Being a Writer

Ever since I was a wee lad, I've been in love with the idea of writing. My passion first expressed itself through my love of reading; as a toddler, I demanded that adults read to me. When I was old enough to read on my own, I devoured everything I could get my hands on. The next logical step in my progression (or downward spiral?) was to tell my own stories. This has been challenging for me, as sometimes I have a hard time visualizing the settings for my stories, but it's a challenge that I really enjoy and that has enriched my life on many levels.

One aspect of writing that I do not enjoy is writer's block. It seems that sometimes my life becomes so overwhelming that I simply can't get the creative juices flowing. Sometimes, the simplest things can feel overwhelming (ie, stress about work/school), and that contributes to the buildup of writer's block.

What I need to remember is that, writer's block or not, I should set aside some time each day to focus on my writing.

This blog has really helped me to focus on my words. Even blogging about life in general has stimulated my creativity and led to some short story concepts. Keeping a small moleskin notebook close at hand has also been helpful when ideas strike as I'm out and about.

For awhile, I had been feeling discouraged because I'm not where I want to be with my writing. Now, I can step back and look at the bigger picture. I've accomplished much more than I've given myself credit for, and I'll only continue to make progress as long as I maintain this optimistic attitude.

Setting realistic goals and celebrating their achievement is much better (and more productive) than setting irrational goals and beating yourself up when you fail to meet them.