of a (lesser-known)writer
I retired from teaching three years ago. During that time, I’ve rediscovered a passion for writing. I joined a local writing forum and published a few stories and poems in their anthologies “Monsoon Madness” and “Desert Muses”. https://www.amazon.com/Debra-VanDeventer/e/B08GZS67GS. I am fortunate to be part of a writer’s critique group as well. This January, I ventured into the art of blogging and Seams Like a Story was born.
Why do I write? I’m not sure really, but it is a creative outlet. It keeps my brain active, and forces me to keep up with technology. Writing also helped me process the complex feelings I was having when I retired from a thirty-seven-year teaching career. I started writing about the challenges I faced as a new retiree and some anecdotes from my teaching past. Sometimes when I’m on a writing roll, I lose track of time and my husband has to drag me away from the computer for meals. Other times, I’m distracted, uninspired, in a creative slump.
My writing life has its ups and downs and my writer’s ego is fragile. Take last week, for example:
MONDAY : Girl dreams of fame and success
After three years, I had finished what I hoped would be the final draft of my “transition from teaching” memoir. Eager to test the waters, it was in the hands of three trusted critique buddies. I opened my morning journal and mapped out my road to success: publishing and marketing strategies, blog posts, Etsy shop? Pinterest? The possibilities were endless.
TUESDAY: Girl’s dreams are dashed
The critiques came in:
“Good job, this part is great, loved this section, so funny here, it’s going to be a great book that many can relate to. But… this part reads slow, move this chapter to the front, watch verb tense here, you have some comma issues, eliminate this part -it doesn’t add to the story.”
WEDNESDAY: Girl struggles with self-doubt
Maybe I don’t want to be a writer. It’s too hard. I don’t want to put in the work. No one would want to read this, anyway. My life is boring. Blah. I’m going to sit on the couch for the rest of my life and binge-watch Netflix.
THURSDAY: Girl receives a glimmer of hope
Text from a friend: “Just saw your story in the Desert Leaf magazine. Loved it!!”
I had submitted my 300 word short story six months ago, and they had accepted it for publication. After being rescheduled once, it was to appear in the September issue. It was in the back of my mind, almost forgotten, until I got the text. The next day, I received my copy in the mail. There it was on page six: Stir Crazy by Debra VanDeventer. A writer’s high, a glimmer of hope arrived just when I needed it most.
FRIDAY: Girl gets back to work
Maybe I’ll take another look at my teacher-retirement manuscript. It has potential. Let me take out this part…. move this to the front… add comma here… work on the flow… add more details to this section…
(to be continued)
Threads of thought
If you live in the Tucson area, check out the September issue of Desert Leaf Magazine.
If not, you can view Stir-Crazy and some of my other published stories and poems at https://vandeventerd.journoportfolio.com/
For the writers in the audience: How do you conquer writer’s block and/or self doubts? What are you writing about?
