The Glamorous Life

There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed. – Ernest Hemingway

One of the things I have heard over and over in writing is write what you know; write from the heart. And I do believe in this when it comes to not only my writing, but others as well. I write for myself, because these things must come out. I write because it is in my soul.

Recently my writing has not been glamorous. It has been about pain and grief and confusion and finding your way. Because right now, in this moment, that is what I know. And that is the thing about life, many times it isn’t glamorous. Many times we are just trying to get through it the best we can. And those bad times do not last. Whatever it is, it will not be like this 10 year from now, or 5 years, or 1 year or even 6 months from now.

This space, this pen on paper or words on the screen, is a safe and cathartic place. So it pours out of me in all of it’s raw, unglamorous and unpolished glory.

Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader – not the fact that it is raining, but the feeling of being rained upon. – E. L. Doctorow

When you write from the heart, others will connect with it. Because you cannot hide the emotion or passion. Or comes out not only in the words, but in the flow and rhythm of the writing. It cannot be faked or taught. It just is. And to me, as a writer, that part of the process is sacred.

The best compliment anyone could give me is that my writing made them feel something, made them think. Because the glamorous life is wonderful, but cannot be sustained. We all love to read about exotic travels and adventures. I hope to have some soon. But sometimes real life gets in the way. Real emotion.

I never understood how the holidays could possibly be a hard time for anyone. It is such a festive happy time. A time of celebration, giving, and family. But now after suffering loss, I do understand. While I still love the holidays, there is an acute awareness now of all those who not with me. Next year will not be as hard.

No one promised us an easy life, and there will always be tough times here and there. The secret is reaching deep down into yourself. It’s about tapping the joy and strength that is within, where the soul meets the heart.

It is about finding what inspires you, even when it is dark inside.

And it is about being still and listening to the whisper of God’s voice. At least it is for me.

So it’s not glamorous right now. But it is real and it is what I know and it is from the heart. And the heart, no matter how ragged, never looses it’s shine.