Gentle Encouragement

Even though I am currently sick, I received a far more meaningful medicine than Theraflu or Vicks could ever give me....a 10 minute chat with my creative writing professor. I was nervous about going to talk to him, even though I have no idea why. Perhaps I was afraid of hearing something that wouldn't help me at all but only add to the confusion that alreay surrounds my writing life. Within the firs couple seconds, my fears were laid to rest.

"What makes you think your work is good enough to be published." Awkward almost condescending question no? I thought so too as I worked to make it clear to him that I was aksking an earnest question, not trying to be a smart alec. Fortuneatly, he already realized that.

To summarize the conversation he stated:
1. When everything just magically clicks and you can actually see what writing is all about (not sure if that was just for him or if all great novelists have experienced that.)
2. Don't give into the starving artist mentality (people who create to create and don't care if they get a dime in the process although they are trying to make a living off of it secretly)
3. Have confidence in your writing and polish the pieces that you really care about.

I think I can do that.

Now I'm inspired and chomping at the bit to make something of myself, not as a journalist as I originally intended/came to college for, but as a writer, a novelist. I think I can do that too. Oddly enough, that brief encounter also encouraged me to start a writing blog (the more writing the merrier) and even if no one reads this, at least I'm putting it all out there. Perhaps some hopeful yet scared writer will stumble acrosss and realize that they aren't alone.

Well, I'm off to one of the 23 empty notebooks I have accumulated in all shapes, colors and sizes (notebooks and stationary are my two greatest addictions) to write a story. We'll see how it goes.

Cheers!