About a year ago I wrote this post on a short story that decided by way of creative inspiration that: It wants to be a novel.
It was going fairly well, then some things in life got to happening and it was set aside.
And then earlier this year I got a new real-world job, details to be disclosed at some other time.
And then… Something happened at this job that got me to thinking creatively. Someone did something that I thought was odd, and that there JUST HAD to be a story behind it. So I got to thinking about the possible story behind the event, and decided that it had to be explored. Writing about seemed to be the best way and so off I was, on to another story.
I didn’t think about length, at this stage in my life I don’t care too much about such things and am just happy that I’m inspired to get story ideas and the overwhelming desire to write them.
I guess it also means that as I’ve matured as a person (which is about time as I’m over 50) and am taking this maturity into my writing “career,” such things occurring could mean that “writing” is becoming a vocation (something meaningful to do as well as to earn a living from) and not an avocation (something meaningful to do, like volunteering).
Why? Because of the seriousness of it. It’s less and less that I’m an “aspiring” writer and more that I’m an “actual” writer.
This new story has taken possession of me. While not obsessed with it as I have marital and job duties, and so on, I am occupied with it. When not actually writing, I am thinking and plotting.
But, I am writing. And in doing so, I am learning more about the creative process and also about me.
More on the latter in another post (I have to look up a quote. a-HA! “Search is your friend.” I found the quote -actually turns out to be two of them as they’re related – and they deserve their own post).
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While I can not claim to identify with your writing prowess; I recognise some of your developing motivation. Over the years I toyed with writing despite a school system that encouraged employment in proper jobs, at all costs. I learned to write shirt stories and forgot again as children had to be fed and a roof paid for. Many years of discernment have driven me back to answer the nagging call to write. I have finally finished a novel, and I have started the next. Maybe, at the age of 50, I will have time to learn enough to serve my maker with my writing well enough to meet his purpose for me. Thank you for your thoughts. I am learning, 🙂
If you’ve finished a novel, edit and rewrite it! Consider getting it published!