As I've shared before, I'm not a person who has written since childhood. I do have the diary (spelled "dairy" from my years as a Brownie Girl Scout). I started faithfully keeping a journal during my college years which continued until I married when my efforts reduced considerably. And now almost 40 years later, I only have four journals, the college one, the one I kept during my missionary service in Hong Kong, and two journals (one of them incomplete) from my life post mission until now.
But the "magic" of my writing life began in earnest when I discovered blogging through Two Writing Teachers and Slice of Life. Thanks to a unique group of students who sliced with me every day in March of 2012, I found myself hooked.
In the eleven years that have elapsed since then, I've published 1,280 blog posts. I like to think that I'm leaving behind a record of who I am through these blog posts. But the greatest magic of my writing life has been the relationships I've formed with fellow bloggers. I am forever grateful for the support of writing communities through the good times and the difficult times.
While I began my blogging journey with an initial attempt at a 48 hour reading challenge, it was the community of writers at Slice of Life and my sixth grade students who supported me in my attempt to write daily for 31 consecutive days. I planned for last year (2021), my 10th, to be my final year of writing daily in March, but I found it impossible to stay away and joyfully wrote daily for the 11th year. I've also enjoyed blogging for Spiritual Journey Thursday, Celebrate This Week, Poetry Friday, a #52stories project to collect family stories, and Sharing Our Stories. The members of many of these communities overlap and I feel lucky to count each of you as my blogging friends.
YOU are the magic that keeps this reluctant writer returning and writing. My thanks to each of you!
I am so happy that you started blogging and have kept at it! I so love reading what you have to say.
ReplyDeleteWhat I love most aside from feeling like you, I too, emerged a writer through TWT, is that you consider your stories 'published.' I never thought about it but love that word, 'published'. Thank you! :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on having a rich and varied writing life. I am sure it has brought you both joy and contemplation
ReplyDeleteRamona, I am a lifelong writer who really didn't write as much as I wanted to. I was never successful at keeping a diary - my grandmother did, every day for years. This amazed me and kind of made me feel inept as a writer because I just couldn't sustain it. Eventually I realized, not so many years ago, that I am just a different kind of writer. More of a storyteller. You and I have arrived at blogging via different paths but I agree that it is record of our lives, a word-scrapbook of our moments. Our stories are far more important than we know... sharing them is what knits humanity together and I celebrate this magic alongside you, my friend! You're a gift.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you write here so that we can be a part of the magic with you! What a blessing to have you share your writing life with us! And you are so encouraging to other writers!
ReplyDeleteMy story is similar. I enjoy sharing this journey with you!
ReplyDeleteDiane/newtreemom