Let me start by explaining the sole purpose of this creative writing. I have been talking about a book project for months but I never had anything to show. I want to write about all the fun, interesting and fascinating stories in my life and give my two cents on all aspects of life via my personal experiences and observations. I like to tell stories and more often than not, people seem to get a kick out of my stories. Either they laugh at me or laugh with me is all-good. Many friends have encouraged me to start writing because my life is always full of drama – I am a drama queen by default.
The first time I tried to write, I could never seem to turn my verbal words into writing effectively as if my sense of humor and wit would not come off right or simply get lost in written words. It stumped me.
Then someone suggested that starting a blog could give me a head start if I’m serious about writing. It took weeks before the idea sunk in. By mid-August, I finally got off my ass to create my own blog, started collecting my thoughts and turning them into pieces of stories. The blog is merely an instrument to push this writing project forward and it keeps me moving closer to my dream of becoming a Carrie Bradshaw. The blog is like a virtual editor who is breathing down my neck for finished stories.
Nonetheless, I am really an amateur writer. The more I write, the more I realize that maybe I will never become the kind of writer I long to be. The incentive of this creative writing is that it has become a soul-searching journey. In the process, I learn that I would have to be brutally honest with myself and record my feeling truthfully in order to compose anything personal such as the numerous failures I had made in the past. Otherwise, there is no point of writing about it.
For the first time, I’m putting everything and everyone in my life under a microscope. What I discover startled me as I reminisce my past mistakes and recount my imperfections. This work in progress sometimes leads to reality that bites and truth that hurts.
As for other people’s stories, I try to make the best judgment so that no one would feel offended by the ways they are portrayed in my writing. However, it is evitable. Here is something I learned from Discovery Channel. Scientifically, people who were involved in an accident could recall the event differently. There is no right or wrong reminiscence. It all comes down to the matter of perspectives. In other words, I can opine how I remember an event and yet it might be very different from how other parties describe it.
This is all new to me. I’m really just learning the rope about this creative writing. It is painstaking. It takes me a long time to form an idea for a story. First, I jut down ideas, bits and pieces of information, and random thoughts. Then I develop a story line with everything that is relevant to the topic. I revise and rearrange my writing so that it has a consistency and it makes sense.
Before I started publishing my writings, I thought about the issue of privacy. I asked a friend who has been running her blog for a few years. She told me not to mention names, disguise people if the subject is sensitive, or at least ask for permissions when I decide to reveal real names.
By now, I have learned that it’s best not to mention names. Sometimes as I’m chatting with my friends and I find their stories enchanting, then I ask for permissions to include them in my next piece. Some are perfectly fine and give me the OK to publish their names. Some would love to be included but would prefer to go with alias. When I write about other people, I try to put myself in their shoes and think about how they might perceive the story. I do my best not to offend anyone and
It has only been six weeks since I started doing this. Already a few subject matters did not like what they read and expressed their dislike. Some attempted to verify some of the details in my story. Some tried to justify why they did what they did. The other didn’t dispute but asked me not to disclose certain information because to them, it was personal matters.
It’s worth pointing out that when I do write about anything personal, I’m probably part of it as well. It is my story too. I wish people could just lighten up a bit!
I wonder if I’m subjected to losing any relationship after I decide to be candid and examine my personal life. I have never been this honest with myself until now. I’m going to be 31 and of course, my expectation for life, people and everything else is different now.
The way I write is the same as the way I speak. Therefore, my sarcasm comes across and I only mean to be funny. Almost everything is lighthearted and offers a few good laughs.
Honestly, I am feeling a little discouraged because it seems like every time I write candidly, somebody gets pissed off. Now, it fazes me and I’m not sure how to continue this writing.
