My Story

 

I am a writer living in the southeastern United States with three cats, more yarn than I can knit up in a lifetime, and a dear husband who doubles as my best friend.

My writing career started in the fourth grade when I was asked to read aloud a story I wrote. Since then, I’ve taken creative writing classes whenever possible, joined writing groups and literary guilds, and participated in readings.  Still, in spite of the support I received from mentors and fellow writers, lack of self-confidence made it easy for me to give up on writing. Once I got a “real” job (in an office with a biweekly paycheck and benefits), it was hard to argue with anyone that I should or could expect to do better by writing.

I’ve made a lot of detours in the past thirty years, trying to become a Professional whatever (social worker, data analyst), trying to believe in careers and working in offices and 401k’s.  But now that I’m retired, I’ve woken up to the fact that those things–career, working in an office, going to meetings, conferences–has little value for me. My writing has picked up, as have my publications.

In my ideal world, I’m always dressed for yoga, writing until I’m empty of words, knitting down my stash, reading up my leaning tower of to-be-read books, and cuddling with my husband and kitties.

Thank you for coming by and I hope you visit me again!

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128 thoughts on “My Story

  1. I’m so glad you visited my blog so I could find yours–wow, we have a lot in common, especially the parts about never thinking your writing was good enough and the whole “time is running out” thing. I can’t wait to read more of your work!

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  2. Wow. I feel like I can copy and paste your description above with only a few minor edits to make it my own. Nice to know there are others who have traveled similar paths. Looking forward to reading more of your blog.

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    1. Dave, thanks for coming by. I’m finding a few other writers who have walked paths similar to ours … Makes it much less lonely :). I’m looking forward to reading your blog too.

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    1. Indeed! I’ve had quite a few bloggers tell me that our stories are very similar. It does make me feel less like an outlier ;). Thanks for following my blog.

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  3. Hi 1WriteWay,
    I like your words above, because… of how they show your true desires. Yup. That’s it.
    To say what you do in life is one thing, and to share your vision of how you desire your life to be is something quite enticing. I love that your direction changed from editing to writing!
    In liking this in a comment instead of only pressing the Like button, I have discovered I must change my own direction, and pay attention to my own true desires.
    Thank you for sharing! And thank you for encouraging me to express what I like about your words.
    Anasera. (WilderSoul)

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    1. Thank you so much, Anasera, for your kind words. I’ve definitely been more honest about who am I and what I want than I was in the earlier phase of my blog, and I’ve been validated by a wonderful WP community.
      I love your blog and what you are doing with your work!

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  4. Thanks for sharing your story – it was a very inspirational read. I admire your honest, wise tone and strong resolve. My philosophy is that anyone any age anywhere can write so it’s great to have someone like you on board! Writers are usually in the same boat: I’ve always been uncertain about my ‘writing talents’, haha. I’d love to follow you on your writing endeavours 🙂 Write on!

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    1. Thank you so much for commenting. I am learning to not regret my detours and periods of uncertainty. I told my husband yesterday that my “return” to writing is “better late than never” :). Thanks again. I look forward to reading your writing as well.

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  5. Good luck with your newly launch blog and with your writing. It’s hard to fit it into a busy life but you don’t have much choice – you’ve got the writing bug and you have to write…

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  6. Thank you for stopping and liking a post today. Similar to yourself, I returned to writing and rediscovered creativity and voice in the process. It beats the bureaucracy of the education system; however the children are important. I look forward to following your blog and enjoying your voice through writing.

    Take care and happy blogging.

