The End

I recently published my first edited book,  Labor of Love: A Literary Mama Staff Anthology ,  with  Small Harbor Publishing . It's an anthology of writing from  Literary Mama  staff over the past 20 years. It's a beautiful collection and I am proud of the writers and proud to share the book.  It seems a fitting moment, as I pondered sharing about the book here on the blog, to reflect on my life as a blogger, and acknowledge that it is time to officially end this blog.   I started blogging in about 2007, when my baby was learning to toddle, when I was learning how to be a mother and stepmother, when I was just starting to see my way as a writer. I needed it back then. I craved it. I had a variety of blog iterations--family, art, creativity, writing things I delved into. There's a freedom in blogging, a casualness, an easy familiarity that's lacking (for me anyway) in other kinds of writing. I loved blogging and the words came pouring out.  Ove...
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unpublished-still

I am an unpublished writer. I thought I'd just clarify that. I write whenever I get the chance and not even a verbose 6 year old and a rebellious 14 year old on summer vacation can keep me from it. I have to write, I am compelled to write, I need to write. Sure, I can go a day without it. About as easily as you can go a day without air.

I am an unpublished writer. I sit alone with my thoughts, reflecting on life, trying to phrase a few words together that might just connect some unknown reader to an idea I once had. It is a solitary, thoughtful process, and one that equals a lot of time in ponderation. My wrists get sore sometimes, my butt is tired of sitting, but my brain feels wide and vast when I am putting words together.

I am an unpublished writer. My words go unnoticed. There is little I can say that would draw me a crowd. I am my own whole world, and also, unknown.

I am an unpublished writer. No one pays me to write. I do it because I choose to. No one will mourn the story in my head that never gets put down on paper. But I might. In fact, I know I will.

I am an unpublished writer. I am reveling in that right now. Because one day, I won't be. I'll be an author, and I'll never be able to go back.

I am an unpublished writer. For now.


(re-posted from July 2012)

Comments

Diane Lauzun said…
Lovely...and yes - you are only unpublished for now! And I can add that I get the privilege of reading your ideas in the early stages. For that, I add, "YAY!"
September 19, 2012 at 1:06 PM
Katrina Morse said…
I say, the most important thing is that you say IT, whatever it is, and that it is for YOU, and on this platform, called the internet, you have NO IDEA who has read your thoughts and how those people will be affected by your ideas...the ripples begin and only will be more intense in magnitude when you are "published"... can't wait!
September 20, 2012 at 9:17 PM
Amanda K Jaros said…
Thanks guys, for reading and for the encouragement:)
September 21, 2012 at 2:12 PM
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