The Coalmine

Currently,I am reading "The Freelance Writer's Bible" by David Trottier. So far it has been very helpful. There are some slightly off mind-games that the author recommends for creative writing. But as a whole, he really knows his stuff and I just ignore the weird parts.

As you may have guessed, by the above-mentioned book title, I am considering (prayerfully) writing as a career not just a cathartic daily activity. I was in seventh grade when my teacher Mrs. Olfert discovered my untapped talent as a writer. I think that our first writing assignment was a poem. Oh how I remember the despair I felt-- "How can I write a poem? I'm not a poet!" But it was mandatory, and I was an 'A' student, so not wanting to fail, I completed the assignment. Most students wrote about deeply inspirational things, or beautiful events and places. What did I write about? A desk. I wish that I had kept a copy of that first poem....sigh. Needless to say, Mrs. Olfert saw the diamond potential in that coalmine of words. She proceeded to cultivate the writer within me. I am forever grateful to her. After that, I couldn't stop writing. I had found a way to express myself! I kept pages of journals, chronicling my journey to adulthood. Sadly, those too have disappeared throughout the years. Writing was my faithful friend throughout many painful life lessons. I don't have to try to write, I just do. I also recall that in preparation for eighth grade graduation, Mrs. Olfert had us write out a speech of what we had gleaned from our junior years at school. I hated speaking in front of people so I tried my hardest to write a TERRIBLE speech, because she told us that the best ones would get read in front of the auditorium audience by the AUTHOR. I revisioned and rewrote it a bunch of times, finally confident that I had done poorly. Well, I ended up having to memorize it and say it in front of the audience. I touched Mrs. Olfert so deeply that she cried. I guess it wasn't that poor of a speech after all...lol!

Mrs. Olfert greatly influenced me. She always told me that I should write a book someday. Perhaps I shall, but it won't be today! However, I am seriously pondering writing for money. It would be nice to have a supplemental income that required no start-up capital, no college degrees, and no commuting! So I am researching how to get into the writing business. If anyone is reading my blog and you have experience in this area, please feel free to comment :)

So that is all that is on my heart and in my thoughts right now. Maybe I'll see one of my creations in print some day. For now, I just write for me!