Before I was a writer I never pretended to eat the dog. Um...... maybe I did. Writing can't be blamed for all my craziness. Can it?! Here's a random list of other things that may or may not have happened before I was a writer.
Before I was a writer....
- I burnt dinner for all sorts of reasons. But never because there was an amazing scene in my head just begging to be typed.
- notebooks were for writing shopping listings and reminders. We had one. Two at the most and they lived on the kitchen bench. Now we have... oh, a million. And they are hiding in every nook and cranny.
- Feelings welled up inside me and had nowhere to productive the vent. Journalling is great, but creating a whole world of characters that are held captive in my head and are forced to deal with whatever crap I want to throw at them is pure bliss.
- I had a job that paid.
- Something gnawed at the back of my mind. Like there was something I had forgotten to do or someone I forgot I wanted to be.
- I thought punctuation and grammar were for the weak. Now I appreicate my weakness with punctuation and grammar AND I try my level best to get it right. I'm still trying... I have an editor now. God knows I need one! Thank you, my wonderful sister-in-law.
- There was a waste land in my life begging to be filled with words. I breathed, but it was very shallow.
- My family were never sure where to find me. Now it's a sure bet that I'll be in front of the computer.
- We didn't run out of coffee cups because they were languishing on every possible surface in my office.
- My abusive childhood had no way to be seen. My pain had no words and my memories no safe place to express themselves.
Was there life before writing? Hmmm....
LOL I bet lots of people can relate to before I was...I had a job that paid.
ReplyDeleteCute! I love your blog, Tabitha but please, don't eat the poor dog.
ReplyDeletelove the post! I don't think there was life before writing. :)
ReplyDeleteThere are very few of these I don't relate to.
ReplyDelete(especially #2,3, 5, 6,7,8, 9 (tea) and 10.
~ Wendy
I LOVE this post!
ReplyDeleteBefore I was a writer... Well, I was 22. I graduated college, navigated my first job, and spent all my free time planning my wedding. It was after I got married and settled down that I began writing but I can't remember there ever being a time as an adult that I wasn't writing!
Before I was a writer I was a writer who didn't know who I was.
ReplyDeleteI can't even remember what I did with my time. I THINK I watched a lot of news....
One interesting note: Before I was a writer I took a hell of a lot more valium.
Before I considered myself a writer... I was in the third grade. That is when I first put fingers to the keyboard to write "the next great American novel!" because I wanted to. Dad had to sit next to me to help me start. It was about five pages long before I cheated and started another one. But five pages of fiction is a lot for a third grader!
ReplyDeleteI never did finish that one. And as I'm sure you expected - it sucked. But I still have it, and the memories of my older, wiser brother, cackling as I read it.
Sometimes I'm amazed I kept trying. Although I'm not a writer for money yet, and do have a job that pays.
That was an awesome list! And all so true. Before I was a writer...well, I was a kid, so my entire life was one big adventure. Now I get to create my own adventure. It's great!
ReplyDeleteFantastic list, I pretty much nodded along enthusiastically to all but the last one. To 10 I sort of half nodded. To #4 I looked like a bobblehead doll. I would personally add 'my butt had not spread because I actually got out of the chair every once in a while' haha
ReplyDeleteThat was a fun post. It's always great to get to know our blogging buddies better. Thanx for sharing! Love the oe about the coffee cups.
ReplyDeleteT. Anne- Yeah I agree. I love finding out about other writers too. I probably should have said 'tea cups' as I never drink coffee, but ya get the idea.
ReplyDeleteJenn- yeah, what is up with the butt spread thing??? I wonder if other writers have this problem? :)
Cindy-I'm all about adventures with writing.
Melody- Can't believe you wrote that much as a third grader. That's unreal. Proves that we have always been writers hey. It just took me a long while to figure it out :)
Suzanne- Amen about the valium. I think I'd still be on anti-depressants if not for my writing :)
Stephanie- thanks for the comments. I hope there is never again a time in my adult life where I forget what writing means to me.
Wendy- yeah 'tea' for me too. I should have said tea. We just call them coffee cups in our house for some reason.
ReplyDeleteKatie- I agree. No life before writing :)
L.J.- I'll try to remember that. 'Don't eat the dog, Tab. Don't eat the dog' :)
She is so damned cute though. And plenty naughty as well.
CJ- I am looking forward to writing that pays, but really, I'd do it anyway. It's like breathing, how can I help it?!
Hehe...Its a pleasure to be your editor...and your sister-in-law :)
ReplyDeleteHey Andy. Nice to have you on the blog :)
ReplyDeleteI think it's a tad ironic that I let my sister- in- law edit me and still love her!
I do though- love ya that is!
You have my continued permission to edit me to your heart's content :)
(I bet you are biting at the bit with all my mistakes on this blog hey)