“Do You Still Write?”
September 27, 2009 by Mary Anne
Filed under From My Desk To Yours
WriteSuccess Quote:
“Middle age is when your old classmates are so gray and wrinkled and bald they don’t recognize you.”- Bennett Cerf
This weekend was my (hand over mouth, mumble-th) high school reunion.
We started with an informal happy hour Friday night. None of us wore name tags, so sometimes I needed to lean towards someone I hadn’t totally lost touch over the past (mumble-some-odd) years and ask, “Who’s that?” Other times I simply resorted to an honest blank stare when someone whose eyes looked vaguely familiar peered into mine and said, “Mary Anne?” Happily my long-term memory didn’t totally fail me, so on occasion I was the one who recognized the other person first, only to see the blank stare in return. It got to be kind of a fun game.
Last night we attended the more “formal” affair, although many of those in my generation eschew formal attire; our idea of “dressing up” means not wearing jeans, or maybe wearing a sports jacket with jeans. 
I wasn’t particularly popular in high school, outside of my own wonderful circle of friends. Yet invariably, at every reunion I’ve attended, a couple of people I exchanged words with in high school ask about the one thing they remember about me. “Do you still write?”
How wonderful to be able to look them in the eyes after all these years, smile, and say, “Yes. Yes, I do.”
The tools I use to write with have changed dramatically, with the exception of the pens I use to scrawl thoughts in my journal. I can’t even remember the last time I’ve seen a typewriter, much less used one, and believe me, I don’t miss Correcto-Type, Wite-Out or carbon paper whatsoever.
The markets have changed very much, too; since my high school graduation hundreds of magazines have folded, others have been born, and of course the internet has offered both new opportunites and challenges for writers who want to make a living from their craft.
But what has stayed the same decade after decade is that people can ask me whether I still write, and I can still say yes. I wish the same for you as well. Because if you are here reading this, that is what you wish for yourself.
Here’s to your writing success.
~Mary Anne
The answer is “no.” After more than 40 years of lying to myself, I finally accepted I have no talent and no future as a writer so I have signed off the mailing lists, given away my writing books, and will soon recycle those pathetic pages of stories no one wanted to read. It’s not been an easy process, but it is better than deceiving myself. My best to all of you who persist. You have more courage than I do.
So very true, Mary Anne. As I told you on Facebook, if I had to lay down my pen, somebody just shoot me. Writing is a passion and one that I can honestly say helps me to define my purpose. The humor was always there; I just didn’t know what to do with it. Now I scare all of my relatives by saying, “Hey, want me to write about that experience?” Funny, now when I call them, no ones at home…bawwwhahaha…Wimps.
Well said Mary Anne. I’ve never gone to my reunions but they might say the same thing about me. The only difference now is teenage poetry is not in my repertoire. Happy Writing! Corrie Ann
Hi, I still write too, much more often and more confidently than I ever did at high school. It’s hard to imagine not writing – I breathe, I think, I write!
I still write too, and better (I hope), than I did in high school more than — errrrrr — 30 years ago. I write, therefore, I am.
Hi Dianne…and yet you still read posts like this one. The dream still lies within you, although perhaps dim and very battered. You’re right about one thing, though–it does take courage to continue, sometimes an exceptional amount of it.
I feel for those who have given in and stopped writing and I know how they feel. Although I have put it aside for a time throughout the past 20 years, I continue to take courses,buy the latest writing books, work on stories, outline ideas, and hope that someday, someway, someone will want to read something that I have written. Until then though, I keep my day job. Here is hoping that we all find some level of publishing success in answer to our writing dreams.
Oh Dianne darling, my heart bleeds for you. I don’t know what else to say, but I’m sending hugs to you.
Sorry to hear that Dianne. Could it be you need a teacher? I recently took on a drum instructor. Not because I can’t play. Several musicians would attest that I can, just like several writers attest that I can write. However, I realized I could be better, and that there are things I don’t know that I don’t know. A teacher can show me those things.
I still write, a few blogs here and there, but mostly poetry these days. I have decided on focusing on two “hobbies” if you will, one being my drums, the other writing. So I will finally get down to making consistent blog entries. And I have a “play” coming up about writers writing about their own lives. That will stretch me out, and I look forward to the play as well as the exposure.
Yes I still write. I have several journals that date back into the mid 80′s up to now. Mostly about personal struggles and good mememories I would like to keep fresh in my mind. I took a year writing course in 2004 through Institute of Children’s Literature and wrote several short stories for children and a few articles.Even though I tried to get them published I had no luck. I got a recognition for finshing the course and was awarded a diploma in 2005.I started a book but found myself lost as to what else to put with it. I need more pages. So even though I have put up my writing for periods of time I always seem to get this drive to take it back up even if it is just journaling.
Yes, I still write, including poetry. Unfortunately,more and more poetry magazines require reading fees and I would need another job to pay for the submissions so, I do not submit. Too bad!
Love this post! Had me smiling a number of times. It’s interesting when former classmates remember you and what you did. I remember the white out and carbon paper from typing out my first resume as a young adult. So glad for word processing! I also have kept a journal for over 20 years. And I have a preference for the type of pen I use.
Thanks for sharing your reunion story.:)
Dawn Herring
JournalWriter Freelance
Be Refreshed!
Yes, I still write.
But I started long after high school and college. I never really enjoyed writing during my school years.
If you’re interested in why not, you might want to read my recent posting at: http://inscribewritersonline.blogspot.com/2009/09/frozen-thoughts-brenda-leyland.html
I enjoyed that ‘blast from the past’ about white out and carbon paper. I remember when the Selectric typewriter was on the cutting edge of technology!
Yaaaaah for computers!!