WARNING: Lengthy and brutally honest post Head:
Let’s play a game. I am going to write out two truths and a lie; then dear reader your job will be to decide which statement is the lie. Ready, Go:
All written works are a different combination made up of the same twenty-six letters of the alphabet.
Writing is easy.
There is no foolproof way to write the perfect narrative, no matter what the rest of the world thinks.
Okay, times up! Where you able to find the lie? If you weren’t able to, it’s okay because I am going to tell you the answer to my little game anyway. The myth is…… writing is Easy. In fact, anyone who tries to tell you that the writing process is natural is lying to you. Now, if you have ever visited this lovely blog before welcome back thanks for waiting for me drag myself back out of my hobbit hole. I greatly appreciate it. To those who may be new, welcome to the California Bookworm, I hope you enjoy your stay. All of this being said and you don’t mind having the shit scared out of you, please proceed.
So, if you’re still here that’s great! Thanks for sticking around. Let’s talk. Better yet, I’ll write you read. The honest truth is it has been awhile since I have actually written ANYTHING NEW on this beautiful blog of mine. Therefore there is a little life update which will hopefully shine some light on why I haven’t posted in a while.
Writing is hard
Writing is not easy. It takes time, commitment, and it’s hard work. Somewhere along the way, I feel like the world somehow came up with the idea that sitting down to write was a simple and easy stress-free process. In truth, writing is a craft that is learned, honed and revised time and time again because the process of writing is never over. Therefore, declaring oneself a writer is not for the fate of heart. Gillian Roberts described writing like this,
“The only people who think writing is easy are people who don’t write. Writing’s a difficult, courageous act. Bravery is required, as well as a great deal of slogging along. A lot of our work is work.” –You Can Write A Mystery
“Writing is easy: All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead.” Gene Fowler
In the end though, if the words of two acclaimed writers aren’t convincing enough take my word as a college student, earning her degree in English with a creative writing emphasis. Writing is extremely hard. To be a writer and to write is to bare one’s soul out onto a piece of paper for the rest of the world to have and read forever. That is if one’s hope is to tell the world as one genuinely sees it. Writing is an intensely personal experience for each who choose to embark on the journey. It is not merely gibberish thrown onto a page. Every piece of writing is a piece of someone’s soul laid bare to the world around them. So, the next time you dare to suggest that “writing is easy” think about who was holding the pen or sat at their keyboard and; made the brave choice to share a bit of their soul with you.
What have I been doing?
So what exactly have I been doing during the time that I haven’t been updating my blog? well, I am glad you asked. During my on again off again hiatus I’ve been doing quite a lot. For one, I am happy to say that I am now officially halfway done with obtaining my College degree as I am gearing up to return for my junior year in the next two-ish weeks. I have also had the privilege over the past couple months to see different areas of California which I will expound upon at a later time. My never-ending reading list has also continued to grow, but so sings the life of an English major. But I promise reviews and comments on the said reading list will be coming sooner than later. This summer though I have taken to visiting some of my favorite fictional places, Jesus, music, house guests and completed most nights with my constant drinking companion the ever faithful Chai tea latte.
So in closing
I have spent my time away from this blog merely living in an attempt to better learn about not only who and whose I am but also to become a better writer. I went away to better understand what I wanted to contribute to the world as a writer (capital W) and, rediscover my voice on a more in-depth and intimate level. And, although I still don’t quite know what that looks or sounds like exactly; I do have an excellent writing companion, to guide me to what that is because He has this all figured out already.