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Wednesday, January 5, 2022

No Regrets - IWSG January 2022

 

It's IWSG Day. The goal of this blog hop is to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds. IWSG is the brainchild of the amazing and generous  Alex Cavanaugh. Thank you to this month’s co-hosts: Erika Beebe, Olga Godim, Sandra Cox, Sarah Foster, and Chemist Ken!

Optional question for January: What's the one thing about your writing career you regret the most? Were you able to overcome it?

As I’ve stated here before, writing brings out my truest self—so I’m not sure that I can associate the word “regret” with the process at all. That said, in the spirit of this month’s question, I’ll admit to a certain wistfulness that I’d started writing in earnest soonerbut try not to give it much counter space. My focus on writing arose out of a specific need when it was most welcomed. Since then, it’s never subsided.

Looking back, it's easy to recognize words have always lurked inside me. As a sixth grader I lay on my bedroom floor for hours, working on a writing assignment for Miss Markey’s English class because I was having too much fun to finish it. The A+ I received triggered the realization that if you love what you are doing, it feels easy.

As I grew older, I kept diaries and wrote long-winded letters to distant friends (admittedly never receiving anything comparable in response). In college I took journalism and poetry classes. I submitted my works to the campus newspaper and literary magazine. As an English major, I wrote paper after paper. Clearly, reading and writing were my gig. But when it came time to find employment, it didn’t dawn on me to seek a position in my “field.” Who made money as a writer? Rent was rent. A job was a job. I took the first one I was offered which put me on an HR path —a good fit, I suppose, as I wrote employment ads, policy and procedure documents, emails, and memos as a matter of course. Looking back, the “not-in-my-job-description” newsletters, relocation manuals and training documents I wrote while at my "helping-to-pay-the-mortgage" job were enough to keep the blinders on, to stop me from seeing what I really wanted to do. But finally, cracks appeared in my facade. I began writing and submitting essays for publication. I won a little contest and had a couple of pieces published. 

Not long after, my job was unexpectedly eliminated and less than twenty-four hours later, I wrote my first blog post. After that, I was all in. Committed. It was as if someone yanked up a room darkening shade one afternoon and I could view what had been circling me all along. Whatever the heck I did next, I’d write. Since then, I’ve tailored things such that, one way or another, writing has a firm place and priority.

So now, seemingly a lifetime since that first blog post, perhaps I’m wistful, but mainly, I’m pleased and aware. For a huge portion of my life, I let words sneak in unobserved because I figured I didn't have the wherewithal to be a writer. These days, I understand I’ve always been one.

What are your regrets about your writing career? How have you overcome them?

14 comments:

Erika Beebe said...

Thank you for sharing your writing journey:) I could picture it all. Happy IWSG !

Natalie Aguirre said...

That's great that you are mostly just happy with your writing journey. It's a silver lining that your job loss helped you commit more to your writing.

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

I'm getting back to this realization myself - "writing brings out my truest self." :)

Jan Morrison said...

Hey Liza - you too turned this to a positive! You are definitely my writing sister. Love to you in this new year

Nick Wilford said...

Great to hear about your writing journey. I love that what would often be a negative was what turned your life around.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

You just needed a jolt to find your true passion again.

Joanne said...

I really like your "regret". It's funny how twists and turns of life can lead you to the true path. You always were a writer. Now you know you are a writer. Good luck in 2022 and keep doing what you love (plus throw in a photo or two for me, please - you have such a good eye).

Cherie Colyer said...

It's always nice to hear what started someone's writing journey. Thanks for sharing yours.

I don't have a lot of regrets, but I wouldn't mind if I could write faster.

Bish Denham said...

Someone reminded me of all the things I've had published starting with my high school yearbook and the local newpaper followed by 18 years of writing articles and stories for a newsletter that went out to about 10,000 people 6 times a year. Until that person said those things I never really considered myself published, so I can identify with your journey. Like you, I've always been writing, maybe not for mainstream, maybe not published by a BIG house, but still, I've got lots of stuff out there.

I'm glad you've found your way.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Liza - interesting to read your journey to date ... the most important thing is that you enjoy writing - and long may that continue.
All the best and congratulations on your blog - you started the year I did ... a good year, I'd say!! Cheers and all the best - Hilary

Steven Arellano Rose Jr. said...

It's fascinating how what seem to be the littlest of things lead to big things such as a full writing career!

Chrys Fey said...

I love that you're pleased and aware. That's a much better mindset that being regretful.

Happy New Year!

kjmckendry said...

Love this post! Yes, you've always been a writer! I had similar feelings of loving writing from a young age but just not trusting myself to actually "be" a writer until much later! Happy New Year!

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

It sounds like you've been writing for a long while. I guess we all can find something to make us feel wistful.