Even before I retired, I knew that writing was to become a part of my life. I'd written stories and submitted articles over the years and found the exercise to be very satisfying.
Verbosity seemed to be as much a part of me as "my mother's nose" and my tiny feet.
As a child, I was the kid in class who got her knuckles cracked with a ruler most often. Although is hurt, it never deterred me from sharing my thoughts with my fellow classmates.
I am also a voracious reader. Beginning in adolescence, I'd walk to the library on warm summer days and take out a stack of books on each visit. I couldn't get enough of the written word and still can't.
Fiction, in all of its varieties, has generally been my preference. Although I've read my share of romances, inspirational books, sci fi and biographies. In an odd twist of fate, the only books I tended to shun were historical in nature.
It is ironical then that I should desire to write historical fiction in my so-called "golden years." I give my mother much credit for that change of heart.
After failing world history in ninth grade, I expressed my frustration to that saintly lady in this way: "I HATE history, it's so boring!" She didn't criticize or chastise me. Instead she smiled and said, "That may change over time. I love to read about history. There is a new story in each line." Her patience was welcomed, as was her comment. It got me to thinking. If Mom enjoyed reading about history so much, maybe it was worth giving it another shot.
I can't deny that it took me awhile to get there, but I eventually arrived. Most of the books I now read are historical in nature, many in preparation for my own writing.
Verbosity seemed to be as much a part of me as "my mother's nose" and my tiny feet.
As a child, I was the kid in class who got her knuckles cracked with a ruler most often. Although is hurt, it never deterred me from sharing my thoughts with my fellow classmates.
I am also a voracious reader. Beginning in adolescence, I'd walk to the library on warm summer days and take out a stack of books on each visit. I couldn't get enough of the written word and still can't.
Fiction, in all of its varieties, has generally been my preference. Although I've read my share of romances, inspirational books, sci fi and biographies. In an odd twist of fate, the only books I tended to shun were historical in nature.
It is ironical then that I should desire to write historical fiction in my so-called "golden years." I give my mother much credit for that change of heart.
After failing world history in ninth grade, I expressed my frustration to that saintly lady in this way: "I HATE history, it's so boring!" She didn't criticize or chastise me. Instead she smiled and said, "That may change over time. I love to read about history. There is a new story in each line." Her patience was welcomed, as was her comment. It got me to thinking. If Mom enjoyed reading about history so much, maybe it was worth giving it another shot.
I can't deny that it took me awhile to get there, but I eventually arrived. Most of the books I now read are historical in nature, many in preparation for my own writing.
Retirement brought many changes to my life. One of the best is my newly-adopted state.
Next to golf and water sports, writing seems to be the state pastime. People gather here every winter to escape the harsher climes of the north, most of them are retirees. What do most of us have in common? More free time to pursue activities that we never found time to do during our years of employment! We also have trunks full of experiences, thoughts and feelings that keep pushing their way up to our frontal lobes in an effort to escape . . . or at least be shared.
People often dismiss these firing neurons in our gray matter, but they can be pretty insistent. Those of us with a bent toward writing are more likely to stop to listen to what is being said than those whose interests lie elsewhere.
Putting thoughts down on paper is the key. Keeping a notebook at the bedside is not uncommon for writers. We've found that some of our most incredible material rises from our subconscious during sleep and must be captured immediately, before the thoughts disappear once again into the night.
Some of my most creative ideas have welled forth when I've been driving or walking or otherwise occupied. So it's crucial to keep writing materials or recording devices available at all times.
"What can I find to write about?" I've been asked. Inspiration literally lies EVERYWHERE! If your memories don't provide you with enough fodder to chew on, take a look out your window. I quoted Henry David Thoreau in a previous blog post, "This world is but a canvas to our imagination."
What do you see? Movements, colors, shapes, people, animals, insects, etc., etc. What are these things saying to you? Do they remind you of other days like it? Did you once have a dog like the one being walked down the street? Were you once bit by a dog? How did it happen and what happened afterward?
I was once bit over the eye by sister's chihuahua who got loose and ended up in a fight with a pack of much bigger dogs. With all of the courage of a hero, I marched into that mix of raised fir and bared teeth only to be bitten when I tripped bringing our frightened pet home.
Everyone has stories inside to tell. Some are dramatic, some joyful, many are sad . . . they are all valuable. Allowing them surface can be the tricky part, especially if they are painful to recall. All of them can be triggered by things around us.
My writing instructor has suggested that we take a bus ride or sit in the mall and unobtrusively listen to conversations around us. The words of others often brings ideas to mind.
One writing exercise that I found particularly interesting was a painting that someone brought to a workshop. There were several people doing a variety of things in the painting, and we were assigned the task of deciding why characters were included in the picture, what they were doing and how did all of the people interrelate. The stories that arose from the painting were remarkable!
