myself!
Stephanie- HA! Yeah, well, we'll see about the excerpt/synopsis thing.
Cindy- AH! I'm just getting to confessing something that I've been doing for 10 months. Just confessing. I don't know about sharing. Eeekk!
Audra- Oh goodness, you make me laugh!
Em- I know what you should do. You should move to Utah. That would be a great creative endeavor! :)
Seriously. You're brave. I've been hiding notebook with stories scribbled on them under my bed for years. Congratulations on putting yourself out there.
Crazy Sugar Daisy- I know, it was hard but it's been a big part of my life & time since January (new years resolution time) & I thought it was time. Feels good!
So proud of you crazy girl! :) Finish it and let me read it!!!!! I will love it. :)
I love it! And I love the pictures. Esp the one with the writing on the take out box. Brilliant.
Es- Thanks miss. Ugh... I know it's the finishing it part.
Debbie- I know... you just don't know when inspiration hits. I have writing on bags, napkins, scraps of paper, on my planner. That one was my fav though.
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