Wednesday, January 1, 2025

The Becauses of Writing

Going off-track for a minute before I proceed with this post, a new word: sublimity. Well, I know its root word, but I wasn't sure that THAT was an actual word or that the spelling is correct, so I looked it up. Meaning: (noun) state of being sublime. Nobility in thought and feeling. Word origin: 15c. Latin, lofty. Synonym: magnanimousness. Ahhh, I learn something new every day...and I wrote "that" three times in one sentence.

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Back in high school, I told my mom that I want to write books. Why?! she asked me. After several minutes of making my pitch while she asked me pointed questions, it boiled down to, well, because I want to. Yes, Momsie, of course I'll be a nurse, because it is loftier and gives job security and it pays the bills much more regularly than being a writer. Mom always did win.

And here I am now, after almost forty-eight years of a most lofty and satisfying career as a nurse, still wanting to be a writer when I grow up. Why?! I can imagine my mom's voice..

*Because it is a need. It is basic. Like eating and sleeping. Because. I went on to study nursing and have worked in many capacities, but I've not stopped writing. I have written for my own amusement, to reach into my mind and sort my thoughts out. I write when I need a relief valve while emotional. I filled up journals and legal pads and emptied pens because I tend to be emotional. Good thing I have a fireplace to chuck them all in.

My earliest written piece was a list of character profiles of teachers as animals. I wrote it for fun. It wasn't meant for anyone else to read but me. Miss Quenco the crow--it was her black hair and big nose. Miss Exija the cat--nothing ever daunted her. Mrs. Montanez the crab--she would walk side-to-side while teaching our lessons, and I shouldn't have done that because she was a cousin. It was Mr. Ventura the pigeon (how appropriate I realized later) who saw my notebook and sent me to Monseignor Lucas the water buffalo's office. Yeah. Grandma got called in to inform her of my after-school detention, my need to go to Confession, and her need to enforce discipline at home. My punishment? I had to come straight home after detention --- one hour after school for a week! -- and I was not allowed to play outside. And, she bought me a journal but I was to keep it in my room. Now before you criticize a wise grandmother like mine for that purchase, she saw my need to let off steam by writing. I was ten.

*Because of ego. It's true! Writers are egotistic. As Eric Blair, aka George Orwell, once said, and I paraphrase, writers want to look clever and be talked about even after their death. By the ex who said one couldn't write a grocery list much less a book, by the stuck-up clique at school, by the now-adult bullies and smartasses that made one's childhood miserable. Writers want to be accepted into that list unlike any other list which include the best writers through the ages. Imagine your name rubbing elbows with Sigrid Undset or Laura Hillenbrand or Shakespeare. Even if one's name isn't all that famous. Or not published (yet). I admit it, ego is in there.

*Because I love to read a good story. It doesn't have to be a "saga", it just need to be good. I think the most beautiful thing about a good book is being engrossed in it and being a part of it. One does not mind reading that book again. I have a list of thrice-read books which include To Kill a Mockingbird and The Silmarillion.

Conversely the worst thing about a badly-written badly-edited book is being stuck in it. I am one of those who, even when the book stinks, must keep reading it just in case it got better, and three-fourths of the way I would be in agony. There have been books I simply cannot finish or get into. Even those not inclined to write will say "I can do better".

If books got written and edited well to begin with, there would be few new writers.

*Because it closes chapters in life. Jane Austen wrote Persuasion as a means to work out a relationship in her past and provide the happy ending she didn't have. Writing is like a second chance, or a better chance. It corrects regrets, it pardons bad choices. It makes one face personal truths, or even expose one's misconceptions. It's like writing a fanfic of one's own life.

*Because one has a world view to express. I'm hard-pressed to find a book that didn't have a world view. Writers wouldn't write the warnings against dystopian society in every dystopian literature -- take your pick. My favorites are Brave New World and 1984 -- or even the sadness in Sylvia Plath's poetry or the worst-case scenarios of Michael Crichton. Writers have their world views. Even Dr. Seuss has a world view. Read Green Eggs and Ham!


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Getting Back into Blogging and My WIPS

I read through this blog to refresh my memory. It wasn't a long read 😁. I know, I know. There had been stretches of time that I have not been on here even when I said I intended to blog more often. I won't make any promises, but the fact is, I really want to get back at it for reasons I will post about in future blog entries.

There are a couple of topics that have come up a few times: NaNoWriMo and writer's block. Firstly, I no longer participate in NaNo since my last post (back in 2019). I simply outgrew it and I find the commiserating not helpful for me. I have been working as a travel RN up and down the West Coast and couldn't keep up with writing groups. The discipline of daily writing, however, has stayed with me and is a very useful asset. I also recently heard about the site's problems with moderators. Ugh.

As to writer's block, I would go for stretches of time not being able to get on with my stories. It's the same way with my crochet.

However...

I have been journalling almost daily. So as far as writing goes, I am writing. Mostly I write introspectively, of life happenings, of mundane daily life that, really, and at this time, I'm grateful that I have a boring life! But, I have a journal section of plots, a collection of characters, and scenes/dialogs that I need to get on with my novels.

Anyway ...I'm off to a great start. Finding that this blog is still here made my day! I also got my crocheting mojo back. This year's goals: get a novel finished and see about self-publishing, get into freelance copyediting, and get my crocheted goodness juried for the Farmers Market this coming April.

I Thought I Lost This Blog

Last March, I decided to start blogging again. For some reason, I couldn't log in, and couldn't even find my profile. I thought with Google rearranging the furniture that my blog got archived, or deleted. I then decided to start a new blog only to discover, this morning, that my original blog is still active! Woo hoo! So I deleted that duplicate blog. No big loss since I only had one entry. Anyway... HAPPY NEW YEAR! It's already off to a good start!

Monday, July 29, 2019

Preparing for NaNoWriMo

NaNoWriMo is not that far off. I have a story idea. For once I'm writing just for myself, no illusions of get published.

Just for myself. Just for fun.

Saturday, July 27, 2019

Windowpane Scarf

Windowpane infinity scarf using Mandala Yarn "Pegasus". Pattern found at Ravelry. I have several more finished items to post...

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Relapsed

I ended up sleeping through the night and woke up rearing to go. I thought I've recuperated but had a little relapse. That's what I get for trying to cram a week's worth of postponed chores in a few hours. So back to lots of fluids and rest and staying away from stress. Binging on Britbox and crocheting for me tonight.

Tuesday, July 16, 2019

I'm Back

I'm back! Good heavens, I wasn't sure I would remember my password! I've been very busy with life and travel nursing, and keeping up with my health. I'm no spring chicken anymore and must be vigilant to stay healthy. Knock on wood, I'm okay.

Currently I'm in a little Northern California town called Quincy, living in a tiny apartment in town above a tobacco shop, a pub, thrift store, and at the end of the block is a theater with a brewery. Pros and cons: I love being in the thick of things. This little town is dynamic with many events, a college, a few nice eateries and bakeries, and like I said, a live theater with a brewery. It's also on a state highway and can be noisy. Working nights mean morning traffic. But it's all good. I am getting back to two things: writing and my crochet. Anyway, I shall return later tonight. I need to get dinner done.