The Making of a Writer

What makes a writer a Writer?

Is it the dedication to their craft? Is it their passion for story-telling? Is it their wild imagination run amuck? Is it the ability to file a trillion pieces of data mentally and recall the tiniest detail to form more vivid characters and stories?

For me it’s…

…all of the above.

I love to learn. I love to tell stories. I definitely have a wild imagination. I’ve often been called Trivia Queen for the bazillion pieces of information stashed away in my noggin.  At some point I will run out of room – I’m sure of it!  For now I continue to happily observe and file and use the tidbits from everyday life.

Writing shapes my life in nearly every way now. I have always loved observing people but when I really got into writing, ‘observing’ took on a whole new meaning. No, I don’t mean I’m a stalker-type of observer. I just mean that I have much more clarity of thought in my observations.  When I’m farming my brain for ideas, I flip through that mental Rolodex card file, trying out many variations until I have that “Aaaahhh yessshhh… that’s the one!” moment and it’s on to the next character or scene.

Writers are often avid researchers too. If my mental Rolodex doesn’t have the info I need, I go looking for it online, interview experts, pick up library books, or just ask around. There is always someone that will know something about what I need.  Knowledge is something easily shared and often it’s such a joy to share it doesn’t even seem like work!

Writers also love to meet with other writers that are devoted to their craft. This is where we can learn, network, form friendships, work on stories, and teach others.  Writing is a journey, a process, not an event. Launching a book or a web site is also a journey and process, to be enjoyed each step of the way.

I didn't start out as a writer of novels but I definitely wrote songs, poems, short stories, and school news articles while growing up. In my corporate life I wrote more news-type articles, instruction manuals, and procedure books (completely opposite of fiction novels).  Novels came along a couple years ago when I found myself taking a turn on life's path that allowed me the time to write fiction.

I hope you join me on my journey as I forge ahead into yet more writing. Tomorrow is another day, another chapter, another story.  Enjoy your journey, enjoy your day!

© SamMarie Ashe 2011 All Rights Reserved