Photo of Stig Marlon Weston's Exhibit at Nordic Light International Festival of Photography - www.weston.no.
I have been reflecting on the opportunity that I currently have to work on several writing projects as a new writer. It is an opportunity that I have afforded myself. Living my personal passion was necessary. I began my writing journey by waking up at 4 a.m. to write before work. I had four hours to work on my passion every day. And during this time doing something that was not connected to anything or anyone else was very powerful. I was doing that which brought me the greatest joy. And I wanted more time to do more of it.
Now that I have this time I have a profound understanding of how important, special and unique this moment is. It was so important to me that I made it a purpose/goal. I decided that I would work towards having more time to pursue it. I did not think of the impossibility of it, however I thought about how it could be possible. I started with all of the things that were in my control. How I spent and used my time, found a writing mentor, applied for residencies. I started moving towards my life as a writer.
As I moved towards my life as a writer things that seemed like obstacles either fell in place or fell away. Suddenly I was in a situation where my life circumstances would actually meet my purpose/goal – to write full time. This is not a permanent life status but for a certain amount of time I can write full time. It is special because there is no moment that I do not appreciate this once in a lifetime chance. It is unique because it is not often that a new writer can comfortably quit a job, travel to other countries or move to another country without significant negative financial impacts.
The opportunity that I have to fulfill my dream of being a full time writer who writes and publishes can go so many different ways. I could publish everything that I submit. I could never be published. There is self publishing. Or the magic unicorn editor who thinks that I am the best thing since slice bread comes along. Anything could happen. But none of it had the possibility to happen if I was not doing exactly what I am doing at this very moment - writing, submitting and writing – working to fulfill my purpose/goal.
As I work on my writing projects I am learning a lot about myself as a writer. I am learning about my writing process, what inspires and influences me and how I work. How my work is shaped by what is experienced or not experienced directly by me and what that actually means as a muse are being revealed to me during this period. It is the intentional time that I have taken that is providing me this amazing journey. There is a lot to be said for the time that writers, artists or any creative person is able to afford to do their work. Like most resources, time is limited and precious, there isn't enough of it.