A Brief Visit to My Journey as a Writer
It seems that today, after twenty-three days with a lot on my mind, I was coming up blank on what to write. As I sit here, I think about the books I have already written and those that did not survive the journey from my mind to my fingers and onto the page. Clearly, there is a lot on my mind, and there always has been. So, what exactly is this thing we call “writer’s block?”
For me, there are many causes. I will list some in no particular order of importance. First has to be the lack of inspiration to create. Some days are worse than others. On those bad days, I consider my story and decide that I just do not care. At other times, I have lost the bug that dragged me along the plot for weeks (aka What the heck was I thinking?). Once in a while, other stuff fills my head, and I choose to focus elsewhere. Sometimes, a new book idea will cloud my thoughts and attempt to drag me away into another story. I fight that urge like crazy!
Ultimately, my spark of inspiration returns and I get back to work. I must have some level of focus since I have written a lot of books. As every writer knows, those are all in the past. The joy of holding a copy of the next book has to wait. The writing/publishing job is a long march with many detours and wrong turns. I generally will reread my draft several times before I dare send it to my editor. I do not want to look like an idiot after all. Of course, she finds plenty of mistakes. The end of the editing process is still far away and not truly the end.
Since many of the people reading this are authors as well, I do not need to go into any further detail. We have all lived it. But my writing journey did not begin a few years ago.
While I cannot remember too many specifics, I remember writing stories since I was a young boy. They were the kind of stories young boys like: simple, short, and without an editor or audience. I wrote for me alone.
My final year of high school marked a turning point. Like most introverted boys my age, I had a difficult time talking to girls. So, I turned to poetry. The only person I ever shared my poetry with was my twelfth grade English teacher. She actually supported what I was doing! I still have those poems, but like my earliest stories, they are for me alone.
It was years later when I penned my first book (Remembrances). In those days, everything went through the big publishing companies and the book went nowhere. Some time later, my minister introduced me to an independent publisher, who has since become a friend. Between those two ladies, I had found support for my writing. Still, Remembrances was the only book published.
My big break (in more than one way) was when I was laid off by Honeywell. I wrote like crazy during the years between that job and the next. I believe I published three titles a year. When I started the next job, the rate slowed, but did not stop. It was a couple years after that when I discovered the Rave Reviews Book Club. Now, thanks to Nonnie and all the supportive members, I think of myself as an author first.
It has been a heck of a ride. I enjoyed every step of the way. In my more recent books, I have been able to explore my own beliefs and strengthen my relationship to God. What a blessing! Thank you for your support along the way. I wish you all the best, and keep writing!
You’re a good author, Karl. Write at a comfortable pace and the next book will come together.
Karen, thanks for the encouragement. Sometimes, I have written a rough draft in around a month. Other times, I get halfway through and then drop it completely. Of course, going from rough draft to printed book is a long slog in the mud. The end result is always worth it. Keep writing!
Thank you for sharing your journey! I will have a male student join my poetry club every now and then, but most of them shy away from exposing their enjoyment of poetry. I share with my classes my nephew’s spoken word poetry and the money he’s won from competitions to show them that boys can enjoy writing, too. I’m happy you didn’t give up and finally found RRBC, Karl!
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
Yvette, I was truly a tortured soul in my senior year at Biloxi High School. I do not think I have written any poetry since then. My temperament fits with novels much better. I am not the kind of person who cuts to the chase right away. I am a more deliberate thinker. Long format novels suit me best. Good luck with your poetry club! All the best.
Your writing journey started early, Karl. I see writing as similar to breathing. Exhaling is wonderful, as you breathe out your books. However, inhaling is vital. It may seem like you’re not creating, but you’re simply gathering fuel for the next great exhale. Once a writer, always a writer. God gave you the gift!
Blessings,
Patty
Patty, thank you for the support. I know I have a lot more stories inside me. The one I am working on now it quite dark, but I have written worse. I am still playing with the issue of immortality and our relationship to God. Fun stuff, although not all readers want to hear it. I feel it is my calling.
Karl, my husband, George worked for Honeywell and was laid off too, probably at the same time you were. That’s when he ended up at Commodore for a short time. But back to your purpose of this post, maybe that was your blessing in disguise as it gave you the time to focus on the writing you had been doing all those years. Glad it worked out for you!
Maura, leaving that company was a blessing. I have suffered lousy bosses before, and have even been laid off due to a top executive’s mistake. They replaced me with a real loser, whom they had to fire less than a year later. Shortly after I left my last job, the former CFO/IT Manager was relegated to IT only. Life is full of twists and turns. Now, I feel a lot more secure in my life, even with all the lunacy growing across the globe. Thanks for your comment.
Hi Karl,
Your journey has been an uphill and down hill battle . But you didn’t give up and that says a lot about you as a writer. I hope you continue to write, to reach out whether inspired or uninspired. To write when you’re uninspired could bring out your very best work. Therefore, don’t wait for inspiration. Pick a goal or an object and start writing.
Shalom aleichem
Pat, that’s great advice. I do my best to keep going, but sometimes my brain does not agree. Have a wonderful day.
For the past year, I’ve had some writer’s block where I lack the inspiration to write. I don’t socialize as much because of Covid, and life’s problems have a way of killing my incentive to write. I joined this challenge as a way to force myself back into writing. I hope it works.
Susanne, I hope you overcome your writer’s block. It is a terrible feeling when your mind needs to create and other issues and priorities sap your ability to do so. I have had the same thing. For the last year in my last job, I was so overwhelmed with the garbage at work that I lost my desire to create.
Karl, the older I get the more I’ve come to believe that the major ups and downs that we all go through in this life, happen for a reason. In your case, being out of a job for awhile may have led you to your truest self and thus your purpose at this time in your life. As for writer’s block, I hate when that happens! : )
Best wishes,
Donna M Atwood
D M Atwood
https://www.dmatwood.com
Thank you, Donna. Now, I can see that the negative things in my life were just stepping stones to where I am today. It is difficult to forget when we slip and fall, but the journey thereafter is what matters most.