Just Look In Your Closet

It's been such a long time since I've even contemplated writing a post.  Life has gotten in my way for the past few months.  Pesky life.  I could have written about those pesky life issues but I didn't want to.  I lived it 24/7 and had no desire to relive it on paper.  Most of you would tell me that I should have written it, that it would have helped in some cathartic way.  In this case, no.  I chose to push it around the corner where I couldn't see it again.  Because it's not over yet.  And there you have it.

But there is some good news in all of this!  I have, with the help of my fabulous crit partners, made some real headway with a story that's been bouncing around in my head.  And for the first time in a very long time I'm having fun with the writing.

I've always loved to write, have written lots of short pieces but when it comes to the dreaded novel, I have been the queen of false starts.  Nothing has grabbed me beyond the beginning. When I try to envision the middle bits the screen goes all fuzzy and I end up turning the channel and trying something else.

It must be that I've never been in love with any of the characters and stories I've come up with thus far.  Oh, I like them.  I just don't love them.  They are like the shoes or dress you bought out of like, not love.  They just sit in the closet.  Every once in a while you drag them out with the intention of wearing them but after you put it all on...meh.  Back in the closet it goes. 

This time I love my characters.  Love them.  I'm not sure where exactly they came from but I'm thankful for their appearance.  Oh pshaw, I DO know where they came from!  They came from my life.  All these interesting, funny, fascinating people I run into during my daily jaunts, errands, work.  Everyone has them.  We just have to be awake to them.  And I apparently woke up enough to realize that I had a wardrobe full of characters that I truly want to wear.

I've even written about a few of them here.  *wink*