"You can approach the act of writing with nervousness, excitement, hopefulness, or even despair-the sense that you can never completely put on the page what's in your mind and heart. Come to it (writing) any way but lightly. Let me say it again: you must not come lightly to the blank page."
Stephen King On Writing - A Memoir of the Craft (This is an abbreviated portion of the quote - See page 99 of the aforementioned book)

I'm reading Stephen King On Writing - A Memoir of the Craft and I'm humbled and excited. It's always seems to add a bit of wind to my sails when I'm agonizing over a story, my hopes, goals and dreams as a writer. To be able to peek into the lives of writers I love and admire helps.

As an avid reader, I cut my teeth on Stephen King. I've read just about everything I could get my hands on. His work sparked my imagination and emboldened me to take up a pen and paper and write my own stories. I published a lot during high school and college. I actually finished my first novel (my first novel and a veeerrrryyy rough draft) and a second one during college. I've struggled with growing in my skill as a writer in order to better serve the stories that struggle for life on a page. I have not arrived. I think the moment I start to believe that I've arrive will be the moment my writing dies.

I've graduated to discovering new writers and being privileged enough to meet and get to know some amazing writers like, Tananarive Due and L.A. Banks. Thanks to social media I get to look inside the life of the amazing Laurell K. Hamilton (love her work and hope to meet her one day) and the globe trotting Marjorie Liu. I adore Octavia Butler, Patricia Briggs, Devon Monk and the fantabulous DD Barant. I aspire to be a full time writer. Even with that aspiration, it's only a lucky and tenacious few who actually make it to being able to support themselves (and possibly a family) with a writers income. Even if I never make it to that point, the fact is, "I love writing!" I love the stories that press against my mind and enjoy the challenge of giving them life.

I am an unknown writer to the world and to many readers. I may remain that way, known only by those who have picked up my first novel and hopefully will take a chance with the rest. I'm just grateful to be a writer who is writing. I hope to remain that way until I can't do it anymore.

Just writing what's on my mind as I plan my writing calendar for 2013.

Good-bye 2012.

Hello 2013.