why i write
Friday November 04th 2005, 11:14 pm
Filed under: blogging

I always fancied myself a writer - the way most scribblers of teen-angst poetry and cheesy romance stories do. A dozen vinyl trapper-keepers, full of short stories and novellas, are stored at my mothers. They’re awful, but I cant bring myself to throw them away. Just in case I do something good one day and, well, there you are.

In high school I didn’t care about sports and pubescent dances; but I was a rocking essayist. In college/university I got excited over theses and dissertations. Couldn’t care less about the subject matter. I just loved research and writing. I have over a million words of academic discourse to my credit. Yes. I’ve counted.

Growing up I always wanted to be a writer - an author. But people didn’t really become authors. Authors were fantastical creatures. Most of them dead. I never thought of them as anything else until I read Salman Rushdie. The Satanic Verses was an assignment from my gifted professor - I was 12 and tried to get out of it, but when local teachers called for the professor’s dismissal on grounds of devil worshiping, (I’m not joking) it piqued my interest. (The lady also had a pet snake and brought in freeze-dried cats for dissection……it wasn’t all The Verses…but thats another story. )

So Rushdie was alive. But he had America’s then arch-enemy calling for his head - and who did that really happen to except Sylvester Stallone? Fantastical. Yep.

A few years later I read a John Grisham novel. Didn’t like it, but realised people still wrote - all was not lost with Mr Clemens.

A few years after that (bear with me) I found myself 18,000 words shy of a certain postgraduate paper. I was watching Carrie Bradshaw (don’t say it) strut her stuff in some fancy Louboutins, reading vogue and eating a cheese sandwich. If I could spit out 8,000 words a week on the criminal mind I could write a book. You know. A book. One of those things.

So I wrote.

Until a few months ago. I’m lazy. You should know this. I’m never in the mood to write what I have to write, but always in the mood. So I took Stephen King’s advice. A writer writes. I may not be able to roll out other novels and a collection of shorts like the science fiction behemoth, but I can roll out a blog. Write a little something every day. About Writing. See how horrible I am - in print. Maybe find out ways to make myself better. Detail the search for a progressive plot, characters that don’t go stale, and an agent who can make me heard. That sort of thing.

As a side, Ive included bits from my work in progress. A little something to remind me what I’m doing here. Doubtful you care; but if you do. Read it. Then tell me what you think. I can take it. I can take it.


34 Comments so far
Leave a comment

Buffy, When did you start this Web page and why didnt I know anything About it ??
VERY GOOD!!!

Comment by Mallorie ROwe 12.23.05 @ 3:00 am

hi
hey i will complete my self in one line. why u did not start ur webpage early?

Comment by Vikas goyal 12.26.05 @ 6:19 pm

You know, in my opinion, the best time to write is early in the morning. It gives you a fresh start and your brain is at it’s first levels. Just start typing anything that’s on your mind. Type type type. I did this once, I was typing about my break up. I was in a very rough relationship a few years back, and we broke up. I started writing a journal in my Word Document. It ended up being a huge document. I finished it as a ‘book’, and that’s when I published it. I polished it up and made it a ’self help’ book for people who are going through rough break ups or dealing with a traumatic even in their lives.

You can do anything, you can write anything and you can express yourself the way “you” want to.

Never give up on your dream!

Comment by Deb 01.12.06 @ 11:14 pm

:)

Comment by Administrator 01.13.06 @ 12:35 pm

Best of luck to you. You’re not alone in your hopes and aspirations. And blogging is a great way to push your writing and interface with others. Keep it up!

Comment by jamie ford 01.24.06 @ 5:45 pm

u r an excellent writer!

Comment by d34dpuppy 02.01.06 @ 11:48 pm

Buffy,

Thank you so much for your comment on my blog. It was simple but it gave me such joy. I like your website. Please keep in touch and let’s share whatever it is to share.

Hope to hear from you soon!

Bennyroyce
[writings of a cluttered mind]
http://bennyroyce.blogspot.com/

——
website:
http://bennyroyce.moonfruit.com/

Comment by Bennyroyce 02.08.06 @ 5:21 am

Buffy, you are a writer.

And all that stuff about “people don’t really become authors” hits so close to home I could have written it myself.

Bathroom Reading recommended you. I can see why.

Comment by Thérèse 02.15.06 @ 2:40 pm

must agree with previous poster!

Comment by Ann Marie Simard 02.21.06 @ 7:56 pm

This time, a stronger “ditto”. Here’s to us and the simple black on white of type on paper!

Comment by Elle 03.13.06 @ 3:54 pm

Buffy, you most definitely are a writer. Great blog.

Comment by Liz 03.24.06 @ 3:46 pm

Buffy, it’s writers like you that inspired me to start writing again, too! Thanks for the inspiration!

Comment by Elizabeth 04.01.06 @ 11:33 pm

Buffy: Thanks for visiting my site & commenting. I love the feedback, and I love meeting new people. Well, sort of meeting. :)

I’ve poked around this site just a bit, and I like what I see - I’m bookmarking you & will be back.

