In keeping with my resolution to write, I’ve been working through the writing exercises in  Barbara DeMarco-Barrett’s Pen On Fire: a busy woman’s guide to igniting the writer within.  Having found the requisite fifteen minutes in my daily schedule, I’m now prompted to visualize my writing life. 

And, before starting this exercise, the author assures us that it’s never too late to start writing.  Some famous late blooming authors include: Mary Rakow (The Memory Room, early 50s); Nuala O’Faolain (Are You Somebody?, mid50s); Rachel Carson (Silent Spring, 55.)  I still have loads of time to develop as a writer.  In fact, I’m still too young to apply for the Frances Shaw Writing Fellowship, sponsored by the Ragdale Foundation,  which is open to women writers who start at age fifty-five.

I love the reminder that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams.  Really, I’m not ready to write the books that I enjoy reading.  I’m still learning how to write.  It’s a continuous process, but I’ll get there someday.  So here goes my (it took longer than 15 minutes) response:

I’m sitting in my Mahogany four poster bed with a shiny red computer – the Porche of the geek world - on my lap and a cuddly son reading at my side.  The sun is streaming in through the windows at our perch near the tree tops.  This is a good place to write.

Later, I’ll sit in my warm Queen Anne pink study at my Command Center with a PC and a laptop in front and books spilling from several bookcases and all available surfaces.  Looking up, I can see birds zooming to the bird-feeder placed just outside my window under the wisteria covered pergola.   I’ll have the room to myself and it will be a good place to write.

In a couple of weeks, I’ll celebrate my birthday back home in St. Thomas and I’ll take my journal to one of my favorite rocks at Magens Bay.  I love to write with one foot in the water and the sun warming my shoulders.  That will be a great place to write. 

Finding a wonderful place to write isn’t difficult, but what will I write?

In my journal, I’ll keep on writing about whatever comes to mind.  Usually I write a response to whatever I’m reading or I’ll write about whatever upsets me.  Angry words to or about my husband seem to figure prominently.  (Mostly, they’ll just stay in the notebook.) I’ll try to include more words of gratitude for all the blessings in my life.  And, I’ll keep on using my journal to develop my writing abilities.  I’m also trying to develop the ability to be more descriptive.  So, at least on vacation, I’ll carry the journal and try to describe my surrounding.  I may even try to jot down dialogue.

I’ll keep on posting to my blog.  I’m starting to define my purpose and mission, and I think that I can inspire life-long learners and activists.  Perhaps this will be a vehicle for helping make the world a better place.  Ugh!  This is where self-doubt comes in.  I hear a voice saying, “Who cares?  No one will ever read your blog, or care about the topic.”  Well, maybe.  But I care, and it doesn’t hurt to try, and I really enjoy writing the blog.  So, I’ll keep on posting and learning how to be a better blogger.

I still want to write fiction someday.  I will participate in NaNoWrimo next November, but I will be better prepared.  Between now and then, I’ll practice daily writing.  After working through Pen on Fire, I’ll work through my collection of books on description, dialogue, character development, and plot.  Hopefully, this learning process will lead and prepare me to write a novel that I would enjoy reading.

When will I write?   I’ll write first thing in the morning, when I can.   Most days I’ll write late at night, when everyone else is finally asleep and quiet.  And, when I am really lucky, I’ll write in the middle of the day when I’m at my best.

So, where will I be six months from now?  It will be summer and I’ll be blogging and preparing for NaNoWrimo.  A year from now, I’ll be blogging and recovering from NaNoWrimo.  This time I will have written a novel that I want to edit and publish.  And if not, I’ll look at what went wrong and I’ll look at what I need to work on to improve for my next stab at writing a novel. 

I’m all about perseverance.  And I do believe that if I keep on trying to write, eventually I’ll write something worth publishing.  Then again, I’m loving the journey!

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