Snow - Writing - Changes

Had an SFWC (Speculative Fiction Writer's Co-op) meeting tonight - it took us almost an hour to get home due to the snow. Do you realize that snow makes no sound when it falls and once on the ground it muffles all sound to bring on a quietness that surpasses all other quiet times. I love to be out in that quiet and see the pure white that makes everything sparkle and glisten - a truly magic environment.

At Writer's Group, we discussed when we knew we were writers and what lead us to write in the genera we each write in. My reason for writing the sort of stories that I do is because I want to scare people (send a shiver down their back or cause them to look over their shoulder). Most of my places in my stories are from dreams (nightmares) I've had. I've been fortunate that I can hold whatever it was that scared me in my mind until I can write it down. Most of the time that means right away, as I can't go back to sleep without slipping back into the nightmare unless I write it down. Kind of weird, but I guess that's me, kind of weird.

I know that for me writing is a many layered objective. I write in my journal to put my hurts and thoughts in a form where I can leave them. I write short stories because they are fun and I never know where a story will take me once I begin it. There are many writers out there who do detailed out lines before they begin a story, there are others who start with an idea and let it form in their mind before they begin a story and there are some like me who start a story because a character or situation beckons and then we find out the story as it unfolds. I've learned some surprising things this way and sometimes I find that the story is going someplace I hadn't thought of taking it. But, by listening to my characters I follow the story they want to tell me.

Life, like my stories often goes in directions I never expected or even wanted to explore. My son moved out on his own last fall - although I still him a lot (especially just before he gets paid) and feed him, but it isn't like I can see him every day. It's hard to let go - sometimes - but that is what every parent eventually has to do. Other changes my daughter got engaged to a real nice young man just before Christmas. I'm so happy for her and wish her all the best that life has to offer. The last change that has taken place is that my husband has retired. I know some people were doubting that he ever would but he has. Now the hard part for him is going to be not seeing all the people he saw every day at work. Plus, I've found I don't talk as much as I used to since usually my only companions are the dog and cat. Friends have assured me that once the adjustment period is over, we will both enjoy his retirement.