Why Write? A Guest Post by Gemma Wilford

After seizing the opportunity and volunteering to write a guest blog, I was then faced with the task of What To Write.

It dawned on me simply as I was doing the washing up; Why Do I Write?

Ever since I can remember, I have loved books; curling up with the likes of Enid Blyton's Famous Five, soaking up every word, vividly imagining every description, feeling myself become part of the adventure – The Story.

As I read, I developed the strong urge to write; after each book I felt compelled to write a story of my own. It was a craving that was never fully satisfied until pen met paper. Nowadays it is when my fingers meet laptop keys (the wonders of technology, a godsend for writers.)

I continued with this love throughout school; however once I left and Real Life got in the way, writing became filling forms in at work and reading became something I sometimes did before bed to help me sleep.

Then, I had an experience that changed my thinking.

I went and had my tarot cards read. Now before you roll your eyes and dismiss what I am about to say, let me explain first of all.

I had gone with my friend purely out of interest to see what it was all about.

The medium was spot on about a lot of things that he had no way of knowing; however, time and time again randomly during the conversation, he said 'You love to write. You should write."

A light bulb clicked in my head; I do love to write, I really should write.

If I took anything away with me, it was guidance. By this small event in my life, it changed the way I thought. I had forgotten my passion for writing, the flame dulled by the mundane tasks of everyday life. This medium had suddenly provided the match for me to strike and re-ignite this passion, and provide a spark he did.

Since that day, I have never looked back.

I wrote my first Children's Story; The Ruby of Egypt, which I decided to self-publish after sending this to a few Literary Agents who advised that, although they enjoyed the story, there wasn't really a big enough market for it.

I found out about Lulu.com through attendance at a Creative Writing Class (again something I decided to join following my encounter with the medium) after one of the students advised her friends daughter (who was only 10) had self-published a story through Lulu.

Another light bulb came on and I decided this was the route to take The Ruby of Egypt down. To have my work in print was a dream come true and if others wanted to read it, I considered that as a lovely bonus.

I have since just finished writing my first ever novel, Miss Pooshoe, a chick-lit that is based on a woman who loses her job and the title is designed to intrigue. It is not too dissimilar to what I experienced and I set myself the challenge of writing it from 1st Jan 2012 to 29th Feb 2012. It was a New Year's Resolution as well as a bid to motivate myself during the low, depressing, dark months that follow the climax of Christmas. I accomplished my mission and the first draft is now complete.

I poured all my frustrations and anger that I experienced in my job situation last year into this book, tainting it with a comical edge by sprinkling some ridiculous things that I have said or done over my past twenty eight years.

Once I had completed the first draft, not only did I feel proud, I also felt a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. That book was my therapy and, by writing it, I also managed to put a few things in life into perspective and come to terms with my situation.

The immense pleasure I got out of writing this novel and the overwhelming sense of pride and achievement that I feel at completing it, is Why I Write.

Now to see if anyone wants to actually publish it….

Filed under: Authors, books, Guest Post, Writers Tagged: Gemma Wilford, Guest Post, Why Write, writing