Does every reader, at some point, want to write?

[loracs]

I love to read, but until recently, I only wrote when I had to. And I haven’t "had to" since approximately 1997 when FAT LIP Readers Theatre ceased activity. With rare exceptions, most of FAT LIPS’ pieces were written by company members, so there was a certain expectation to write, to add your voice to the script. While I took some pleasure from having written, the process itself was terrible.

Over the last few years, this has changed. I find myself thinking about writing while I drive or take a shower. I jot down little notes and email them to myself from work. Just ask stonebender how focused I get when writing. I say "focused", he might use the word "obsessed." I’ve sacrificed much needed sleep to write. I’m not sure why this has changed. Does having an LJ as an outlet for anything I write cause this? I read lots of personal blogs; is blogging contagious?

Most of what I write is family connected. My parents and all of their siblings are dead. Am I feeling the pressure as an "elder" in my family to write these stories down before they are lost, and if they are lost, so what? My family, my stories are not unique – strange sometimes, but not unique. Or, as I enter my 5th decade, do I just want to write to tickle my memory, keep it all alive for myself. This might explain the personal essays, but what about the fiction ideas. I’ve not committed any bytes to disk yet, but I want to. Today I surfed for local writing classes and workshops.

And it’s the process I’m enjoying now. I daydream about having more time to write. If dbubley ever wins that Big Lotto Money or if I ever retire, I know what I want to do. When I grow up I want to be a writer. It’s a little scary to put this idea out in the world or at least this little section of LJ World. I’m not a "magical thinking" person and I don’t think this will jinx anything either. Yet still there’s some fear with posting this and I’m not sure why.

Well, the "why" of it will have to wait for a later introspection. It’s after 3 am and I have to get up at 6:30 am. Okay, maybe it is an obsession.

Comments

[auntysocial.livejournal.com]

I've really loved what you have written about your family memories. I'm glad you are enjoying the process! Keep it up!

[loracs.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I've enjoyed the personal historical perspective you bring to your family stories. Have you published any of these stories?

[auntysocial.livejournal.com]

I haven't published anything. I dream of writing a book going back several generations. I think of my LJ writing as practise, but if it's all I ever do, at least it's out there on the net.

[dbubley.livejournal.com]

You're a good writer. It's funny, but I've had the same feeling about writing down memories. I wish I had all of the stories my parents told me, plus the ones they never got around to telling.

A journal of memories would be very helpful if you ever got alzheimers, or even just getting old. Recall helps recall.