Thursday, June 7, 2012

Armchair BEA Day 4 - Beyond the Blog

Design Credit: Nina @ Nina Reads

Today we're going beyond the blog to see a little bit more about me. Since I'm terrible about not scheduling posts ahead of time, I'm writing this at ten-thirty when I want it posted at midnight. I'm a terrible procrastinator, but it's mostly accidental. I am a life juggler, and I drop the ball quite often... *rambles off into the sunset* The point that I'm trying to make is - the post is going to be a bit haphazard. But isn't that what makes me fun?

Writing Outside the Blog

I have always wrote. I always write. I will always write. Notice all of the tenses there? I have to write. It's ingrained too deeply within my soul, and I have no idea how it happened. My family has saved stories that I wrote well before kindergarten. Were they good? Who knows? I don't think that's the point. The point is - I write.

I did poetry and creative writing competitions in elementary school, and I've had some of each published. I created an imaginary friend when I was eight just so I could write stories about him. Then I created his family. I can also tell you every single thing about the world he lives in, his personality, and his entire life history. We're currently spending time apart and seeing other people. No, I'm not crazy - he is very real to me.

When it was no longer cool to be a poet or write fantasy stories, I began writing for the school newspaper. I kept this up for six years. I spent a good deal of time shadowing reporters, photographers, and anyone else who would let me tag along. I could not decide whether or not I wanted to grow up to be a journalist or a photographer for National Geographic (okay, maybe I was paying lip service to Mario). I loved learning everything there was about newspapers and reporting. I won awards - even first place in the state for an article on school violence. (It was not a school-level contest, by the way.) I abandoned journalism when I went to college. Someone tipped me off that the internet was hurting newspapers and pursuing it as a career would be a huge waste of time and money. Sadly, that someone was right. One of my best friends who has a journalist degree and a resume a mile long is currently carrying a handgun and rifle, protecting a money vault.

I still write creatively, though I'm not as strict with my writing as I should be. I have an abandoned blog, Gasoline Wishes and Fry Cook Dreams, that I posted on somewhat regularly until last December. I have four WIPs that I work on from time to time. I'm up to about 30,000 words on my PNR one, but I'm disgusted with the main character. (She needs to be rewritten - or killed off.) I also have two more ideas that I'm fleshing out. Yes, I know I should pick one and just stick with it. However, I'm easily bored and rotating works for me. If I never finish anything, you can point at me, laugh, and say I told you so.

Fun Life Fact

My boyfriends always end up with nicknames that are used among my friends. I come up with some, but my friends usually do the naming. Their favorites: Fire Crotch, Ugly Guy, The Trollfather, Sexy I-49er, and The Gingerman. (Okay, those aren't the main favorites, but I try to keep things here PG at least.)

12 comments:

  1. I was a huge writer when I was young, and I still have the stories I wrote. Quite interesting, I may say. But I loved how you made stories about your imaginary friends. That would have been so cool if I had thought of that when I was young!! Oh well...

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  2. In a sense, our characters are like our imaginary friends. :-)

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  3. I used to write a lot too when I was younger. I could write short stories. Imaginary friends are nice!

    -Len of Musings of a Reader Happy

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  4. Great post!
    Thanks for sharing!
    Sam @ The Little Munchkin Reader

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  5. Great post. I love to write. I completely get working on different pieces too - sometimes it is good to set one down and work on another!

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  6. HAHA, The Gingerman. That's kinda funny :-)

    I hope that you become a successful writer in whatever area that you choose!

    Happy ABEA!

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  7. thanks for sharing some of you! I have never been a great writer, ideas dont come easy!

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  8. I always write too! I've slacked off with my real love of writing though for blogging and journaling. While they are still writing...I miss the stuff I really love! I'm in the process of getting back with it though.

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  9. I think it is great that you have a passion for writing and hope you are able to keep pursuing it.

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  10. You've reminded me, I used to write stories ALL the time when I was a kid. Not sure why I stopped, but blogging kinda inspires me to give it a bash again!

    And good luck - maybe you can find a really horrible way to kill of that main character - then at least you'll get that satisfaction ;)

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  11. Seriously awesome nicknames for boyfriends! You've got a great group of friends. I hope they enjoy your blog as much as I do! Tattooed Books

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  12. Your boyfriends sound like winners. ;)

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You are going to put words in my box?! *squeezes you* Now I shall stalk YOUR blog!