Because I’m between books, I don’t want to really talk about craft. This is my chill time and the time where I try and catch up on the monstrous TBR pile. This seems to be a habit of mine after I’ve finished a project, I need some space to clear my head before edits start—to let the characters rest now that they’ve had their say.
Peace. And. Quiet.
If you weren’t a writer…
What would you be? What would you do with your time? With your mind? Would you take up another art form? Would you be admitted to an asylum because of the people in your head?
I don’t know if I could ever stop writing, but if I look back on my life I can make out two very clear paths I could have taken--both in the arts. One led me to where I am now.
The other—well those who know me know what my other passion is in life.
I don’t regret any decisions I’ve made to get to this point, because it is something I love and allows me to fully express myself.
I always rant that I’m an artist. So much so, I couldn’t really live life to the fullest if I didn’t have a way to express myself. If I didn’t write—I’d spend all my spare time in another art form. It’s that need to stand out as an individual, I suppose, to be heard. And to share my interpretation of life—of what living is all about.
So vixens and blog hoppers… what say you? What’s your passion? Is it writing, and you can't think of anything but writing? Would you be nothing if you couldn't tell stories? Do you want to pursue something else or alongside your desire to write?
21 comments:
If I weren't a writer...
I'd probably be quite happy in my current day job. It's something that I very much enjoy, and I probably would have devoted myself more completely to it.
However, I'm still not the kind of person to just come home from work and crash out on the couch all night. I need something. I used to paint. I studied art for a lot of years and I even had some of my paintings in a gallery once. But I haven't done it in years now and I can't imagine picking up a brush for anything except playing around. But If I wasn't a writer, maybe I'd try that again.
I used to be involved in art---pen and ink and water color were my weapons of choice. I decided when I went to college though I wasn't good enough and art wasn't a practical choice. So like being an English major was a practical choice, LOL.
I still use my design senses, created an original alphabet to draw children's names and love to collage. I do all the exhibits for the library I work in. If I could, I'd own an antique/junk shop and fiddle around with the displays all day, creating fictional vignettes. Guess I'm always trying to tell a story. :)
See another art form. I wonder how many people would do non artsy stuff. This is interesting and I'm having an introvert/introspect time as I think of where to go when I'm between stories. This is one of the things I think about... lol!
My passion is writing (and reading), but I do need to take breaks from both. My other passion is MOVIES. I'd either be an actress (probably more Kathy Bates than Kate Winslet, but both very good actresses) or a movie critic. I do love to watch movies.
Though...I'm a lot more forgiving about movies than the critics seem to be. Or I have a lot more plebeian tastes than the movie critics. I will never understand the draw of The Royal Tenebaums; but I absolutely adored Talladega Nights. *LOL*
I also like to make cards and rubberstamp, but I get frustrated with this art too and very critical of myself. And even on cards, I try to fit as many words on them as possible. Words are my favorite.
And I always wanted to be a Vegas Showgirl.
I could never do a non-artsy "passion". If I start harping about my passion of opening an account firm: shoot me. I've obviously been taken over by Pod People.
I promise to shoot you if you become less than a pirate and join the conformed world of an 'account firm' lol!
I forget how much you love movies--and it seems to be most movies. I'm a movie snob. I like very few and mostly period.
Yeah, it takes a very BAD movie for me to hate it; though I am rather snobbish about the Potter movies because I love the books so much, but slowly even movie #4 has grown on me.
I will never like the Royal Tenebaums. Or The Life of Aquatic of Steve Zissou. Or I *Heart* Huckabee. WTF is the point of these movies!
Oh, and I loathe the guy who wrote The Breakup. I hope they get divorced and they have to pay outrageous alimony for that travesty of a film.
The Tannenbaum's don't rock my boat either.
Actually I'm not that much a snob. I do love action hero/comic book movies. Wolverine--sigh--wish he'd strip right down...
I envy all you people with a "passion" for something. I don't feel like I really have one. Except maybe for reading (and my family and friends of course). If someone told me I could never read again I'd probably die!
I know I'm not very artsy (unless you count really artfully drawn stick figures). I think I'm coming to the conclusion that I don't really know what I want to be when I grow up! LOL
Hellion, *ROTFLMAO*... And I always wanted to be a Vegas Showgirl. I know I couldn't do that - I'd kill myself in those high heels!
