I do some of my best writing, blog entries or otherwise, either while walking or falling asleep. Unfortunately, by the time I wake up or get in front of the computer, the ideas are long gone. Somewhere in the back of my brain there is a huge closet full of pithy insights and clever essays. It would be nice if I could recover them one day, but I’m not counting on it.

I’ve come to realize, more and more, that writing is what I want to do. I would love to see my name (maybe my real name, or maybe my pseudonym, as they both are me now) on the cover of a book. And as funny as it seems, I would love to have my own ISBN. How neat! But first I’ve got to write a book. If you’ve reading my writing blog, Lotus Petals, you will know that I have decided to take the plunge and actually start writing. I’ve spent too many years dreaming, and now it is time to finally pick up that damn pen.

I’ve decided to try non-fiction first, as my attempts at story writing seem to fall flat. I’ve picked a subject. Heck, I’ve even picked a title. There is a lot of research to be done, as well as some rules of grammar to be reviewed. (Like avoiding the passive voice! 😮 ) But, for the first time in ages, I feel excited about writing. And if my book is never published, it doesn’t matter. Finishing it will be good enough for me.

So, add me to the list of the millions of people who say they are writing a book. I know I’m not alone in having this dream. Hopefully I can make it come true.

Ever get the feeling the universe is trying to tell you something? Just yesterday I decided it was about damn time I got to work on writing my book. This morning, quanta sends me a link to Lulu, and online on-demand publisher. It’s not quite a vanity press and not quite self-publishing, but rather an interesting mix of the two. This could be a good venue for me to explore, because it sure would be nice to have a real book written by me on my bookshelf.

It is time to step up to the plate (or any other silly cliche you like that has been made popular by reality TV), and start working on that book. I’ve got quite a bit of research to do first, but I think I will be more motivated now that I have a goal in mind.

What’s the old saying? When the student is ready the teacher will appear.

Well… this blog hasn’t seen much action yet, has it?

I’m currently devouring Stephen King’s On Writing. And, although I am not a big fan of Mr. King’s novels, I am absolutely loving this book. He has a way with words and an ability to tell a story that I envy.

I love words, but I am also more then a little afraid of them. I have never been able to spell particularly well, and this has lead me to be quiet timid when it comes to expressing myself. Using word processing software has really helped me feel more free. (All my blog entries are written in UltraEdit and spell checked before being posted.) But, deep down, there is still that young girl who so wanted to write a story, but wasn’t able to spell well enough to do it. If, when I was writing, I came across a word I couldn’t spell, I would use a different word (or words) that I could, and change the sentence to fit. I’ve never really gotten over this, and my writing is stunted because of this.

But, even with my difficulty spelling, I was always a voracious reading. I don’t just read books, I devour them. I am always reading at least two books, with several more waiting in the wings. There is more then a little jealousy involved, I think. Maybe, I think, if I read enough I will finally get up the nerve to write my own book.

The time is finally coming to walk the walk, even if I am the only one who will read it.