When I finally embraced the self-proclaimed title of Writer, others immediately wanted to pigeon-hole me. What kind of writing? Literary? Commercial? Vignettes? Memoir? What? What? What?
Eeeekk! 🤯
It’s a question I liken to politics. Don’t ask my political affiliations because you might not be willing to accept my truth. I refuse to be labeled and shut off from the ideas and energy of other thinkers. I apply a similar philosophy to my writing. I’m a little bit this and a little bit that…
While people in the industry may find this frustrating, I find it freeing.
I can’t pretend to be anything I’m not. My writer brain really is twisted and I provide it the flexibility to go where it wants and once committed then that’s it and there’s no turning back.
When people ask me what kind of writing I do I usually sputter and tell them that I do a bit of everything.
I write an opinion column for Black Press (one of the largest publications in Canada with affiliates in the USA), I blog, I do freelance articles, I write short stories, I’ve written two books—one is YA Contemporary Thriller and the other is an adult/YA fast-paced novel with shades of Girl on a Train by Paula Hawkins, all mashed up with one of my favourite YA books, Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell.
Phew! I’m also working on a non-fiction proposal for a parenting book and to my own surprise—guess what I did…come on guess…
Ah, heck you’ll never guess…
I wrote a poem. Oh my goodness, I’m so dang proud of myself I’m blushing.
The poem is called “Oh Sister” and is approximately 600 words. The poem itself is a bit dark and melancholy but it has been very well received by many who’ve heard it. I can’t print it here because I submitted it to a contest and of course, there are rules against that sort of thing.
I never imagined myself writing poetry—I still don’t—but now I know it’s within my twisted writer brain and capable of delivering a strong message. That’s a pretty cool thing don’t cha think?
Overall, I realized I shouldn’t minimize the art of writing and specifically the artistry of word placement and selection.
Words, whether displayed in paragraphs of prose, used in dialogue, or in first-person past tense telling a fantastical story, the main thing is that the words make it onto the page and not continue to rattle around in gray matter.
Happy writing everyone—whatever that means to you.
Yep, that was a great poem! Hope it wins whatever contest you sent it to!
Thanks so much for the kind words Marilyn! It’s inspired me to try more poetry as well. I’m so glad to see you here.