The Writing Challenge

I hate challenges. I usually don't take them seriously and I am not commited enough to take one myself. However, and this is with the solely purpose of making me do it, I am challenging myself today. In public. Public where I have no idea if someone is reading or browsing by (Hi!). 

I AM CHALLENGING MYSELF TO FINISH MY BOOK IN 42 DAYS ( BY JANUARY 5TH). 

Maybe 42 days sounds a bit random but I will have 2 free weeks from December 20th to January 6th so I think that if I use my time wisely I will be able to make it happen. 

I have 163 Word pages written, single space and Times New Roman. There's 78,798 words written as of this moment so that's pretty decent. I am not going by words or pages I am taking my story where I want it to go but those numbers might tell you that I am pretty well into the story. I think I can make it happen in 42 days. 

I need to make it happen because this new year will be a big one and I want to be able to say that I am a writer and that I can make a living out of it. 

So, that's it. I challenged myself and I think it's time for me to go and write some pages for today. 

Go on and read something! 

Why do I write?

I've been writting for a long long time. I've been dreaming about finishing a novel and making it in the world of publishing but life is difficult. Life gives you not even lemons, live gives you garlic and you have to work  with it and turn it into an amazing marinara sauce that will knock life's socks. So, I've been dealing with garlic, sometimes lemons, limes and, of course, because life can't be all that sour, from time to time I've dealt with mangos! 

Anyway, I've always written because I like it, because suddenly I had an idea and needed to write somewhere. When I was a teen I used to write because I had so many thoughts running around my head that I needed to let them out. Most of them were quite depressing and existential. I often wondered the meaning of life and the reason why I , especificly, was alive. 

As I grew up I realize that from time to time I needed a creative outlet to feel that I was fulfilled and so I tried blogging. I kept up a personal blog for a long time; I met my husband through said blog after I had left a note saying hi and letting him know we were from the same country (we were both blogging in english). That blog saved my life in so many ways. Then I began writing short stories, long stories, the beginning of novels; I felt my head filled with images and scenes that I felt I needed to let out in the world. 

I've been writing for over 18 years now and it has been amazing but I had never, ever, ever took on the idea of actually publishing something. I mean there is a poem lying around in a canadian book somewhere that was published when I was 18 years old and was inspired by my so no reciprocated love for a guy that was gay. 

A year ago I was going through a crisis, a big one, and I began two adventures. I took on the idea of the novel I am currently writing and I began an MBA. What? Yes. Me, the psychologist that wants to be a writer wanted to have an MBA. 

Here I am one year later, I dropped out of business school but my novel is still going strong and more than ever. Some months ago I read an interview with Gerard Way (Front man of the no longer existing My Chemical Romance) that said that when you had an idea, art, music anything that needs to be said you shouldn't wait until the time is right because that idea, that creation needs to be released into the universe the moment it is created. That surely made me want to let the world see what I was doing because, I will be honest, I love what I am writing. 

So besides loving it Why do I Write? 

Well, I'm lucky enough to have a  job that I'm not afraid of losing but I live in a country where everyday life is quite expensive. I have a 3 year old and I am hoping to have another baby in the next year so I do need the money for schools, mortgage and food. 

I want to be able to give my kids a great Christmas with nice presents, to take them on vacations once a year to the beach and for them to go to Disneyworld at least once while they are kids.  I want them to enjoy their childhood and sometimes you need money for that. 

So, I decided that I needed to make a living out of writing. It is fun, I can do it in my spare time and it could give me an extra income to give my family what they need and deserve. That's why I write, because doing something I like could turn into a new career and that is exciting and envigorating. Everyone should try it sometime! 

I'll see you next time.

Go on and read something!

Who am I?

That should be a really easy question to answer but if I don't do it in an objective kind of way I may end up babbling about the meaning of life and, let's be honest, that could lead to a lot of frustration and a depressing first post. That is definately not the way I want to start this. So, let's go with some basic info about me: I am a working mom and wife that is currently writing a novel. 

That may sound impossible because, when will I find time to write? It's not impossible, though; it takes a long time to finish it but it's not impossible. I don't write everyday, I can't, but I write at least once a week and I have to say that I am fortunate enought to have a creative process that allows me to sit down in front of the computer knowing exactly what I am going to write about and how I am going to write it. So, the writing flows pretty easy and in one sitting I can get to write up to 1,000 words. And I don't even take more than 2 hours.

It's not so difficult to get some time....... right?

I always knew I wanted to be a writer, ever since my literature professor in high school encouraged me to wirte for his class. At the age of 16 I decided that I wanted to be a writer. I began with poems and random prose that talked about the teenage angst that everyone, or almost everyone, is a little familiar with. But my first real encounter with story telling was with fan fiction *gasp* Hey! I was a teenager obsessed with the Backstreet Boys (I mean obsessed!!!) it was only natural that I wanted to write about them. Back then I knew I had a talent for story telling. I knew I was never going to be a nobel prize winner but I knew I could write relatable stories and that people liked them. 

However, life got in the way, at 19 years old I decided that I was going to college and mayor in Biogenetics (wait, what?) and that writing should be just for me and for fun. Mind you, I wrote over 4 or 5  novels but never got to finish them. 

When I was 21 I changed my mayor to Psychology (really?) because Biogenetics wasn't my call ( no shit Sherlock) and this time I actually graduated and became a licensed psychologist. I love pshychology I believe that it gives me the chance to write beautiful characters and it gave me the chance to make a living out of something that made me feel productive. 

At 28, already married, I gave up private practice and went corporate. I became an HR worker and a lot of my previous dreams of being a writer disappeared. Than came the baby, my whole world became her and all my attention was for my family;  I forgot how to write. 

I've got to say, and just because it is something everyone should know about me, I never stopped reading. I'm an avid reader and I've always been since I was 9 years old. My first real book was The Picture of Dorian Grey because I saw my mother, who is also an avid reader, reading it and the cover terrified me so much that I needed to know what it was about. I read a lot, a lot for a working mom and wife. I read 50 books a year (average) that's 49 more books than the average citizen of where I'm from reads. Books are a big deal to me. 

So, going back to what I was saying, a year ago I was inspired by a Maroon 5 song to write a novel. The truth is that the song gave me an idea but that idea never happened because that idea led me to another and then to another until I found the exact story I wanted to say. 

Like I said,  my main talent is to write stories that people can relate to. I've written dramas and fantasy but I've come to realize that what I really want to write, and where my strength lies, is in chick-lit and romance. I am so comfortable with it and happy! 

This blog in here is mainly to have a place where I can share my experience as I try to finish my novel. A place where I can find people that is trying to do the same and, why not?, maybe inspire someone out there that wants to do the same. 

If you want to be something, if  you want to do something, just do it. I'm currently trying to do that. I will let you know how it goes. 

Now, go on, write something.