Last week Cindy (C. L.) Beck posted a couple of videos by Elizabeth Gilbert on Creativity. I hope everyone took time to watch them.
After watching the videos, I began to wonder if I really am peculiar or maybe have bizarre behavior. I know that sometimes I’m a bit odd or strange. When I go on and on about a book I’m writing, people sometimes look at me as though I’m weird. Is this really that unusual? Aren’t all writers like this? To me my behavior doesn’t seem abnormal. The way I act doesn’t seem out of the ordinary to me. Does this mean I’m biased?
I know that I don’t usually go into the pits of despair, but I know some people that do. I rarely am stressed like lots of people. Does that mean I’m not a writer? That would be disastrous – what have I been doing with my time for years?
Back to the videos – I loved the part about showing up for your part of the job. I think I learned this at a very young age. In my teen-years, I sometimes got upset with all the time that I devoted to performing for other people. It sometimes seemed like I had no time to do what I wanted to do. I was always playing a violin solo, or performing with the orchestra. When I wasn’t asked to do that, they would ask me to sing a solo or a duet. Dancing was a big part of my life and I did many solo numbers as well as performing ballroom dancing with my younger brother. Learning a new dance number was always exciting. All of these prepared me for what lie ahead for me in this life. I learned to do my job, although many times I would ask, “WHY ME?”
I had numerous opportunities and as I look back, I’m actually grateful that I was able to have those experiences. I rarely touch the violin. I avoid singing in front of others, and I married someone who hates to dance. I learned that I should not be afraid. I’m willing to try new things, and audiences usually don’t frighten me.
Writing was always something I liked to do, but because I was always so busy with other things, I never nurtured that desire. It wasn’t something that others knew I could do because it wasn’t like my other talents. They were visible things. Writing is personal. I honestly don’t know when I realized that no matter what I’m a writer. Nothing anyone else says or does will ever take that away from me, and just because I’m a writer doesn’t mean that I’m mentally unstable. I’m a creative person who loves to write. I refuse to be afraid and I will do the job.
3 comments:
Way to go, Connie! Step up, be bold, and write!
You're a writer because you write. Ironically, a few days ago I wrote a blog post about the importance of writing what you know. Not everyone has to write about despair and stress.
Yes, a lot of good writers tend to be tortured souls, but it's not a requirement. Just stick to writng what you know and I think you'll do great.
Thanks for your comments. Yes, sometimes you do have to be bold to be a writer. If I do stick to what I know my writing will be good because I have a good life.
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