A New Beginning

This is day one of my new blog. I'm not used to creating blogs or webpages, so bear with me. I wanted to use my name in my blog address under blogspot, but the system wouldn't allow it. I want readers to be able to find this blog, so I came up with the idea to add the word writer along with  my name. Hopefully, it's not too cheesy or redundant. I can imagine people saying, "Yeah, we know that you're a writer. Are you trying to convince us or yourself?" The answer is neither. I just wanted something identifiable with my name because I am a new writer and I want people to find this blog easily.

So far, my writing experience has been limited to writing on sites like Fictionpress and in my Creative Writing classes. I won two honors in my last creative writing class. One of the judges wrote that he or she wanted to read more of my work. That comment really motivated me to continue writing. I signed up for two more writing classes. I'm in my third one now. We were doing the activity, Two Truths and a Lie. I mentioned my awards as one of my truths. I'm really proud to have my writing recognized.

A classmate in my new class commented that she thought that statement was the lie. She also commented that I must not really be that good of a writer if I'm still taking creative writing classes. Yes, she really wrote that. It really woke me up. There is a time to learn through practice, and there is a time to learn through experience. I'm realizing now that it is time for me to learn through experience, trial by fire. I received a couple more comments like this from classmates and realized that I may not be in the best place to grow as a writer.

It may be time for me to leave the safety of the classroom and enter the world as a serious writer. I decided to join Heartland Romance Authors this week. I went to my first meeting yesterday. From the moment I sat down, I knew that I was in the right place. I felt like I belonged. These men and women are experienced and serious about their craft. It's a step in the right direction. What a relief! I sat down to the computer today and felt better than I have all week.