This is a very good question. Every since I was young, I loved to write. But here's the kicker. I hated to read. It was so difficult for me because I struggled with so many English words, such as desert and dessert and lay, lie, laid. These are just two examples. There are so many others. Plus, I struggled with comprehension which is probably why I disliked reading so much. The only way my mother could get me to sit still long enough to read was when she brought home books about horses. Since I was a farm girl, I loved reading about animals.
I did not develop a wide vocabulary until later in life. However, I did write quite a bit in high school, especially poetry. Friends of mine often asked me to write poems for them whenever they were assigned to write them for class assignments. Though I look back now and realize that it was wrong to do that, I have to admit, it was great fun and quite challenging.
It wasn't until I enrolled at Rockford Business College, that things began to change for me. I was a quiet person, who pretty much kept to myself. But it was at this school that I met a man that changed my entire life. The man's name is Mr. Swanson. I believe he is still alive and still affiliated with Rockford Business College. He was a business teacher. Somehow I caught his attention and he began to pay attention to my abilities. Plus, he was a Chicago Bear fan and I was a Green Bay Packer fan, which gave us much to discuss.
One day in class, he presented a challenge to everyone. His challenge made quite a difference in my writing abilities. He told us that once a week, we should open up a dictionary, and pick out a word for the week. "Read the definition," he said, "and try to work it into your vocabulary on a daily basis." I took him up on that challenge. I still today, remember the first word I chose. Conflagration! I laughed when my finger landed on the word since I had no idea how I would work that into my everyday speech. If you're not sure what it means, I encourage you to research it. However, I am proud to say that I did use that word whenever I could, which is probably why I still remember it. In one of our many papers that Mr. Swanson assigned us, I remember working that word into it. In what context? Well, I don't really remember, but somehow I related it to a business situation. As my love for reading grew, so did my vocabulary. I can't say that I looked up every word that I didn't understand in a book, but I did look up enough.
The one thing that writing does for me is that it allows me to vocalize my inner thoughts; arrange them in a manner that make sense. It also gives me a voice for my emotions. In my Irish family, we were brought up to pay little attention to these things. Like a lot of Irish, we kept things to ourselves, until we couldn't keep them inside any longer. Then, it was like an angry volcano that suddenly had to erupt.
Another important element of why I write is that it allows various ideas to be worked into a story. Some issues I present are my personal opinions, which are spoken by one of my characters. There is no getting around that. Objectivity is never 100% correct. However, other issues that I have difficulty accepting also deserve a voice when it fits the narrative. My Catholic upbringing insisted that we see the many sides of an argument, which is a lesson I have not forgotten. Often in my writing, characters hold different positions that are not part of my world view. However, not to do this would be unfair to my readers. I believe I have an obligation as a writer to allow my readers to refine their own ideas on a particular subject. Yet, I do not add fillers or characters that do not align with the values and the purpose of the story.
Today, I marvel at friends who confide in each other about their emotions and their personal struggles. When I was growing up, my friends and I never discussed these things. They were irrelevant, yet, I think it was more than that. It just was not part of my consciousness to speak on these things. I don't think I could tell you any problems my friends were going through at the time. Our focus, or perhaps mine, was just about having a good time.
I realize that writing is a gift, one that I've been granted by God. My first success at writing was related to my music. I spent time writing religious music, glorifying God. I grew up Catholic, so most of my understanding of God was impersonal, though my faith has always been there. Then, I met a guy who challenged me on my relationship with God. From that moment on, I began a whole new journey of discovery, trying to understand my place in this universe and with the God that created me. The music I wrote focused on the goodness of God. After so many years of hearing about how bad human beings were, I believed it was time to tell another version surrounding my experience of the goodness of God as noted in the first creation story. My two Christian tapes, How Can I Keep from Singing and God is Love, is a testimonial to our Creator. Being able to express myself through my music, definitely had an impact on why I needed to write. However, without my close friend, JP, my guitarist and bass player, I doubt if my music would have ever been heard.
Today, I write because I'm a natural storyteller, a gift God has given me. Whenever my family gathers together, we tell stories. That's what the Irish do, and always over a good meal and hearty laughter. My family is part of a history of storytellers, most who did not take the time to write things down. I remember my grandparents and my aunts and uncles telling stories, many which I have forgotten to my chagrin. Maybe that's why I write as well. To make a dent into history and keep Irish traditions strong in my family. Many of my stories are about Irish heritage.
What do I do when I experience writer's block? I sit back and say I quick prayer for guidance. Then I set down my computer, and do something else. It is not long before ideas begin to pop into my mind. Sometimes these ideas surprise even me. When my mind clears, I thank God for her/his ability to get my attention. P.S. I know that God is not human, but finding a pronoun outside the context of human experience is difficult.
When do I start writing a story? As soon as I had compiled a narrative in my mind. I write in sections that focus on my characters. I develop ideas and stories about who they are, what they do and how they relate to their community in my mind. That's where my stories begin before they ever became part of the written word.
Another important aspect about writing, is paying attention to other writers. It is one way that I continue to develop my vocabulary. By reading other writers, I pay attention to how other writers express themselves in their writings. It is a great learning tool. The writing world is definitely a community of writers who are on a mission to express and awaken the world around them.
P.S. I never thanked Mr. Swanson for his challenge, so if he ever reads this article, I hope he knows I'm speaking about him. He was an awesome man, with a big heart; one who I will always respect and admire.