    Ivon

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    1. Thank you, Ivon! I’m so happy to meet more people like me 🙂 Seriously, it was getting kind of lonely feeling like such a late bloomer. I’ve discovered a great community here. I’m looking forward to reading more of your writing as well. ~Marie

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  7. I’m about a year and a half into blogging and it has changed my life. As an educator who would really rather be out there full time as a paranormal researcher/investigator, I very much relate to what you are saying above. Before blogging, writing never really interested me, and I don’t really consider myself a writer… but of course now I’m confused and continue to wonder if I’m supposed to be doing more of it. 🙂

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    1. Thanks for coming by blog and commenting. I’m looking forward to reading yours. Blogging is writing and you are a writer if you write about what you love 😉

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  8. We have walked a very similar path. Let me give you some encouragement.
    If you still have that latent desire to write, it means it is your true passion.
    Start now. Just like you are doing. I suspect you have ideas jotted down on things like envelopes, sticky notes, napkins, etc. Start playing with them and let them run.
    Write every spare second you have. Don’t wait for retirement.
    You’re smart to have dusted off this blog.
    You can work and create a book at the same time. I’ve done it twice. You can do it too!

    Hope this gives more fuel to your passion! Looking forward to reading your blogs!

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  9. Thanks for chiming in about science over on my blog. I love your blog and that you too are a stray cat magnet!

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  10. “But then life happened”, love it.
    And yes, I’m in my PJs writing this.
    You stopped by my blog……….. I’m not sure how you got there but you ‘liked’ one of my personal favourite stories so I thought I’d find out who this person with ‘impecable taste’ was.
    I hope you achieve your dream…….. why wouldn’t you?
    Be well.
    Terry

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    1. Thank you, Terry. Yes, I also consider myself has having impeccable taste so, of course, I would follow your blog 🙂 Thanks for coming by mine!

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    1. Sweet! We’ve had a kitten only once. All our other cats came to us fully grown! Thanks for coming by and leaving your comment 🙂

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  11. Thanks for the follow!! Looking forward to reading more about you! I too have more yarn than I’ll ever be able to crochet up and I’m a cat magnet only because I’m allergice to them, but I still enjoy them, with a couple of benedryl in me. 🙂 Gina

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    1. Thank you so much for commenting. I really appreciate it. By the way, I found your comment in my Spam folder. Just want you to know. I have a number of friends whose comments are being treated as Spam. I don’t know what is going on with WordPress but I hope they fix it! Thanks again!

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    1. Cool. I might actually have four now … I found a stray last night and need to get her check out by our vet today. It will make for an interesting post once we know what we’re doing 😉

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  12. I don’t know how I bypassed following you… must be lost in my thoughts then. I’m looking forward to reading your blog posts.
    Have a good time!

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  13. Seems like a lot of us come to writing after a variety other thing. The truth wins out in the end. Now we’ve got the life experiences to write about. So brew another pot of tea and put those knitting needles down!

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    1. Life is funny like that … or just the need to earn a living wage 🙂 For the rest of the month, the only time I’ll be knitting is after I’ve fulfilled my quote of words 🙂

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  14. I am so looking forward to doing a deep dive on your blog, your narrative of why you write is empowering especially in lieu that I echo many of your sentiments.

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  15. What a great blog you have here. I too worry that I may never seen my dream come true but as long as I keep moving forward I’m happy.

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  16. I love your about page. But don’t wait until retirement to start writing, if the itch is there, well, you have to scratch it!
    Best wishes, from another writer past the middle stage in life. 😉

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    1. Thank you! I have been writing. It’s the publishing part I’m hesitant about. Plus all my drafts need much work (editing, revising, etc.) so I’m eager to get to retirement when I can have more time to do both: write AND publish 🙂

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  17. I relate to your situation as I also have a “decent” job, but alas, I aspire to write and that is where my true passion lies along side with drawing. And it’s hard to justify to your family after a full week of work that I need this weekend to myself to write, you won’t be seeing me, which I really don’t have the heart to do a whole lot. Hubby is a full time artist himself so he understands the demands of the creative process to a degree from his own point of view, so we do an annual vacation away from each other, when I can just concentrate on writing. And it works.

    On the feeling of time running out… I’m still quite young, but I do get the shivers thinking with each year time is becoming less and less of a friend on the road to becoming a published author, and perhaps earning the chance of becoming a full time writer. Which would truly be a dream come true. But I keep at it! And so should you 🙂

    I am painfully aware that life is blind, when she tosses a pair of dice, unexpected things happen, so waiting for tomorrow is something I am trying my best to stop doing, including waiting on for the perfect time to write, which is now.

