Cheree Alsop's Blog - Posts Tagged "challenge"

I love to write. Writing opens up something inside of me and lets all of the pent-up ideas that jumble around in my head out in a story that usually ends up far surpassing what I hoped it could be. When asked why I write, my answer is usually short- it's a hobby, I enjoy the escape, it's fun to see where the stories end up. The truth (which I generally don't have time to explain because long-winded answers aren't usually what the asker is looking for) is that writing fulfills that part inside of me that calls for something more.

I don't know if you have ever had the feeling that you are meant for something greater, something far different than where you are, something above going to work, to school, or taking care of the home and family. I love my life. Life is amazing and I wouldn't change anything about where I am right now. I love being home with my children and watching them go on their own adventures. I love the time with my family and the fact that we get to experience this incredible journey through life together. I am exactly where I want to be, and I know there are those who can't say that and so I am very grateful for where I am.

What I want to point out by this is that I don't need to escape. I don't have anything to escape from and I am happy, but there is that little seed inside that calls for the beyond, for pushing myself above my limits and helping others, saving the world, ending wars, the far-reaching things that are above the simple acts of one person. I can help in my own way, but I want to do more.

This is why I write characters who sword-fight, who change into mythological creatures, who fight to save more than just themselves. My characters’ lives reach beyond the simple boundaries; they save damsels in distress who aren’t just simpering, helpless girls, but real women with their own ideas and dreams and who usually end up doing a lot of the saving themselves. I write men who are brave, defiant, and foolhardy in the face of danger because those they are saving are worth more to them than their own lives. I love stories of gladiators, werewolves, knights, Duskies, dragons, shifters, princes and princesses because they truly have the power to affect the lives around them for good or bad.

I hope that through my writing, I am able to give that to others as well, to help them live beyond their boundaries and realize that through stories they have no limits. When you feel that inkling that you were meant for greater things, that you are a hero in your heart, or that you are meant to change the world, do what you can to create the change in your own world, and if you are at a loss how to do so, delve into books where others’ actions match how you feel. I am inspired by characters in books, and I hope that someday my stories can inspire others. It is an awesome task to consider, and one whose challenge brings a smile to my face. In the words of the great Barney, Challenge accepted!

I think the hardest thing about writing is connecting the thoughts with what actually ends up on the page. I have the stories straight in my head. I know the characters like they are my best friends (don't judge), I see their homes, their pasts, I feel their pain and happiness, joy, and sorrow, and I know exactly how I want to write it down. The most challenging part is making sure that it actually gets on paper (or the screen). I greatly value the time my husband takes to read through the books and point out the things that don't make sense. He is my biggest critic, but also my biggest fan. He cheers me on if I get frustrated, and he doesn't let me release a book until it's at the highest quality it can be for the readers. For that, I owe him everything in the world because I owe it to my readers to make sure that what they read is the best that I can turn out.

That's not to say that my work doesn't have room for improvement. I go back and read Silver or some of the books I wrote that will never see the light of a publishing day (or at least not without a ton of revising), and I do see things that I would change. I wouldn't take back Silver- it's still one of my favorite books for its own reasons, but I'm happy to say that I feel my writing has improved since its release.

That should be the goal of any writer. You can't wait until you never make a mistake or you're at the very highest of your writing ability, because we are all still learning and the world will have to wait for your masterpiece until you are 100 years old and on your deathbed (trust me- at that time, writing a book won't be your first goal). Writing is a learning process, and if you don't start, you'll never learn.

I love writing and the challenge it presents. My biggest war with myself is making sure the thoughts in my head that make up the stories come out in a way that the readers see the same worlds and know the same characters I do. If I miss the boat, then I go back and work on it until I feel the book is the best it can possibly be. I give my readers the promise that I will never publish anything that isn't ready to be read, and I love the opportunity to share my worlds and my friends with people who take a chance on an indie author. Thank you very much.