Do You Still Love to Write?

There are two things to aim at in life; first to get what you want, and after that to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind has achieved the second.
Logan Pearsall Smith

Over the past few days I've been restructuring my website, trying to get it to reflect how I want to present myself as a writer and also find a way to draw traffic. The whole SEO thing is a constant learning experience, but I am learning. I still have a lot of tweaking, but I've got the structure mostly down-- at least for now. Now it's back to writing articles, and blogs, and whatever else I find the time and inspiration to write.

One of my new goals is to better utilize my website, my blog, and my writing Facebook page, which I have now linked to Twitter. Part of that means making regular updates, and despite this blog being called "Write of the Day" I've not done well with it.

And so, I am hunting for quotes on writing, inspiration, goals, and posting on my site's home page, as well as Facebook and Twitter-- and here.

Inspirational quotes make excellent writing prompts, which should help me produce a consistent blog that hopefully people get something from. And so I take to heart the words of Logan Pearsal Smith. To go for what I want, and then enjoy it.

For a long time, I was adament about only writing fiction and poetry -- that's what I loved to write, and I didn't want to sell out by writing articles or ads or blogs-- but those types of writing are growing on me, and the more I practice them, the more I enjoy them. I find I'm enjoying a lot of the busy work, like web design and tightening my grip on the whole social networking thing. But I'm learning. Perhaps that is the best thing. I'm always learning, which was not something I could always say when I spent my days in a cubicle.

Lately, my creative writing has been limited to the occasional poem. It's been a while since I've written and original story, or worked on a novel. The part of writing I love the most is taking a back seat right now, and there are times it makes me a little sad.

But it is there. When the time and circumstances position themselves-- or rather, I position them, I will be able to spend more time on balancing the parts of writing I love a little, with those I love a lot.

It reminds me of another quote, "If you can't be with the one you love, Honey, love the one you're with." By embracing where we are and what we are doing, yet looking towards the next step we keep ourselves content in what we do without getting bitter.

I spent many years making my living in less than thrilling ways, stealing my words in the early mornings, evenings, and weekends. But during that time, I don't think I could have written things that weren't necessarily my idea. I had to learn through life that writing isn't just about my expression of myself, but it's also about forming a sense of cooperation with others, be it through networking, marketing, or writing.

Sometimes, being older and wiser really can be a good thing. Our lives move in waves, and sometimes all we can do is ride them. But if we learn to enjoy the surf we position ourselves to have a little more fun whenever the next one comes along.