Keep Walking

For years, I've meet for breakfast every Thursday with a group of guys. We mostly laugh and encourage, but there are times when we challenge or reprimand. I try to write for an hour or two every morning as a result of the challenges and encouragement from these solid Christian guys.

I spent that time last month exclusively working on a new manuscript. Living moments in my mind, thinking others thoughts, solving problems, the process is a great pleasure to me. I love creating a story.

This brings me to a question. (I hope it provides some insight into my last two blogs). I'm trying to figure out why it has been so difficult to make this a regular part of my life. I've always had stories, pictures, scenes in my head. In high school a friend heard part of a story I recorded on a cassette tape. He made a very flattering comment and it was revolutionary to me. I thought everyone had these same images. I've been invited to write articles. I've been asked to speak publicly, where I do little more than tell stories with application.

For reasons that I don't fully understand, I've always managed to talk myself out of serious attempts at writing. Am I waiting for permission? It feels that way at times, like I'm not the authority.

Greg's comments on my last post keep running through my head. As usual, his sharp mind gathered up the shards and scraps of my thinking and formed them into a gentle coherent mirror.

This is why I'm making a concerted effort to finish some works in my life. I'm starting late, but I have the "word doodles" of a lifetime bumping around the attic of my mind.

Currently I have a 76,000 word manuscript being edited, when it returns, I'll do another rewrite. In the meantime I'm 30,000 words into a piece about a young FBI agent and aspiring actress who are thrown together during the 9/11 attacks. The name of the story is "The J.A.S.O.N. file."

This journey is stretching and ominous, but the joy fills my soul. I'll stop wishing I'd been more serious earlier, learn what I can and move forward.

I hope to complete the rewrite of "Cyn" by the end of January - The guys at breakfast ask if I'm on track every week.