new directions

I have been out of work now for nearly a month. I guess that's not quite true -- I've been working at my parent's house with my brother doing some major renovations in their basement. My newly graduated interior designer sister is living in the basement while she socks money away for her move to London in the fall and my parents hit her up for some design ideas and drawings. Me being unemployed and my brother being a teacher became the obvious labor crew. The work so far? Tearing out one wall and building cabinet storage under the stairs. Work left to do: another wall to come down, a new one to go up, wood paneling  and ceiling tiles to be replaced with drywall, new carpet, new lighting. A short list.

Other than that, I have no official employment, but I am chasing a dream. From when I was in first grade and I plagiarized Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (changing the names and the horrible events for my own ripped-off version) to the delight of my teacher (I even got to read it to the class -- I didn't see what the big deal was and why no one seemed to see that I had just copied someone else's idea), I have wanted to be a writer.

I have written some about my grandfather, who wrote 18 books in his lifetime, not to mention countless pieces for newspaper and television news. To him it was always simple -- he was excited to hear I wanted to write and, according to him,  to succeed, I simply had to do it.

People will tell you of the difficulties of getting published, getting paid, breaking into new markets, etc, but I am wondering if the real difficulty of writing professionally is simply, to write. Over and above all the hurdles that are really out there, I know I am held back most by my own lack of belief that I can really do this. And maybe that's why it came naturally for my Grandpa, he believed in a simply notion that he had something to say, and he said it. He wrote about Florida history, telling many stories that no one knew needed to be told until my Grandpa told them. He published an entire book about Florida county courthouses. Did people see the beauty and history in these buildings before he wrote the beauty of them?

In his book, On Writing Well, William Zinsser, answers the question of "who am I to put my opinion, my voice, out there" with the question, "who are you not to put your voice out there?"

When my Grandpa died, his library was split up. A large collection went to the University of South Florida, the rest went to the family. I have his copy of On Writing Well.

I know that tomorrow I will begin again and have to remind myself not to think about all the reasons why not and just start writing.

Comments

[B-rich]

Hey bro,
Good luck, I think you could be a great author. I will be looking for the books to come. Take this passion and run with it. Tell Julie and kenna I say hi. Peace.

[steven good]

and when you do, give those of us who enjoy thoughtful writing a little taste...

[TonyB]

There it is, Sean. I miss the conversations...

[sean]

speaking of thoughtful writing, why don't we have a Steven Good blog?

[Annie]

I'm so excited to hear you say that I could pee my pants. I am also reallllly excited to see you and Jules in oh about a month in CO. Blessings on your writing Sean