I want to write, don't I?

My Travelin'Oma assignment for today:

People tell me all the time that I should write a book, because I like to read so much. I laugh and wonder what they are thinking! Just because I like music certainly does not mean I can be a composer. If I stop to think what I would write about, the plot of the latest novel I’ve read comes to mind. If I think harder, then perhaps the plot of the book before that comes to mind – if I can even remember what that is.

I do not have characters living in my brain waiting to burst forth on the written page. I do not have myriad plots floating around waiting to be grasped and put on paper. I must say I’m a good editor – I catch spelling and context mistakes easily. I can tell if a story flows well. But write a book? Not yet. In the meantime I enjoy writing in my blog, and I’d like to get better at that, and more comfortable putting my thoughts out where others can read them. With that in mind I’ve taken the Challenge (the capital C is on purpose) that Oma has issued. (Side note: I thought the course was two weeks- then I read the post more carefully – 12 weeks! Time to get new glasses. But I’m glad it is longer. I’ll have more time to grow and learn).

I think and create best when I’m alone and things are quiet. At this stage in my life, I thought that would be all the time. Ha! I usually have wonderful grandchildren running around, making all their wondrous noises. And they love to talk to me. Now I’ve learned I can write about them and how clever and witty they are. Or how endearing or maddening they are. Sometimes those characteristics fly at me mere seconds apart from one another.

My ideas come fast and furious when I’m out in the yard working, weeding. It keeps me from cursing so much at the variety and abundance of weeds that there are, and how large my yard is. I try to remember those ideas once I come inside – it is very hard to keep a notepad and pencil handy when I’m out there working. But ideas also come in the middle of the night when I can’t sleep, or sometimes when I’m in the car. I will take Oma’s advice and get some pads of paper and pencils to put in those places. I will try to be conscious of ideas I get or clever things the kids say and do, and jot them down when they come to me.

Over the years I’ve found that I put off doing things I want to do until mundane chores are done – sort of like keeping dessert until last. One thing I’ve found is that if I do the fun things first, the other stuff usually gets done anyway. At least the stuff that really needs to get done. Now I just need to remember all that, and I’ll get more writing, reading, and quilting done. Hope springs eternal!

Austin, sporting my special weeding hat (July 2008)