Day 2 - Beginnings, My Journey with Writing

Last night I made a list of life events to look at for the NaBloPoMo prompt, Beginnings.  One that came immediately to mind was the beginning of this blog.  It began in the spring of 2008.  A dear friend of mine had a blog I'd been reading.  She knew how much I enjoyed writing and encouraged me to blog.   It was so foreign to me.  It took a while just to get through the setup and then the writing began.

I've written about a lot of things since that beginning.  Mostly about family and my daily life.  I was writing for myself and also for my mom, who had passed on.  Back in the 90's I'd started a book.  It was intended to be a romantic mystery along the lines of a Victoria Holt or Phyllis Whitney.  I had written about six chapters and let my mom read it.  She was so excited about the book and couldn't wait for me to finish.  During that time, my dad was fighting to survive cancer.  He didn't make it.  I felt such guilt that I'd been busy writing, instead of spending more time with him.  I set the book aside.  It was only meant to be for a while, but I never went back to it.  Mom would ask about it from time to time, encouraging me to finish but it didn't happen.

I satisfied my writing urges with a monthly church newsletter.  That worked for a season of my life.  My friend Carol, of Silver Valley Stories, had been doing our church newsletter.  When she moved back to Northern Idaho, she recommended me for the job.  It was a blessing in so many ways.  Carol is also the friend who inspired me to begin blogging.  When my days doing the newsletter ended, I had my blog to satisfy those writing urges.  I've done some poetry and short stories, as part of Sunday Scribblings, as well as sharing about my family life.  As I continue to write about "Beginnings" this month, I will have to look back at that first book attempt.  It may be time to dust it off, or maybe it's time for a brand new beginning.

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