I'm beginning to think we have choice about everything, even the things we think just "happen."
We may not be choosing consciously, but somehow the events of my life all lead me to where I'm supposed to be, even if it's difficult.
I don't want to write the novel I am writing - for all sorts of reasons. I don't believe I have the skills and talent to do it. I don't believe I am the right person to write this particular story. I don't have the energy to do whatever will be necessary to market it once it's done. Yada yada yada. But the truth is, this story chose me. Now I have a choice to listen to it or not. There are consequences either way.
Writing, for me, is the way I make sense out of my life. It synthesizes my thoughts and feelings and the events which occur in a way talking about it or thinking about it does not do. So not writing is not an option. But not writing this novel - is that an option?
I don't think so because I don't think I want to live my life with the emptiness inside that comes when I don't do what I am feeing compelled or urged to do from my Higher Self. I don't know what those are but I know from past experience, I don't want to find out.
So, I am re-committing myself to spending time with my story and getting myself to a place where it begins to emerge from deep within me.
What choices are you facing these days?
Blessings,
Karen
Insecure Writers Support Group
Welcome to Following the Whispers blog
13 comments:
For writing, I am choosing to outline some new stories before I finish editing. Everything else in my life seem like no matter what I choose, it's all bad. Lucky I have some control over what I write.
We regret more what we didn't do than what we did do.
I believe the same thing. There is always a choice, no matter how hard it is to see or to accept.
Tonja, I am so sorry.
Alex, I hope to leave this planet with no regrets.
Paul, very poignant comment given what you've been through this past year.
Karen
I still believe there's a purpose to everything that happens, something to be learned. My wife and I are better, stronger people for what we've been through.
Good for you, Karen. If you had a story that you once believed in, you believed in it for a reason and there is something worthwhile to it that you still may have to discover. Every second of life is a choice and our decisions impact the next second and all the seconds to come. Not making a choice is making a choice so might as well make a well reasoned choice.
Best wishes for that novel. Keep us posted (I'm sure you will).
Lee
Tossing It Out
Paul, I am so glad.
Arlee Bird, thank you. I sure will.
Karen
Hi Karen - I'm glad you're going to settle in with your muse and your story - it will come - patience is a virtue sometimes ..
Good luck .. cheers Hilary
Your post could have been written by me!
I continue allowing life to get in my way of completing my first book.
My excuses are always valid, or so I think they are but after all they are still just excuses for not doing what I am really wanting to do but too afraid to do it!
Keep focused and it can and will be done!
You're right. The things we do, the roads we take, and the way we react and interact with other people are all choices. It'd be nice to just float along and let life "happen" to us, but that'd just be an illusion. Even if we're hiding out down in the galley, we're still responsible for captaining our own ships. Me? Biggest decision I have to make now is whether to keep plugging my novel with other agents and/or publishers, fuhgettabout it and start work on something else, or self-pub and be done with it.
This resonates with me, Karen, because writing my memoir required me to ignore everything I knew about being published. Now that it is written, and my story is out there in a way that will offend the right people in the right way and amuse the other right people in the right way, I am taking steps to publish. It will get done, even if I have to do it myself, on paper, electronically, or in the sand. You are right about all of these things being choices. We do what is more important than not doing them. Now that my story has been told, I do not consider publishing to be as important as trying to publish, possibly impressing an agent. All the readers who matter have already been impressed -- or offended.
Great post, Karen! We do control a lot with our attitudes and our choices. I'm struggling right now with whether to pursue traditional publishing or whether to jump into the self pubbing pool where I can have more control over my stories. Tough choices :)
This is the story that sought you out in Scotland, isn't it? So glad to hear you making the choice to write it!
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