I wasn’t certain of what I’d find when I started blogging. I thought to write an initial story; polish it, edit it, re-write parts of it, and timidly make it public. I planned to use snippets, poems, and short fiction pieces I’d already posted on Facebook for most of my posts. I vowed to publish to the blog every day for a year.
When one person liked something I felt surprised.
When another re-blogged my scary story I felt embarrassed but pleased.
When I saw that another writer was following me, I followed back. I read all she wrote and commented on her posts. I did the same for the 10 others who followed my site.
In gaming terms, I was such a noob.
The real question, however, is Why did I even start writing? It’s a favorite to ask authors, besides When did you write your first story? and What’s your secret to successful writing?
I began writing seriously because I was working on a book. After spending nearly two years on WordPress I’ve learned this is not a unique situation nor an unusual reason to be writing on here. I continued writing because I felt it would help my writing overall and give me connections to people. Maybe those people would read my book one day.
Y’know, if I wrote it.
But life happens. In my case, the thick of life is happening. The book hasn’t been revisited for a while, though I felt inspired to open up another blog using my proposed title for its URL: I Didn’t Want to Be a Mother.
Also like many writers, I now feel stuck. I feel overwhelmed. I feel intimidated and lost in a gigantic pool of talent and time, without the will to paddle. I probably shouldn’t have thrown my compass overboard during that one depressive episode last year…
Until I find my North Star, or even a lost kite, tell me: what is your motivation? Why do you write? How do you keep writing?
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I lagged a bit and back-posted, but we’re counting all I wrote over the last week:
Wednesday, April 24: Wrote “Where Did THAT Come From?” after pondering about heredity and genes with mental illness.
Thursday, April 25: “The Cure for Depression: Journal, Meditate, and Pray,” another suggestion in a series originally posted over at The Bipolar Writer Mental Health Blog.
Friday, April 26: Winner of the Weekly Terribly Poetry Contest. Congratulations to Bruce Goodman!
Saturday, April 27: Announced the 23rd Weekly Terrible Poetry Contest. Spread the word! Enter! This week we’re doing rap.
Sunday, April 28: Re-blogged Frank Prem‘s fantastic “(what if I hear them) whistle and cry.”
And posted “The Author of a Long Night,” to Charli, hostess at Carrot Ranch.
Monday, April 29: “Wilhelmina Winters, Ninety-Two.”
Tuesday, April 30: Inspirational quote by Og Mandine.
Wednesday, May 1: May Day!
I also posted all this week at my motherhood site. I wrote “Steal Your Kisses if You Have To,” “Me Time Just Might Be Wishful Thinking,” and an okay limerick about kids making me late.
Photo Credit:
Thought Catalog
Chel Owens 