I use to write...nothing world famous or anything...but I use to write in high school and then in University...I took courses and wrote various stories and poems. I still have all my work, neatly zipped up and tuck away in my closet. If I look at some of work, I wonder who that person was? She is not me? What happened to me?? What happened to me was that I had three kids and got married...that's what happened to me. I think with having kids, they slowly suck out all the creativity that one has.
To prove my point....a friend wrote me a letter and enclosed a newspaper clipping about a Short Story Writing Contest. First prize is $3000 plus tuition to a Writers Course through a college(long distance). I thought why not....and now the contest is closing in about three weeks and I have been sitting here...trying to focus, but I cant...there is always a distraction...like three kids!!! Something always comes up. Now I know that I am also to blame...somewhat...I will go on Face Book, play Scrabble, check Twitter, Kijiji, my Hotmail.....and then try to focus back on writing.
I have written two stories(not yet finished) and I do love them...but they are each over 50 pages and this contest is 2500 words...slight problem. Then I thought about downsizing my stories...I really want to win...get some more knowledge from various scholars...but reality hits me hard when the kids start fighting or meals need to be cooked, or Josh needs help with homework. I am Mommy first. Me...Sherry is last, non existent! That's how I feel!!
To get my juices flowing I started to read The Maeve Binchy Writers' Club and felt a little better! I read things that I already knew. Carving out that time for you...whether waking up earlier, or staying up later, write about what you know...etc etc...but it felt like she was writing to me and it gave me insurance...something to go on. Then Matt gave me an idea, write about how we re-met! At first though, I was starring at the blank screen, then I put my head down....I didn't know how to start...then it all clicked!! But it took me a week to figure something out! And now I am rereading what I wrote and I am thinking its kinda rubbish...I don't like it...it doesn't inspire me to do more...and shouldn't it?? Shouldn't something YOU do inspire YOU??
So....in conclusion, the more kids you have and the more your plate is full of life, it will be harder to write...to be creative....right??!! BUT in order to succeed you need to carve out that time to be YOU and YOU alone...not Mommy, wife, co-worker, daughter/friend....just YOU!! But its HARD!!! I just want to carve out that niche where I can be me and noted for being me, me Sherry! LOL....I need help....this is a messed up blog....right?? Perhaps I need more SLEEP!!?
Write a story about your very situation--how you feel that kids drained the creativity...make up a fictional woman, and write about her life and how she feels dealing with that! That way you can interject your feelings, yet have a little creative license so it isn't totally biographical. I think that would be fun to read! "I Want to be Sherry!" You can do it, your blog is great, I never miss an entry! :-D
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