The Hidey-Holes in My Brain

 

The Hidey-holes in My Brain

If you are a writer, perhaps you, like I, have been asked—why do you write? It’s a legitimate question. Why do I write? Without getting all philosophical and perhaps boring you to tears, let me share with you why I write.

I was born with an expansive imagination. Like most children, I had imaginary friends with whom I had realistic conversations. I could read before I entered first grade. (Kindergarten didn’t exist way back then). I’ve made no secret to anyone that I grew up in an abusive home environment. Thus reading became an escape, a way for me to shelter from emotional and physical pain. My imagination also grew and story ideas developed, and the hidey-holes in my brain nurtured those stories until it was time for me to share them with the world.

Writing for me is a great outlet for creative expression. My grandmother was a seer. When I was a little girl, she’d often say, “Retta, when you hear names in your sleep, pray for that person because they have a need and are asking you for help.” As crazy as it may sound, I often wake up in the wee hours of the morning with story ideas floating around inside my head. It’s as if I can hear the characters whispering their words in my subconscious. This makes it impossible for me not to write. Otherwise, the ideas, or maybe the characters, will keep nagging at me until I get the words written down. Yeah, I know, it’s wacky.

I try to write fast-paced books. My goal is to keep every reader interested in the story—even those readers who might not be interested in that particular genre. I also write to educate and too inspire. My author brand is “Romance with a Twist…Expect the Unexpected.” This means that readers will find a little mystery, a little adventure, a little paranormal, and a little surprise, in every book I write.

I write so that I can, hopefully, make a difference in a reader’s life. In general, I enjoy researching information to make sure my novels, although fiction, are historically and factually correct. I also love to exercise my imagination when I’m working on my novels. I enjoy living in the imaginary world of my characters. Writing also forms an outlet for my urge to share my personal and professional life experiences, only in novel form.

I write because I want to entertain. I take a great deal of pleasure from making others happy, and I use my writing as a means of pleasing others. I also enjoy hearing from people that have read my books, and especially when I have succeeded in captivating them.

So, if you are inspired to write a novel, a novella, or a short story, pour your heart and soul into what you create because it is a closely tied string back to yourself. It will forever be attached to you and it will forever be a piece of who you are.

My life changed when I started writing, and I’m willing to bet yours will, too. One last word—Create a story that is worthy of readership. Now—Go. Write!