Irish... maybe your passion is your family? And I would go nuts if I couldn't lose myself in a good book.
If I weren't a writer? *scratching chin* Well two years ago I could've answered this question quite easily. I used to read, a lot. All the time. A book a day. I guess if I wasn't writing, I'd have time for that blanket I've been working on. I'd spend more time running on the treadmill. I'd clean the house more often. I'd probably work with my graphic arts more often. Tinker with my computer. Stuff I used to do and don't do anymore. And watch all the movies in my TBW pile.
PS. Hot pic.
I know, no matter what, I'll always find something to do so I can get out of house cleaning...
And no treadmills for me--I'm a hazard waiting to happen--I know this because I husband doesn't even blink anymore when I walk into a wall, or smash my hip off the tv stand, or stub my foot into the rad stand or coffee table :)
Hm, I'm not the only one that walks into walls then. Good to know.
I fell off the treadmill last night. It wasn't pretty. Not even gracefully either. Just like a awkward squawking chicken, arms and legs flopping everywhere. I should get zapped by an invisible beam every time I step near one. I love to run outside but it's too cold right now. At least when I trip over my own two feet outside, usually no one can stare at me.
One thing that I have always wanted to do but I've never had the chance is to take an old, rundown house, possibly Victorian in style, and re-do it. I love mixing colors, matching colors, and changing colors. Making a room come to life gives me a boost. I'm usually charmed by houses that most people run from because of all the repairs and remodeling needed to make them beautiful. When I walk into houses, I see through my imagination rather than the reality of the place. That's why I'm living in the money pit house.
Ohhhhh, love the picture and blog, Tiff.
For me, I've always put "writing" on the backburner because it hasn't been accepted or accepted... and now that I'm "pursuing" it and I say "I'm a writer"... I can't think of anything else.
I can teach and I can do a whole hell lot of things. Well, except for cooking, that is. *g*
But does it fill me like writing does? No.
I can't imagine now not writing or not pursuing it.
I've unleashed the writer beast so to speak... and well, everything that I thought I could do makes me think: No, you dolt, you didn't do any of those things well but this (writing), you're pretty damn good at.
I did use to be involved in acting but... well, acting doesn't give me that something that writing does.
Does that make sense?
Misty, years ago my husband and I bought a fixer-upper built in 1820. We never finished fixing it up either before we sold it. We had bats (!!!), wide pine floors covered with linoleum that I blowtorched off, crumbling plaster that I bashed with a crowbar, a chicken coop loaded with chickensh*t,and other fine country things. I hung wallpaper and painted (very inexpertly). My husband tried plumbing (all the hot water came from the cold water side).We'll never do anything like it again,but it was kind of fun to work so hard. We used the kids' potty chair for weeks until we put the toilet in. Ahh, the good old days.
Well, I consider teaching an art. And I have been teaching almost as long as I have been writing.
I'm with Irish on the stick figures, and I am a total klutz with crafty stuff. I figure if I could not write or teach, I'd be a great audience. I'd attend concerts, haunt museums, and read, read, read--and write fan letters to all my favorites. :)
Misty, I would love an old house to fix up too... as long as it doesn't turn into the money pit!
Totally makes sense Ely.
Maggie! The kids potty? LOL!
I wish I could do museums and concerts all day long... and stalking-I mean sending nice letters to the people who give us great stories.
After staying home with the kiddie yesterday, I totally forgot this was Tuesday. Well, I'm here now.
I struggle with this because I'm not an artist. I love artists and I'm a great supporter but I'm not one myself. I feel less like a writer everyday for the last couple of months.
I've made myself open one file or the other for the last few days but I hate it. I type a sentense or two, hate it and close it again. I'm not sure what I'm doing.
I'm a business person. I make things happen. Organize, work out the logistics, delegate and direct. That's what I do. I'm not an artist at all really.
I guess it's a good thing I'm working on this business degree. LOL!
Terri,
perhaps you cannot focus on both at this stage in your life? You do so much already, and it is truly amazing! You are an artists. You wrote a short story-and submitted it--'nuff said.
Ha! And I hate that story now. LOL! Well, I hate the first chapter. Kind of like the rest. And y'all have to stop making it sound like I'm running the world. LOL! I'm busy yes but so is everyone else!
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