Give them their voice

Since writing is a solitary affair, only a few of my family and friends are aware my addiction, but they are less amazed than me that I actually finished writing my book. It took 2 1/2 years but I never gave up.

I remember the moment I decided to get serious. It was just before my birthday. The one that sounds officially 'old' and notifies junk mail marketers I might be a candidate for a mobility scooters. Scary stuff, but this new decade of my life has mobilized me. I am spurred on by the ticking clock but inspired at the same time. So I picked up the pen and forged ahead with all the naive bluster of a young soldier into battle.

For a long time I didn't want to let anyone know what I did with all of my spare time in the wee hours of the morning (or was it late night?) because if I didn't finish it, then... What? I don't know because now it doesn't matter. I'm writing now because I love it, not to prove I can do it. And, here's the best part. I still like my story. It's not bad for a first book. Maybe I'll find a few others who think so too.

Writing is relaxing for me, which seems like a funny thing to say, but when I'm all done with my day job where I'm in my left brain for hours, I go play with my characters and plots and I feel rested after writing for two hours.

With stacks of books scattered around me, sticky pads, spiral and binder notebooks, and a host of pens and highlighters, I am poised over my laptop with five open Word Doc files and six search engine tabs. Doing what I love.

If you like to write, don't wait. Don't think about it too much or you'll never start. Just do it.

After all, there's some interesting character just waiting for you to give them their voice.