Twenty-Two Years

Twenty-two years ago I found writing.com. Then it was called stories.com. I joined and my writing and confidence have continued to improve over time.

I was a well-experienced English teacher with dreams of publication. I had been writing poems and journals in many spiral notebooks. I saved everything I wrote until I moved from Houston to Dallas in the early 1990s. I had a big trashcan fire because there was too much to move and the writing was too personal for anyone else to read. This was all before I started writing on a computer.

My spiral notebook system of saving continued until I joined stories.com. I took community college classes in the late 1990s and early 2000s. My first efforts here were short poems. With computer experience, my writing expanded to fiction, and later non-fiction and academic writing. I worked through a site called DueNow.com and helped college students with essays. I enjoyed writing these essays, but the time frames for the completion of projects put a strain on me. At that point, I acknowledged that I had problems working to a deadline. I've written several fictional short stories which became longer stories and probably were novellas.

One of the best things about writing.com is that I can save all my writing in one place in an organized manner. I have almost 800 items by now. I forget the details about what I've written, but it's easy to locate items when I receive reviews of the items from my peers. Reviews are always appreciated and often help me polish the items I've written. The community of writers here is a golden resource.

In addition to receiving reviews, I take time to review other's writing. It's not exactly like an English teacher grading papers. It's an opportunity to suggest an expansion of ideas in ongoing writing that is never really finished. One can always go back and improve an item.

I start more items than I manage to finish, but that's okay. The writing in my portfolio is mine, to do what I please. I've referred prospective employers to my portfolio to check out my style and diversity of genres. I've had several jobs writing Internet content. The biggest job kept me busy for eight months. I rewrote the entire site of HollywoodBeautySecrets.com. I read many books I purchased from Half Price Books and eBay. I enjoyed the process of gathering information, picking out the important parts, and creating something new.

My audience changes with each item. I've written for a middle school audience and an advanced academic audience. The variety keeps my writing fresh. I always consider my peers at writing.com as my target audience.

I value writing.com and all the personal accomplishments I've achieved here. I can choose my topics and develop items over time. I always find that going back and reading after some time gives me a fresh perspective. And with the computer, there is always space for editing.

With each item, my confidence in my writing has grown. I am presently searching for writing jobs at Linked In. Since I know about my time limitations I don't choose to follow up on long-term or full-time positions. Now I look for contract or temporary jobs. I also have applied as a writing tutor. Each day presents new opportunities,

Writing.com is always here for me. I am bipolar and consequently have periods where I write a lot or write a little. When I'm manic I will write a lot, often not taking time to edit until after my mood passes. When I'm depressed I seldom write much. It's a comfort to know that my writing won't disappear when I'm depressed.

I had always lived by myself and valued the commodity of silence. My room had ambient lighting and no television or music noise. Unfortunately, I am now living in' a house with eight women. They mean well, but they talk to me when I'm writing and I can't keep my train of thought. I haven't written much since I've been in this living situation but that's okay.

I have a book called "Kaleidoscope" that I've been working on since I first joined writing.com. It is poems and essays on bipolar disorder. I need to write two more chapters: one on depression and one about he men in my life. Some of the material has become outdated, such as insurance information. I can go back and edit, although I do not anticipate the process as being fun. Writing can be hard work.

I need an editor before I send my work to a self-publishing company. I know in 200 pages that I've duplicated some information. I've read the manuscript so many times that I can't remember what I've already read. I work on my book when I am able. I can't force it.

That's my favorite thing about writing.com. It's here when I need it. I receive reminders when I haven't been around for a while. Also, there are a variety of activities to participate in. Writing.com is my writing home and will continue to be for many years to come.

Twenty-two years is only the beginning.