Ciao!

Comment by jes 04.10.06 @ 1:25 am

I started a blog because it was a suggestion in a writer’s magazine as a way to make yourself write everyday. Steven King’s advice on writing is great. One word at a time right?

Comment by kim 05.24.06 @ 11:52 am

Kim,

Thanks so much for reminding me of that.

Comment by Buffy 05.24.06 @ 11:53 am

Thanks for that moment over a my little thing on the internet…
looking forward to your site!

Comment by Nathan Miller 06.11.06 @ 12:19 pm

Fifteen minutes ago I received an email from my girlfriend who understands my struggle to write. She sent me your link.
I just sent her an email back, thanking her and wishing her well in the future.
Where exactly do you live in England?

Sincerely,

Robert Crane

ps: you can call me “Bob”

pps: I love your wit, style and flare. Great stuff!

Comment by Robert Crane 06.30.06 @ 2:50 pm

Saw your comment at Divinities and couldn’t resist finding out who “Buffy” might be. What a treat to stumble across writing this bright and this refreshing! I’m looking forward to reading more.

Comment by anno 06.30.06 @ 6:31 pm

I love your blog you have so much energy, i would love to write a book but have no idea how to start, any tips……..

Comment by Buffy 07.04.06 @ 10:40 am

Am I reading this right? Another Buffy??

The best advice anyone has ever given me is this:

A writer writes. If you write enough. Every day. For long enough. Your story will come through.

I wrote for two years. Before I ‘knew’ I had my story.

It’ll come.

Comment by Buffy 07.04.06 @ 5:19 pm

I LOVE your work, photography and all. U are a great inspiration to many. :)

Comment by Becky Delida 07.27.06 @ 1:43 pm

Oh, blissful hope.

You’ve inspired me.

Now, all I need is a lock on my door and someone to go to work for me…and..well, you get the drift. ;)

Comment by paperback writer 09.18.06 @ 5:35 pm

You DO understand!! I know this is an old post, but I’m new here, and this is where I started. I look forward to exploring the rest of your blog.

–your new BlogFriend

Comment by Tyra 09.28.06 @ 12:55 pm

I’m diggin’ your blog, off to read more…

Comment by ThatBeeGirl 10.17.06 @ 4:42 am

That was very beautiful. There are days like today when I want to give up

But having a blog that people actually read doesn’t allow that–as it will be for you

Comment by pia 10.18.06 @ 6:47 pm

I like what you wrote–especially about the university degrees:-)I too have 3 post graduate degrees and a masters–Am always a bit embarrassed when people ask me “What have you studied?”.But as they say, “Education is what remains long after you have forgotten what you have learnt”:-)Also loved the fact that you have had room mates from so many countries.Wow!What an enriching experience that must have been.

Comment by Ps 01.01.07 @ 7:46 am

interesting tale, yes a writer writes, but if you want to accomplish something you must learn discipline as well, we writers have to be very disciplined or that novel never gets written or that column for the paper or magazine never gets written etc.

Comment by Carol R 01.28.07 @ 1:09 am

In other words, you write because you can’t stop. This, of course, is the ONLY reason to write-or paint, draw, make movies, sculpt. . .

You understand what I mean.

Comment by MG 01.28.07 @ 1:09 am

Interesting, yes…it’s what you are.
And discipline, as Carol says, is crucial; without it, our creativity goes nowhere.
Good luck to you in your latest work.

Comment by Carol 01.28.07 @ 1:10 am

Hi Buffy

I enjoyed your writing, especially the ‘me’ section. Keep on bloggin’.

Comment by Niki 02.14.07 @ 8:34 am

This is absolutely wonderful.

I’m glad you have found your conviction and your calling in life :) may your writing change many lives.

Comment by Director 04.17.07 @ 5:19 pm

I love being a writer! Have a written books? No Do I have the patience to create characters and fully developed plots? No? Do I write every day for the enjoyment of myself and hopefully a few others? Yes!

Isn’t writing great?? Thanks for stopping by my blog today! I like your site.

Comment by Michael C 07.21.07 @ 2:18 am

‘We create, therefore we art …’
Keep at it. Cheers, c

Comment by Canadada 11.30.07 @ 9:52 pm

I was like you - from the age of 3, I told my parents I was going to be a writer and penned tall tales and “books” about Disney characters. I was also good at math, so they urged me to pursue that instead (what happened to parents supporting anything you did?). So I did. I studied math for the first two years of college before transferring to finish my journalism degree. And yet now, I’m writing for major magazines and will be making more pursuing my passion than my sister who did major in math and will someday take over the family accounting business. Take that to everyone who’s ever told us you can’t make a career out of writing!

Comment by Camels & Chocolate 01.15.08 @ 7:30 pm



Leave a comment
Line and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, HTML allowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong>

(required)

(required)