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    1. Laura, thank you so much for visiting and commenting. I’ve spent a lifetime putting things off, not writing, but trying to publish. The upside is my writing now is much better than it was 20 years ago 🙂 I like the idea of your and your husband’s separate annual vacations. My best writing experience was when my husband and I went to New Orleans for a few days. He was working so I could stay in the hotel room and write all day. In the evening I could take my break with him and tour the city. It was fun for us and productive for me 🙂

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  18. I thought I would stop by and say hey. Your name keeps cropping up in the comment section on a number of blog posts I visit. Sounds like you are in much the same place I am in. And if I do no other writing, I am proud to call myself blogger.

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    1. Hi, Don! Thanks for coming by and commenting. Yup, I think there’s quite a few of us out here in the same situation. Thank goodness for blogging. It’s a wonderful outlet 🙂

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  19. Hi. Sounds like you and I have a bit in common. I have also returned to writing after a very long break. My children are growing up, 18, and 14 years old, time for me to explore a bit of me time, and what better way to do that than to write and blog about it. Oh and I love cats too but sadly don’t own one, my husband is allergic, i just make do with a visiting one, who stops by from time to time.

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  20. What a great reason to blog – I think it’s wonderful you’re happy in your job but even more wonderful that you’re looking forward to the writing that will come after and approaching it this way… I myself have tried to change careers and I’ve started up a freelance editing business, but I still have my day job as an accountant as I build it up…. and I’d also ‘rather be writing’ than anything else 🙂

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    1. Hello, Sara, thank you for coming by and commenting! I wish you the best of success in your editing business. At least with editing, you’re working with words 🙂

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  21. That urge to put pen to paper is a wonderful one, isn’t it, Marie?
    I hope you have a long and happy retirement but in the meantime, enjoy your life. 🙂

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    1. Thank you, Jo. I am indeed trying to make the most of my life. There’s no reason not to be writing now, but one full-time job is enough for me. So I write as I can. I’m hoping retirement will give me more time and (hopefully) more opportunity 🙂 Wish you well, Marie

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  22. I’m laughing at myself but I couldn’t find where else to post this 😛 I see your novel now! I had to unfollow you and follow you again. Your posts aren’t showing up in my reader. I hope this fixed it!
    I’m taking some time off this week end and plan to read some of your novel then!
    Ellespeth

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  23. Hi from Katie and the Druid. I too can remember writing little stories at a young age as I was a voracious reader. But, I didn’t really start to write until I was 60 and published 5 books since then though probably the last one doesn’t really count as it was for my new grandson. These days I concentrate on my blog(s) and the interaction with my followers/friends and it’s a full time job.
    xxx Huge Hugs xxx

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    1. Hello! Thank you for coming by 🙂 I like that you published somewhat “late” in life. A friend recently posted on Facebook an article about a man who started writing and getting published in his 90s. It’s the kind of news that makes me feel less like I’ve missed my opportunities and more like they lie just ahead of me 🙂 But, I agree with you on blogging: Writing for one’s blog and following others is definitely a full-time job. But at least it’s a fun one 😉 Hugs back to you!

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  24. This is really beautiful. You have a passion, you recognize it, and you’re following your heart. You can’t argue with that, and that’s the most wonderful thing about it. Don’t argue with yourself, just do it. I wish you well on that journey that has begun NOW. How exciting!

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  25. I know that queasy feeling you describe. Glad you’re doing more of what you want to do; that seems to be a lifelong quest and my suspicion, to quote a singer I like a lot “we never get it right…but we can try.” Find that truth in you and sing it, sister!
    Bill Pearse

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    1. 🙂 Thanks again, Bill! A mutual friend of ours (Kevin Brennan) has started prodding me along. I’m hoping by perhaps by my 60th birthday, I might have something to peddle. Cheers!

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    1. Ellespeth, so good to hear from you! Hurricane Matthew didn’t come close to where I live, thank goodness ;). Florida, as a whole, was okay, but my heart breaks for Haiti and the Caribbean …

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