I want to write a book. It's an item on my bucket list and doing this now feels right. I'm newly married, my career is stable and I can squeeze a few hours each week to devote to writing. (Also, I have a new puppy who loves to curl up in my lap and drift off to sleep. I couldn't think of a better muse!) But, really, what do I want to say? What can I add to the conversation of anything that has ever been written and published? What's my angle? What can I say that hasn't been said?
Strangely, I'm not questioning if I am even a good enough writer because I've skimmed books by Stephanie Meyer, E.L. James and others. You see, I'm a librarian at a public library - I know the shitty writing people read. I don't want to be a shitty writer, but I think writing ability has little to do with being a successful writer and writing something everyone wants to read. There are PLENTY of unpublished amazing writers.
I have a few topics for books swirling in my ever-shifting brain. I have some ideas written down, but now I just need to write. Right?
For now, I will start by blogging more frequently. My husband and I got rid of cable, so I will have more time to read & write instead of keeping up with the Kardashians. The key is eliminating distractions. For a writer, it's essential. For a modern human in a high-tech world, it's challenging. But I feel so much better when I'm focused.
Speaking of focusing, I finished some Truman Capote short stories this weekend. I don't think I've read ANY Capote works that I didn't enjoy reading. There are very few winter-things that I enjoy more than curling up with Capote, in print, next to a fireplace. I aspire to provide the same entertainment, thoughtfulness and pleasure to readers of my future stories/novels/novellas/books, etc.
This is all I have to say . . . right now.
