by Edie Melson @EdieMelson
Now I'd love to hear
what you'd add to the list. What things confirm your calling to the writer's
life?
Edie Melson is the author of numerous books, as well as a freelance writer and editor. Her blog, The Write Conversation, reaches thousands each month. She’s the co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains ChristianWriters Conference and the Social Media Mentor at My Book Therapy. She’s also the Military Family Blogger at Guideposts. Com, Social Media Director for SouthernWriters Magazine and the Senior Editor for NovelRocket.com. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook. Don't miss her new book from Worthy Inspired, WHILE MY SOLDIER SERVES.
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| We all have times when we doubt. |
Many of us hit
places in our journey where we wonder if we're really cut out for writing.
Insecurity and the general insanity of the business can whittle down our
confidence until we're ready to throw in the towel.
Today I'd like to
share a list of things that can reverse that insecurity. If you find any of
these familiar, you're definitely on the write . . . uh . . . right path.
1. You look forward to the holidays and
getting together with difficult relatives because it gives you more ideas for
quirky characters.
2. Eavesdropping is a way of life—how else can
you learn to write realistic dialogue?
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| You never go anywhere without pen and paper. |
3. You never go anywhere without a pen and
paper—you never know when inspiration will hit.
4. Your husband bought you a digital voice
recorder because he was afraid you’d wreck the car writing notes when
inspiration hits.
5. You frequently act out scenes for your
book, and even ask your family to participate.
6. Going too long without writing can bring
on a case of hives.
7. Your personal computer has several files
on how to commit the perfect murder.
8. You can’t pass a bookstore with going in.
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| Your spouse sleeps with a mask. |
9. Your spouse now sleeps with a mask on
because you frequently flip on the light to take notes in the middle of the
night.
10. When something funny happens to a family
member, his/her first reaction is to beg you NOT to write about it.
11. Your frequently have
conversations—out loud—with your character.
12. You have at least one non-writer friend
who refuses to go to lunch with you any more—one too many discussions about how
to poison someone.
I had to laugh at the acting out scenes. In one book, my character raps her knuckles on a counter. I wanted to hear the sound and see the action, so I did. And split my knuckle open. Now I ask someone else to act it out. LOL
ReplyDeleteWhen a friend considered an elderly woman as her main character, I started eavesdropping on people in the pool at my dad's retirement village. Perfect way to learn what's important. Unfortunately, since I write historicals, it doesn't work for me.
ReplyDeleteYou better hope your computer is never examined by crime scene investigators, with all those murder files!
13. You can't see a dented automobile (or read a headline or hear the news) without thinking, What if....
ReplyDelete14. You find yourself wondering how to work some event or situation into a novel... no matter what the situation.
15. You feel the slightest bit unbalanced for thinking that way (See #13)