Co-Writer, Hand Cramps and Swiss Cake Rolls

I set out over a year ago to pick up a pen and paper and begin the tedious task of writing a novel. It was, after all, the one desire I had that had never faltered in all my years. While in the process of writing it suddenly hit me...A wonderful, devilishly wicked story concept. I had never seen or read anything like it and wondered who I could trust enough to run the idea past. Ah-Ha! My best friend, of course. So, that is exactly what I did, and guess what? Turned out she had a natural ability for story development, we were definitely on the same page and she could type...A partnership was born. Everything did not fall into place overnight but it did eventually fall into place. We each found a unique strength and fit in our shared writing abilities. We did, of course, argue and sometimes fight. Once or twice we even talked of absolving the partnership and throwing in the towel, but never did. We were determined, each for their own personal reasons. The fruit of all that labor and months of growing pains became CRUELTY TO INNOCENTS, our debut novel.

Now, tucked neatly away, are hundreds upon hundreds of hand written pages ( Yes! I hand write all my work). The memory of the amount of Ibuprofen I consumed in an effort to battle the hand cramps that would always accompany my writing process and a few extra pounds gained while indulging in Swiss Cake Rolls (writing fuel) was little price to pay. Notebook, pens and Swiss Cake Rolls, and I am ready to work, and my partner is always ready to type.

Perhaps one day I will learn how to type and the process will change completely, but as I understand it, you don't fix what isn't broken. I think I will just stick with my co-writer, my hand cramps and my Little Debbie Swiss Cake Rolls.

Multiple Personality Disorder and Writing

I often wonder how big the line is between a person who suffers from Multiple Personality Disorder and a writer. To be completely honest, it is a very thin, very blurred line and one that, in my opinion, we must cross daily in order to perfect our craft. You have all heard someone say, "Look at that guy...he's nuts" or "If she writes that stuff she must be crazy" and even "Only a crazy person could come up with that". I believe that writers are nuts. They are crazy. I am not talking about 'multiple medications four times a day' kind of crazy. I am not talking about 'popping Thorazine and shuffling into walls' kind of crazy. I surely don't mean 'burying the bodies in the basement' kind of crazy and I am definitely not referring to 'the world is out to get me kind of crazy' either. No. This kind of crazy is reserved just for us writer types. This kind of crazy is creating other people, other lives and being those people in those lives, as you write that story. It is speaking out loud in a British or Irish accent while that character speaks, even though you aren't British OR Irish. It can even be talking to, not only those characters, but also yourself and being completely OK with that.

Are authors crazy? Yes.

Will they admit to being crazy? Probably not but then, they are nuts...what are you doing listening to them anyway?

WAIT! Maybe you are just as crazy as that writer that you adore. As you are reading this post you may be asking, "Is she crazy?" Maybe. "Does she know she is crazy?" Perhaps. "Is she OK with being crazy?" Absolutely!

So...You Want To Be A Writer?

So, you want to be a writer, but why? I know, you want the deal of the century from the most prestigious publishing house in all the world. You want the biggest advance ever in the history of the literary world, a 10 book deal and a fan base that rivals the Beatles. You want the best movie house in Hollywood to beg your agent for the rights to your book and then they will have the very best screenwriter in the business convert your novel into the greatest screenplay in cinematic history. Every producer in the business will fight for that screenplay and of course James Cameron, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas will ALL be directing. The cast will be slam full of stars such as Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Gerard Butler, Robert Pattinson with cameo appearances by you, of course. People will line up days in advance just to get a glimpse of you at a book signing or the opportunity to take a picture with you. You will be on every red carpet event and rub shoulders with the richest and most talented stars in the world. You will even have to step over fans and fight the paparazzi everyday just to make it to your mailbox.

Now, do you really want to be a writer?? If you said 'Yes' and your reason for doing so was in ANY of the above sentences...STOP NOW! You DO NOT want to be a writer. You want to be a rockstar or Justin Bieber and I am sorry, but that is on a different blog all together. This blog is about being a writer, you know broke, struggling, working 2 jobs to make ends meet but still determined to entertain with the art of storytelling. I will slowly take you on my journey from struggling writer to, if the stars align, a published author. I will try to do so as gently but honestly as possible and hopefully you and I both will learn a little something along the way. Enjoy the trip but please remember...Pen & Paper are not included!