Still Writing?

Fifty-three thousand words and I’m not done yet. 

A few months ago, knowing that after all these years of writing I was better suited for telling the truth rather than for making up stuff, as in writing fiction, it would be smart of me to write about some true things.

It would be easy and fun. I’d written about 60 columns on writing and related subjects in the past five years. I’d just gather them up and put them in a book.

I’d call it Are You Still Running? because that is what people ask me all the time.

Yep, I would answer in the sub-title.  Turn the page to see why.

After giving the title some thought—or just getting sick of it—I softened it to Still Running? and that’s where it stands for right now—subject to change of course.

I thought that putting this book together would be an easy task because after all, most of it would consist of stories that were already written.

I began by categorizing them into sections I called People. Places, Reflections, Advice, etc. and then I had lots of stories left over that didn’t seem to fit anywhere. Finally I decided to present them chronologically, as they happened in my life.

The next task was to revise and update the pieces. Surprising how many times you can re-write a few words before it feels like you can’t make them any better. Along with this process, I contacted the subjects of the stories about people to find out what they were currently up to and what their plans were for the coming year. They had lots to tell and I’m so glad I did that.

As I neared the end of working with the existing pieces, I realized that I had more stories to tell. The thing was turning into a monster that wouldn’t let me go. I didn’t mean for it to become a memoir—or a monster-- but it was beginning to feel like both.

I have a few more stories to tell before I call it quits. I’m at a point where I’ve been before in this writing game, wondering who in the world will be interested in all this?

I guess it doesn’t really matter. I’m too far into this project to quit and just let it hide away in the computer.