I love reading books that make me feel something. The moment I knew I was destined to be a writer came when someone told me they got goosebumps reading the fiction I had written. Knowing I had helped someone feel something was the most amazing thing in the world and I was hooked! The truth is, writers are magicians and good writers know how to pull on your heartstrings and evoke laughter, fear, sadness, and a myriad of other emptions.
Still not convinced? Has a fiction book ever taken you to another place entirely? Has a book ever made you feel something? Have you ever felt personally invested in a story and read on through the night because you just had to finish what you were reading?
If so, consider this. The English language is comprised of 26 letters, forming words, strung together by writers. Those words, if strung together by a good writer, can take you to places you've never seen, introduce you to people you'll never meet and make you feel something you've never felt. If that's not magic, I don't know what is.
A word of caution...Becoming a writer is not for the average person. It takes dilligence, patience, determination and, often, some degree of insanity. In addition, many addicts also tend to be writers. Should you decide to persue writing, you will end up in the middle of some of the most interesting relationships with fellow writers that you can imagine. Some will try to sell you their book, others will want to trade books for reviews, which, to me, seems like cheating, some will be pretentious and snooty. (You'll see 'em. They'll be the ones who pull manuscripts from the sky in days and claim it took a weekend from start to finish. They are often the ones who are the first to correct your grammar and the last to offer any constuctive critism). Some will just be all-around good people, which is greaat, but you've got to weed 'em out to ensure they're not really just fishing for reviews or sales.
Being a writer/magician :) takes a lot of guts. You've got to be willing to put yourself out there no matter what happens. You will face rejection. You will want to give up 8454534592 times. You will be let down. Reviewers will hate what you write. But it's that one reader that tells you your book made them feel something that makes it all worth it. It's that one reader that stayed up all night to finish, or the one who has an opinion on every character and is passionate about each one and their motives. Helping people feel something is the best and only thing that makes the hours spent toiling away worth it. :)
If you've got the words inside, write them. Write them from your heart and put in your emotion. This is the key to the magic. If you feel nothing writing the words, then your readers will, in turn, feel nothing. But, add in your emotion and write from the heart, and the magic will follow. :)
Best wishes!
Hi!
Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kristen Nannini, author of No Man Sam, and soon-to-be author of a Young Adult trilogy which is currently nameless. :) I love to write, to reach people, to go to the beach, and to play with my rescue puppy, and hang out with my husband. Although I'm new to blogging, I'm also new to going to the gym and I'm hoping both new things in my life work out as favorably as those I've been doing for some time. Thanks so much for checking out my blog! I've tried this blog thing once before and didn't succeed. Now, like the gym, I feel I'm up for a challenge!
I wanted to come up with a list of things I've learned, and re-learned over the past several years. I think it helps to look at where I'm at now, versus where I've been and the lessons that have been learned along the way. I believe the past has a tendency to repeat and these lessons have proved beneficial to me, so hopefully this list will be helpful to someone else. I'm sure many might disagree with some of the statements below. If you disagree, feel free to comment. I would love to hear your opinions. I just hope something on this list hits home for someone. Hopefully what I've learned in my time on this earth will help someone else :)
1. True forgiveness takes a gargantuan amount of courage.
2. Love is all around us, as is God.
3. Taking time to figure out what someone else is thinking is useless. Just ask or move on.
4. Sometimes we hurt others unintentionally. If every possible effort has been made to mend fences, we must move on. Hurt feelings are valid, but if there is no sense of forgiveness or acceptance of remorse, moving on is the only option we have.
5. It is much easier to forgive an enemy than it is to forgive a friend.
6. Communication is the key to living harmoniously. If we close the door, there is no way for new ideas to flow, bridges to be built, or relationships to be strengthened.
7. When life gives you lemons and you've no where to turn, figure out how to get yourself out and then tell/write about it. Someone else will be in that same place in the future.
8. Just saying hello and checking in with someone on your mind can mean all the difference in the world.
9. Hindsight is always 20/20 but if we choose to live in the past, we will never be able to live for today.
10. Love is an amazing thing. It grows and changes and sometimes seems to take on a life of its own. When someone seems to deserve love the least, that's usually when they need it the most.
11. Change is never easy, but it's inevitable. Embrace it and grow from it and you will never feel forced into anything.
12. Money is a vicious and lovely thing. Spend it wisely and be wise and save some too. You can never be too wise when it comes to money, but it's easy to become too careless. Take care of your money so you can take care of yourself.
13. Growing plants takes time and love. Growing weeds takes inaction.
14. Sometimes it's better to listen to someone who you believe is wrong than take the energy to prove them wrong. Sometimes people just need to be heard with no judgment.
15. Music is an awesome thing. It can raise you up or bring you down so many levels. Choose your music wisely.
16. Enemies are only yours when you choose to create them. Regardless of who you believe is your enemy, treat them with kindness and love. You may one day make a friend, but at the very least, will have no hate in your heart to consume you.
17. Respect is something that should always be given blindly. A homeless man deserves as much respect as a business man. I guarantee the homeless man will appreciate it more. Never take someone else's respect for granted. It is so easily lost.
18. Always put yourself in someone else's shoes. In most cases, I'm very grateful and thankful to be stepping back into mine. Appreciate every gift you have regardless of how small or insignificant that may seem.
19. Freedom is something we should never, ever take for granted.
20. Sometimes when bad things turn out exactly as you expected, it sucks to be right. At the same time it's an excellent opportunity to reflect on what you've learned. Maybe it warrants expecting something different/better.
21. Drunk driving is a horrible thing which often affects people who don't drive drunk or drink very little themselves. If you have a friend or family member that needs help, getting them that help could save an untold amount of innocent lives.
22. People aren't perfect. They make mistakes and screw things up. You are no better or worse than said "people". We are all beautifully and perfectly imperfect.
23. Sometimes there is nothing you can do or say to foster forgiveness. Then again, maybe the friendship was a farce in the first place or not worth the effort you applied.
24. Life ebbs and flows. It's always changing and never constant. Appreciate every sunrise and what God has given you.
25. Having the change to reach people through books is an amazing and powerful thing!
26. Growing older doesn't hurt.
27. Growing wiser is a blessing.
28. We are the creators of our own destinies. Take hold of what you love and never let go, regardless of what anyone thinks.
29. Great courage and resilience can often be found in a person who actively chooses to remain silent.
30. Puppies are incredible creatures. It is a joy and a privilege to have one.
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| One pooped puppy :) |
Thanks for visiting. Have an incredible day!
