Why I Write

There is a hidden beauty in a blank page, a new pen, a freshly sharpened pencil. I experience a sense of utter and complete joy when I just sit and write. It can be about something or nothing or everything and yet it is satisfying. There is an instant gratification in watching the words appear right in front me. To think that only seconds before, the words I have just created were only thoughts floating around in my head and now here they are... on the screen... for the world to see.It is damn near miraculous.

My lovely friend Nyamka has nominated me to participate in a blog hop and I am only too happy to take her up on it. Because it is about writing (if you haven't guessed that part yet) it's only fitting that I write it, right? Nyamka recently wrote about why she writes. If you haven't seen it yet, I recommend you take a look at her content and see what she has to say. Having gotten this little bit of housekeeping out of the way, let's get going, shall we?

What Am I Working On?

Right now, the biggest thing that I am working on is this blog. Rediscovering the joy of the publish button has been a wonderful journey and I am reveling in it. I have found that the entire process is getting easier (again) and no longer feels like a burden or an overwhelming task to me. The ideas are coming more easily and the urge to write is incredibly strong. So a lot of my time at the moment is being spent here which is a good thing.

But, as is generally the case with me, it is not the only thing I'm working on. I actually have a couple of writing projects happening as well and since my interests are so varied, so is my writing. I have one fiction and one non-fiction project happening concurrently. Both are in outline form right now, but they are real things and that in and of itself is very exciting.

Why Do I Write?

There a lot of reasons why I write and to be honest, there are too many to list here.

I write because it soothes.

I write because it ignites.

I write because it feels like freedom.

I write because it hurts when I don't.

I write to get the stories out.

I write to make more stories.

I write to tell you that I get it.

I write to show you you're not the only one.

I write to say you're not alone.

I write because that is what I do.

I write because I am a writer.

What Does My Writing Process Look Like?

Oh, there's supposed to be a process?

Just kidding... kind of.

I wish I could tell you that I do this every day. I want to do this every day. A perfect day would be to wake up much too early for the rest of the world (translation: 4:30 or 5 am) and spend at least an hour just writing whatever came into my head. That would be bliss for me. I read books like Daily Rituals with a certain of jealousy and an equal level of admiration.

But alas, that is not my life at the moment. I grab times to write when I can. Sometimes it is first thing in the morning, sometimes it's during a lunch break. Sometimes it is a break from the everyday at 2 in the afternoon that becomes my writing time. I pride myself on being organized. But my writing, oh my poor writing, is not.

Not right now, anyway. Like most things in my life, this is a work in progress. And it is work. A true labor of love.

For blog ideas, I love Evernote. I use it to record ideas that pop up during the day. I never really "got" this tool until recently. And now I'm hooked. When I have an idea ready to go, sometimes I'll just sit down and write. Other times, this requires me to brainstorm and draft notes and get things down on paper. It just depends on where I'm at (physically and mentally). From there, I do high level edits and publish.

For my bigger projects, I use Pinterest secret boards to pin inspiration and ideas. I use those visuals to come up with outlines and notes. I use those notes to build the story. I use the manuscript to edit and expand the content and develop my idea. When the item is ready, it gets shared. Sometimes widely. Sometimes just with my closest friends and family.

How Does My Writing Differ From Others in This Genre?

Like Nyamka, I'm not really in a "genre." But what I do try to do is have art imitate life. I use my life lessons and everyday a-ha moments to convey my life education through stories, metaphors and common beauty that can overwhelm you and make you realize what you've been missing. My writing is very real and often, very raw.

My writing is different because it is a reflection of me. More than that, it is me, on screen, on paper, read aloud. And no one is like me, right? Sure, there are a lot of people who are similar to me, whose voices sound like mine online, but no one is me. I have cornered the market on being Angela.

Passing the Baton

Now comes the fun part, right? Time to nominate others to participate. Three others, in fact.

1. Joseph Garlock - little brother extraordinaire and another gifted writer that I miss terribly since he now lives farther away than a quick car drive. If you haven't seen his 50 in 50 by 50 blog, I promise it will be worth your time.
2. Mary Boyer - A long-time blogger friend who writes at Everyday Baby Steps who continues to inspire me to keep writing even when I don't think it's worth it (not often, but it does happen).
3. Kate from Filled to the Brim - One of the blogs that I never want to miss a post. Her journey with her beautiful children is something that will make you just want to hug a little one (but make sure that you know that little one first).

Thanks again to Nyamka for nominating me! Glad to have been a part of it.

If you want to participate, feel free to do it on your own and share the link here in the comments so others can follow along.