The Write Way

When I was a little girl I loved to write stories. I would make-up stories about everything, write them down on lined sheets of paper, add some rough illustrations and staple them together. Sometimes my friend Colleen and I would write stories together. I remember one in particular about a little girl who really wanted new shoes. But her mom wouldn't buy her any new shoes because the shoes she had were 'just fine'. One day the little girl passed a shoe store and saw a sign in the window that advertised a contest. It was the "Worst Shoes Ever" contest. A week from then, judges would be judging all the contestant's shoes. The worst pair (dirtiest, smelliest, ugliest) would win a FREE pair of shoes from the store! So this little girl went to work over the course of the next week trying to destroy her current pair of shoes as much as possible so that she could win the contest. She did all sorts of creative horrible things to her shoes, all the while trying to hide them from her mother. The day before the contest, her mother found her shoes and the little girl got in HUGE trouble. Despite being grounded, she snuck out to the contest the next day. She figured if she could win the contest it would make it up to her mom. Sure enough, she DID win the contest and got back in good standings with her mom.

A cheesy kids story, but one I loved (and got an A for in my fourth grade English class too!). Anyway, all that to say, I love writing. Most of you know that by know. Most of you know that I've been working on a book for...ahem...two years. Yep, two years and it really isn't even started. I have the character development done, the plot outline done, and have just started doing some research (which my mom graciously offered to help me with...thanks Mom!). Then I'll embark on the actual writing...which I think will just flow once I get started.

I recently joined a writing club at Barnes and Noble near our house. It is a small group of aspiring writers (of all sorts) meeting twice a month. Some are just hoping to chronicle their own family stories for their own use, others are freelance journalism writers, children's writers or novel writers. We even have a brilliant 14 year old boy who has just finished his 8th fantasy/sci-fi novel (the 8th in a series of 8). None published yet, but if he keeps it up he may just be the next J.K Rowling (male version of course).

I have every intention and desire to ramp up my writing - both to get this book in the works completed, but also to branch out with my writing. I am looking forward to an upcoming conversation I will be having with the director of a locally based women's ministry that uses all sorts of media to reach out to women (ie - radio, print, etc.) to determine how I may be able to use my interest in writing in a way that ministers to others.

I got a fortune cookie fortune a little while ago that I taped to my computer monitor. Not that I believe fortune cookie slips hold our destiny, but sometimes the sayings are good motivators or reminders. This one says 'You will be fortunate in the opportunities presented to you." That reminds me that while sometimes opportunities do just fall into our laps, more often than not we have to seek out those opportunities and pursue them. Like with writing...stay tuned! :o)