"Reading and weeping opens the door to one’s heart, but writing and weeping opens the window to one’s soul." ---M. K. Simmons
I absolutely love writing. In fact, I've been writing since grade school - from personal journals to essays to short stories. It started as a hobby and had remained so until last year when I decided to embark on the uncertain and ever competitive world of freelancing. Since then, it had become my bread and butter.
It's only been a year and a half since I become a freelance writer/blogger/part-time copywriter/internet marketing newbie. And it's fun. A whole lot of fun. For some, writing sounds like a boring job because you do nothing but write. Most people even criticize it and say that it's not even a real job. Instead of lashing out a good argument as to how much the contribution of a writer to the print and television media, the internet and to the world or the generous income opportunity it entails, all I can say is this: it's not for everyone.
Others just don't understand the kind of satisfaction you get when you manage to produce not just a good read but a great one. They probably don't know the amazing feeling of getting lost in a world full of swirling and swinging words that only you can understand. Writing is more than just art. It's a way of life.
Okay, what I really mean is: unless you put yourself in my shoes and walk a mile in it, bug off and let me be. I didn't comment nor I care on how boring your routine-based and highly uninteresting job is or how low your fixed salary is so stay out of my goddamn business.
Now, as a writer, I have my fair share of joys and sorrows. There are good days and there are bad days. The good days are when I find myself getting motivated and inspired that I can finish three articles in an hour or two in a single sitting. Good days are also when my productivity level is on an all-time high that I refuse to waste a single minute for procrastination.
The bad days, on the other hand, are the ones when I'm at my worst - procrastinating, demotivated and have no idea on what to write. Writer's block sucks! And sometimes, it's information over load more than anything. I'm telling you, these days are way too many. They often give me the nagging and guilty feeling of not doing anything. Since I'm self-employed, my income depends on my productivity. So you should know where I'm coming from.
Like right now, I have three articles that need to be written tonight, a short story for my new blog to be finished, and a novel to be continued. And I'm not doing any of that at the moment. I'm blogging, remember? What's more, I probably won't do any of them tonight. They could wait tomorrow. Did I tell you that I'm such a procrastinator? Well, now you know.
Anyway as a writer, I don't want to limit myself in a single genre and form. I don't want to write non-fiction and niche-based articles, e-books and reports alone. I want to venture out, to be a multi-faceted writer. My dream is to become a successful fictional writer - at least in the kindle world - like that of the likes of John Locke, Suzanne Collins and James Patterson with Sci-Fi/Thriller as my genre.
I'm actually in the process of writing my first novel on this genre. It's just that I can't seem to get the inspiration to write three scenes a time or how to keep the plot on the right direction. I'm a good writer with lots of potential. At least, I know I am. The dialogues are fine. The direction where my mind and imagination is going is the problem. The plot would start off real good then it would become "What the fuck?"
In fact, in one of my unfinished short stories, my lead character was written as putting her daughter to sleep, to being called by her mother, to seeing her father holding a bloodied knife with a dead man at his feet, to being convinced by her parents to not call the police so they can bury the body themselves. It may sound as an interesting story line, but really, it sucked. Why? (1) I had no definite plot in mind (2) I was just making the scenes as I go along and (3) I really had no idea what I was writing.
But writing is not all "sorrows." I mean aside from the writer's block and sometimes stressful nature of writing, it has given me a lot of "joys." It lets me express myself freely and let my thoughts out without forcing anyone to listen. It allows me to let go of my emotional baggage, if any, and acts as my sounding board when I need someone to talk to. Did I tell you that writers are sentimental, eccentric and emotional in nature? Again, now you know.
Another joy is that writing allows me to explore new horizons and open new avenues. It makes me learn, learn and learn. You can't write without learning. Learning is a part of writing. It makes you a credible and efficient writer no matter what your genre is. Plus, knowing that you've provided something of value, engaged your readers, and sent an informative message across - Now, that's priceless.
