I love history and those physical artifacts that I have collected over my lifetime. I enjoy visiting museums and exploring old buildings to discover what’s inside. Writing for me is the extension of expressing to another what I saw, felt, and experienced in that museum and in the old building. I love the writing as much as I love the seeing and touching of those things old and ancient. Most of all, I love the experience of writing stories for those who take moments of their time to read them.
That last sentence tells it all.
In the early days of writing. I found my passion for learning the words to tell my story and explain an emotion. Words to transform a reader from their world to the characters in the story. Words to describe being dozens of miles from the nearest house, sitting on my horse, herding cattle, knowing in the trees not far from where my horse and I are riding are bears, wolves, and mountain lions quietly hiding.
I love finding the words to explain the feeling of excitement and confidence I feel while sitting on my horse, Tank, who was trained as a cutting horse. Tank, without prodding from me, will quickly capture a stray and guide it back to the safety of the herd. I know Tank would use his training and experience to protect me from any attacking predator wanting a tasty meal. It is that confidence that comes from knowing something is correct and it is as it should be. It is that fulfillment that comes from knowing your story is told, and told well.
I knew those words that make up stories were where I wanted to live. I knew I wanted writing to be my profession, and I hoped success would follow me there. That success would be defined as writing, “The End”, and waking up the next morning with the beginning of the first page of the next book.
Becoming a professional writer isn’t something you do or an action you take. Writing the first sentence of your first manuscript is a journey you take to the last sentence. Becoming a professional writer is an evolution that occurs between the last sentence of your first manuscript and the first sentence of your second. When you know you are where you are supposed to be.
Larry Paul Meese
2 Responses
Larry, I am so happy for you finding your stories. Love the memories for all you can. Love you Angie!
Thank you, Larry. Good to meet you at the authors’ meeting on Wednesday. I love your last sentence, that feeling of knowing you are where you are “supposed” to be! I’ve felt that feeling, but not related to my writing. Perhaps, if I keep writing, I’ll get there. Thank you for the inspiration.