Nearly five years ago I made a post (Not Fade Away) in which I outed myself as a Deadhead. This time, I have another confession to make, a shambling, shuffling, feet-gazing muttering sort of confession: another outing.
I started writing fiction more seriously when I had early retirement thrust upon me. Since then, I’ve published a collection of short stories and a novel and have more in the pipeline. In the last week or so I’ve admitted to myself that I no longer think of writing as a retirement hobby: I think of myself as a writer. It’s something I’ve been reluctant to do; a step I’ve been reluctant to take. There were several reasons for that, notably an inhibition against letting my ego loose and a certain resistance to opening myself up to ridicule for pretension, but the time has come to take it seriously.
In a sense, I’ve been a writer since I first began my blog on 17 August 2002 – twenty years ago: imagine that. Blogging is a form of journaling but, nonetheless, a form of writing, and I’ve written and published an awful lot of words in those twenty years (as well as a lot of awful words 🙂 ). But now, as well as friends, I have strangers buying my stuff and respected editors giving me their support when they don’t have to.
I’ve said many times over the years that I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up; I do now – I want to write and I’m doing it. At nearly sixty-three, this has been a long time coming, but better late than never. I’m not a hobbyist, I’m a writer.
Well done, I’d certainly call you a writer. A brilliant achievement.
I think I’m frittering away my retirement taking pictures but I’m absolutely fine with that as long as I can occasionally get out on my bike and (in moderation) sample the delights of good beer, good wine and good whisky! (Not simultaneously obviously)
The transformation is complete.
That’s one of your best and most positive posts ever, Ian. I’m glad the realisation has finally dawned. 🙂
It’s a bit more than realisation, Steve, I realised it a long time ago: it’s the ‘admission’ element if that makes sense. Also, since retiring I’ve said consistently ‘I don’t mind working, I just don’t want a job.’ Amongst other things, writing is a job, albeit not – so far – a well-paying one.
It’s what Stephen has been telling you for years – you’re a writer. Write! Right!!
Several respected editors…
edited 🙂