I recently attended a reunion of some high school friends. It was fun to reconnect and catch up. Some people had barely aged and looked almost the same as their yearbook photos. Others had changed, but you could still see their essence in their eyes. All had weathered the ups and downs caused by the unavoidable trials of life. But the warmth, support, and friendship remained. Although high school was not the highlight of my life, it was a memorable chapter, filled with good times and good friends.
I was surprised by how many people had written or were thinking about writing a book. The genre varied depending on their interests and experience, but many friends had a story inside struggling to make its’ way into print. Some concepts were nonfiction treatises based on their life’s work. Other book ideas had absolutely nothing to do with their professional careers. Many were flights of fancy (or fantasy in this case) or passion projects. Often the genesis was the pure joy of creative writing and giving life to the thoughts in our heads.
I feel fortunate to finally have the opportunity to indulge my inner muse. There is a sense of satisfaction in creating your own world, even if it’s just on paper, and giving birth to new characters whose voices can now be heard.
Luckily, I don’t have to support myself from my earnings…or I’d probably starve!
