This week our members will be sharing their experiences
on writing through hard times.
I’d attempted several
times to write the first line of this article. I hoped to make an eloquent or
profound statement about the challenge of writing through hard times,
specifically during my husband’s current illness. Unfortunately, now, in this
moment, the only line that constantly circles through my mind, like the ticker
tape that runs underneath the news broadcast, is “It sucks!”
It hasn’t always been
that way. Writing has been a comforting friend. Written words are the catharsis
that have helped me through many hard times.
When my older sister died
of a heart attack at the young age of 50 in 2005, I wrote dozens of short
stories about her and the fun adventures we had while growing up. They were my
savior during my mourning. She was my half-sister, but I whole loved her. In fact,
she gave me my first romance novel. While cleaning her bedroom, I found a
manuscript she’d been working on. It was a regency romance novel. That day I
learned something new about my sister. She was a romance writer.
Writing comforted me
again in 2013 when I was diagnosed with Uterine Cancer. After surgery, I felt
less of a woman and the whole experience made me depressed. I stopped reading.
I wasn’t interested in literary novels, romantic swooning damsels, or
contemporary hot women who had hot sex with hot guys. Luckily, I found my
savior in Paranormal Romance and fell madly in love with the genre. It became
my great escape and I began to write paranormal stories of my own. During my
recovery, I attended forums, courses and workshops that led to wonderful
friendships with some aspiring and established writers. Those friends suggested
I’d benefit from joining the RWA and the New York Chapter. I joined Spring of
2014, excited to learn more about the art of writing romance. It brought me
back.
I’ve gained an abundance
of knowledge, skills, and creative growth as the result of my membership,
Outlines, character profiles and scenes filled my imagination, resulting in
several manuscripts. It became my passion. My husband noticed that I enjoyed it
so much, he encouraged me to work towards getting published. Leading to
positive progress and opportunities. When times are good, writing comes easy
for. It’s fun. Happiness is a positive and productive motivator for me.
This brings me back to my
opening statement. I know I’m not the only writer who has gone through hard
times, has experienced loss, illness and/or an “almost” divorce. And, writing
along with sculpting, painting and exercising is considered therapeutic.
Writers such as Albert Camus and Alexandre Dumas wrote to release their anxiety
towards philosophy and politics. Emily Dickinson and Anne Sexton wrote to help
them through depression. Writing is an emotional art form. The past few months
I’ve dabbled, and tried to write, but couldn’t. Instead, I shopped. It made me
feel good for a day, but buyer’s remorse kicked in the next morning. This week
my husband will have double surgery, half of his throat, a cancerous tumor and
half of his stomach will be removed. We’ve been through a lot in 16 years, but this
time I’m not scared – I’m petrified. My fear is stronger than my desire and all
I can write are excuses why I can’t write. That’s why, “It sucks!” Still, the
words “In sickness and in health, till death do us part” come to mind often
these days. I have to believe it’s an omen that my writer’s block may be on its
way out and once again writing will be my savior. Now more than ever I need to
find the words to stand up to the challenge.♥
Mimi Pizarro-Logsdon has been
writing romance stories since her teens, and loves the Sci-Fi, Fantasy and
Paranormal genres. She has worked in the media industry for over 25 years, and
currently works at HBO, Inc. She lives in New York with her husband and pets.
One of them, an eccentric cat named George she features in her current romance
series, "Immortals In New York." Follow her on Twitter: @mimilogsdon;
Facebook: mimipizarro.
READ ROMANCE !
"Writing is an emotional art form." I love that line Mimi. I'm new to RWANYC and one of the reasons I hesitated to join was writing for me has taken backseat to real life In good times and bad. When my sister in law died suddenly of a heart attack I decided not to wait to try to publish. I'm praying for strength for your husband and you. Prayer works. Try to keep writing if only a journal.
ReplyDeleteMimi, my heart goes out to you and yours. Sending you all healing light. You will write again when the time is right. Catherine
ReplyDelete