On a cool October night I sat in my den staring at my laptop. I watched the white fluffy kitty with one yellow eye and one blue eye seated on a book case near the window. I was supposed to be typing my monthly column for the IE but I couldn’t think of anything to write. I’d type a line then delete it. Type another line then delete it. Then suddenly three gunshots rang out. POW! POW! POW! The kitty cat leaped from the shelf and ran toward the bedroom. I grabbed beer and cellphone and headed for the hall. I stood in the hallway near the dirty clothes hamper wondering who fired the shots and praying that no one was hurt. Then it happened. I was flooded with ideas of what I could write for the column. It’s amazing how the ideas flow after some idiot outside fires a gun. Unfortunately I am no stranger to the sound of gunfire. Quite often I am reminded that life is short. One minute you’re here and in the next you can be gone. For this reason and many more I write like my life depends on it.
At twenty five I was given the opportunity to write full time. I declined the opportunity and went on to work at several dead end jobs. At that time I couldn’t understand how important being a writer was to me. It wasn’t until my early thirties that I finally accepted the opportunity whole heartedly.
I am often pelted with comments like “you need to rest,” “you work too hard.” These statements may be true but I must write like my life depends on it because it does. I believe in what I do and I must work at it as hard as I’ve worked at my previous jobs and the way I worked on projects for other people.
I write to tell my stories. I write to inspire. I write because I love to create. Writing is a constant in my life much like the beating of my heart and breathing. I write to be free. I write because in my writing I find me. I write because my life depends on it.
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Katrina Renee Byrd
Latest posts by Katrina Renee Byrd (see all)
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Hearing gunfire outside can be quite a wake-up call. I used to freak out and call 911 every time it happened, but it happens so often around here, and it's hard to tell from which direction it is coming, so I quit.
I'm glad you are doing what you love ;-)
It is always great to do what you love and anytime is good for it. Writing is a great thing to do. Good luck..:)
I totally understand where you are coming from. I've never had a job that I was excited about before trying to be a full-time writer. I guess I'm lucky because I realized the truth of what I wanted to do with my life at the age of 19, but still sometimes I wish I had realized it soon because I'm 26 and still struggling to actually making a living off of this work. Some people may think I'm crazy for being this way, but there's nothing else I can do with my life that feels right.