At another event, an instructor asked us to write for ten minutes from a writer's prompt - an open-ended sentence used to get ideas flowing. When the designated time elapsed, we read each read our stories aloud to the group. The second part of the exercise was the rewrite our stories in a new genre. We were given a list of genres to choose from. It was fascinating to see how the stories evolved!
Memoirs are abundant in Florida. Life's experiences provide much information to be shared with subsequent generations. Several years ago, I was astounded to learn in a memoir class how different they are from autobiographies. The latter is based on solid, verifiable facts - specific dates, locations and that sort of information. Whereas memoirs are based on subjective memories. As is commonly known, a sentence whispered into the ear of one person is often barely recognizable once it has been passed through a line of individuals. Our memories are very subjective and are often far different from those of others who shared the same events. The facts offered in autobiographies are generally hard and fast. The statements made in memoirs are more likely to be disputed.
A multitude of writing opportunities are available in Florida. Classes, workshops and conferences are plentiful. A weekly column appears in Florida Today, one of our major newspapers, which highlights local authors and offers instructions on how to obtain their books. Book fairs are popular and are often tied to craft fairs.
Libraries and restaurants often host books signings, especially for better-known authors. Florida is a veritable playground for authors and those with ambitions to become one. It is fertile ground for the scribes of our generation.
The reasons to write are numerous, the inspiration unlimited, paper and pens are inexpensive. What's stopping you?
Next to golf and water sports, writing seems to be the state pastime. People gather here every winter to escape the harsher climes of the north, most of them are retirees. What do most of us have in common? More free time to pursue activities that we never found time to do during our years of employment! We also have trunks full of experiences, thoughts and feelings that keep pushing their way up to our frontal lobes in an effort to escape . . . or at least be shared.
People often dismiss these firing neurons in our gray matter, but they can be pretty insistent. Those of us with a bent toward writing are more likely to stop to listen to what is being said than those whose interests lie elsewhere.
Putting thoughts down on paper is the key. Keeping a notebook at the bedside is not uncommon for writers. We've found that some of our most incredible material rises from our subconscious during sleep and must be captured immediately, before the thoughts disappear once again into the night.
Some of my most creative ideas have welled forth when I've been driving or walking or otherwise occupied. So it's crucial to keep writing materials or recording devices available at all times.
"What can I find to write about?" I've been asked. Inspiration literally lies EVERYWHERE! If your memories don't provide you with enough fodder to chew on, take a look out your window. I quoted Henry David Thoreau in a previous blog post, "This world is but a canvas to our imagination."
What do you see? Movements, colors, shapes, people, animals, insects, etc., etc. What are these things saying to you? Do they remind you of other days like it? Did you once have a dog like the one being walked down the street? Were you once bit by a dog? How did it happen and what happened afterward?
I was once bit over the eye by sister's chihuahua who got loose and ended up in a fight with a pack of much bigger dogs. With all of the courage of a hero, I marched into that mix of raised fir and bared teeth only to be bitten when I tripped bringing our frightened pet home.
Everyone has stories inside to tell. Some are dramatic, some joyful, many are sad . . . they are all valuable. Allowing them surface can be the tricky part, especially if they are painful to recall. All of them can be triggered by things around us.
My writing instructor has suggested that we take a bus ride or sit in the mall and unobtrusively listen to conversations around us. The words of others often brings ideas to mind.
One writing exercise that I found particularly interesting was a painting that someone brought to a workshop. There were several people doing a variety of things in the painting, and we were assigned the task of deciding why characters were included in the picture, what they were doing and how did all of the people interrelate. The stories that arose from the painting were remarkable!
At another event, an instructor asked us to write for ten minutes from a writer's prompt - an open-ended sentence used to get ideas flowing. When the designated time elapsed, we read each read our stories aloud to the group. The second part of the exercise was the rewrite our stories in a new genre. We were given a list of genres to choose from. It was fascinating to see how the stories evolved!
Memoirs are abundant in Florida. Life's experiences provide much information to be shared with subsequent generations. Several years ago, I was astounded to learn in a memoir class how different they are from autobiographies. The latter is based on solid, verifiable facts - specific dates, locations and that sort of information. Whereas memoirs are based on subjective memories. As is commonly known, a sentence whispered into the ear of one person is often barely recognizable once it has been passed through a line of individuals. Our memories are very subjective and are often far different from those of others who shared the same events. The facts offered in autobiographies are generally hard and fast. The statements made in memoirs are more likely to be disputed.
A multitude of writing opportunities are available in Florida. Classes, workshops and conferences are plentiful. A weekly column appears in Florida Today, one of our major newspapers, which highlights local authors and offers instructions on how to obtain their books. Book fairs are popular and are often tied to craft fairs.
Libraries and restaurants often host books signings, especially for better-known authors. Florida is a veritable playground for authors and those with ambitions to become one. It is fertile ground for the scribes of our generation.
The reasons to write are numerous, the inspiration unlimited, paper and pens are inexpensive. What's stopping you?