That moment when a change of scenery makes you realize your title is all wrong and needs to go back to what it originally was. Maybe it's the too big, empty bed, or the one too many free Shirley Temples from the bar downstairs...but I can't remember why I ever changed it in the first place. But now that it's back to what it was always meant to be, I can commence writing again.
0 Comments
I've done more writing in the last 24 hours than I've done in the last 24 months. There is nothing like snuggling deep down in cozy hotel blankets and writing all night, dining on catered breakfast that you don't have to make or clean up after, and exploring a fancy hotel to find all the best secret writing nooks. I've heard stories about people who live on perpetual cruises the rest of their lives once they retire. I'm seriously considering permanently renting out a hotel room to sneak away to and write. I'm already too highly addicted to this life to give it up quite yet.
"If you could be anywhere in the world, doing anything your heart desires, what would that be?"
Right here, doing exactly this. Tonight I cross the threshold into a new decade in my life's journey, and am so blessed to be exactly where I would wish to be...metaphorically as well as literally. I can truly say I am happy. Grounded in who I am and where I am in my path of existence. To celebrate the turning of a page and beginning of a new chapter, I have the luxury of closing the book on the craziness of life for just a moment to escape into my writing...in hopes that by the close of this new decade, I will be placing my series onto my shelf and preparing for yet another adventure. Working out is probably one of my least favorite things...and since writing is one of my most favorite, I've determined combining the two of them might be the motivation I need to get 'em done.
A woman who was preparing to write the very first words of her very first book, asked what advice I had as an author that might help her in her journey, and this is what I said to her... "Just write and watch it unfold. I rewrote the first chapter of my first book what felt like 100 times, as I figured out different things to make it better. And each time I did, it didn't feel like a chore, it was exciting, because I got to see it unfold better each time I changed things from point of view, to cutting parts to make the first scene start at a more exciting point in the story, to changing words to be more streamlined and more active voice, to character names. The point is, don't get hung up on all of those things today, or worry about trying to do it all perfectly the first time. The key is I couldn't have gotten it to the better places without seeing where it was at in the first place by throw up on the page first in whatever from it flowed out of me. Right now they are ideas of people and places just patiently waiting to be born. They'll let you know how to take care of them and make them look pretty once they are here."
I have thought a great deal about this...the writing and owning of one's own story. And it's been something I've encouraged three people that are near and dear to my heart to do - write their true, authentic, raw story, the way they lived it, the way they felt it, the way they experienced it through their own eyes. There is something liberating, healing, empowering that comes through the writing of ones life with the sweat, blood, and tears of a pen in hand. I hope, truly, that one day they do. I would love to read the words of their lives. There isn't a price you can put on the amazing blessing of connecting to another person's vulnerable soul. I am determined to release my soul into the world through the publication of a collection (or two) of my poetry, and a fictionalized series based loosely on events and people from my life. I haven't quite yet determined if they will hold my own name or my pen name. Perhaps I am not sure if I am ready to be quite so vulnerable and brave as I profess to be. Or perhaps I am not quite sure if I am prepared for the unnamed villains to object.
|
AuthorRachel Siemers Archives
January 2023
Categories |