Now I can finally say I am living my dream. Yes, it is a different dream, one that I failed to imagine until later in life when I left Corporate America and decided the time is now for me to seek my dreams. On June 2, 2005, I stepped away from the Corporate World to seek my dreams. Living the life of a writer is such an amazing adventure. Yes, there are times of self-doubt, times when I ask myself what am I doing? When this occurs, I pray to God that I will achieve my success, and every time I pray, I am blessed with something new to motivate or inspire me.
Last night was one of those occasions. In the middle of the night, I awoke from a dream. I was on the lake, fishing with someone. I admit I am not much of a fishing person, however, in my dream, something tapped at my cane pole fishing line. When I pulled the line in, hooked to the pole was a plaque of an award, dated 1987. Since it is now 2007, I was intrigued with the plaque. Now, the creative juices are flowing and I questioned why someone would throw away an award. Now, I have ideas dancing inside my brain. Could this be a Cold Case story, CSI story or some other genre? Perhaps.
I work as a travel writer, traveling around the USA to meet and interview interesting people, do adventurous things, learn about lifestyles, cultures, arts, music, passion, education and so much more. When I first began this journey in 2004, I was still tied to the Corporate World. I was skeptical, so afraid that I would not be able to find story material on my journeys. Not!
I have so many ideas dancing inside that I cannot type them fast enough. I’ve jotted down story material at the airport – ideas such as Camping Out at the Airport; Losing My Luggage for 36 Hours – Now I Feel Like Paris Hilton in the Big House, Now I am a Bird, the Freedom of Hang Gliding. Trust me, there are so many ideas I cannot possibly elaborate on all of them.
People ask me how I became a writer. I smile and thank them, sharing a few of the opportunities I have been blessed with. I have written stories since early childhood. Later, after marriage, I placed my pen and paper in a nightstand, rarely writing anything. One day, I found myself looking out the window of my home. My marriage was under a lot of stress at that time and I was questioning the future. Did I want to journey into the unknown alone, or – did I want to stick it out, work out the problems and build a new, better life. At the time, my son was young and I did not want him to live in a broken home, so I chose to face the situation and do my best to work on the marriage. Now, 20 years later, my life is still the life of a married woman.
To those who wonder, I will not sugar coat the adventures and disappointments of marriage, although I will say, my marriage is improving. I am a strong willed woman. My father-in-law once described me as a ‘woman with a mind of her own,’ and I must say, his descriptions were probably the most honest words from his lips. My father wrote in his diary, “At the age of two years old, Barbara can be quite a character. She loves to be the center of attention.”
Interesting observations and I suppose those descriptions were the stepping-stones leading me down the path to my life as a writer. I fully believe my life as a writer was dictated to me while I was in the developing stages of my life. Words have always been my life. While it is true that I can always think of something to say, and I definitely have a mind of my own, nothing pleases me more than to find just the right words to share or express what others have difficulty expressing. I adore observing others. Sitting in a restaurant, I look around, listening to the actions, reactions, and expressions of others. When I started to write, I was known for grabbing a napkin and pen to jot down what I heard. Now, I reach inside my handbag, grabbing my notebook and pen, to get the words on paper.
Stories are everywhere. Notice the expressions of others. The personalities. Attitudes. Passions. Facial expressions. Actions. Goodness, the list could continue.
As a writer, I love words. Words are my passion. Sometimes, when I create a character, I become almost euphoric with the designs, metaphors, actions, and personalities created. My friends, and a few colleagues, are envious about what I do. They believe life as a writer is glamorous. Yes, at times, it can be, but it is difficult to tap into the higher paying markets; nevertheless, I am one determined woman, with a mind of her own. Writing is rewriting. Writing is euphoric. Writing is depressing. Writing is life. Write what you know. Listen to what you hear. Believe in yourself and what you desire, and soon, you can be living the life of your dreams. It is not easy, but writing is so rewarding. The best compliment I have heard when someone read one of my stories is, ‘Your story brought tears to my eyes.’
And that is why I write!
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