Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Taking the Time


It has been awhile since I have last entered anything here and sent it out into the universe or cyberspace for that matter. But I needed a break to re-evaluate my life and whether or not this path that I have been on was really the right thing to do. I'll admit it, I was beginning to have my doubts.

I wasn't feeling inspired any longer and I was only feeling the toll that this lifestyle of not having much was impacting my body and my soul. For the most part I was happy though, just not sure if this writing path was going to actually lead to any road that I would be content to travel further. Luckily, however, with the strength of a few close friends who also call themselves writers, helped me through this temporary funk that I was in.

With a new sense of purpose, I began to think about stories that I had written partially before and revisited them, looking for more inspiration in hopes of completing them. I even looked at going back into the travel writing business and while it didn't pay much, at least it was writing and I could feel confident in calling myself a writer again.

Meanwhile, I had been hanging windows for a glass and sash shop in North Beach to try and make ends meet while the writing gigs slowly trickled in. I actually surprised myself at how much I liked the physical work that I was doing and all that I was learning. For any of my close friends, they know that I am pretty much useless when it comes to being handy or knowing which tools to use for a project at any given moment. However, to those same friends, I know that they would be proud to see me hanging out of a sixth floor window in downtown San Francisco, precariously trying to re-sash a window that most likely hadn't been touched since the 1920's. I'm actually getting pretty damn good at it.

...feeling pretty good about the work one day and comfortable about my writing and my new, "if it comes, it comes" mentality...I finally got a break.

On a Saturday morning, I walked across the street to get my usual cup of coffee before heading down to the park to watch the ball game with a friend. Luckily, I ran into a neighbor friend who is also a graphic designer and he came running towards me frantically as he had been trying to get a hold of me for a few weeks but didn't have my number. Long story short...he needed some writing done for a client and he needed it done fast. Without hesitation, I said yes and have been writing for him ever since. It hasn't been easy and I was surprised at some of the complications that would arise when working with a large client, and of course I have made my share of mistakes as well...but I am learning a lot...and most importantly finally getting paid enough to do this work.

So with that, my ambitions as a writer have been restored....I will do my best to keep more current here from now on as things progress....Cheers.