Monday, February 13, 2012

Origins - Why I Started Writing


I am writing this as part of the ORIGINS blogfest.

On February 13th, DL Hammond of Cruising Altitude 2.0, Katie Mills of Creepy Query Girl, Alex J. Cavanaugh and Matthew MacNish of Quintessentially Questionable Query Experiment, are co-hosting  the ORIGINS blogfest.  The idea is that we post our origin story to tell you where our writing dreams began.  OK - here goes, but now you'll know why I call myself  'Crazy California Claire'. 





I have a dim, foggy memory of thinking about writing when I was about 11 or 12. But then, for some ridiculous reason, decided it would be a really boring thing to do and that I would not be any good at it. I've always been a reader though. Started on Enid Blyton (gotta love those Famous Five books) and haven't stopped since. Normally I have at least three books on the go at any one time. But the thought of actually writing one myself never crossed my mind again until 2007.

Back in England, I used to see a friend of mine for Reiki and sports therapy massage. She could speak to spirits and would sometimes say things while she was giving me Reiki. Messages that various spirits would give her. Sometimes it was a 'doctor spirit' telling her where best to massage, and other times there would be deep spiritual wisdom. I even remember one time when she had a woman spirit tell her she was one of my Guardian Angels, and would I please go out and party more! Now that's my kinda Guardian Angel. Anyway, I got used to this friend telling me things and as I do believe in past lives and Guardian Angels and such, it just seemed quite normal to me.

Then one day, after I had reconnected with my now-husband after 30 years apart and was living a roller coaster life of emotional highs and lows, she told me that the spirits were telling her that I needed to write. I said I didn't want to write, but she insisted. I just thought it was funny. But the next few times I saw her, she kept asking if I had started writing yet. It became a bit of a joke between us and then, when she wouldn't let up, annoying. She said she couldn't help badgering me about it as the spirits wouldn't leave her alone. I asked her what on earth would I write about and she suggested writing about meeting up with my soulmate after so many years. One day, I just gave in and said, "Oh alright. I give up. I'll write. Just stop bugging me about it." As soon as I agreed to write, she said they stopped talking to her about me.

Well, as I was in a life-transforming turmoil at the time, I did not actually start writing until about two years later when I joined an amazing writing group in Marin County, California. When I started writing, I discovered it wasn't boring at all. In fact, I absolutely loved it! Who knew sitting by yourself at a computer or scribbling in a book in a coffee house could be so much fun. I have now finished the 'first shitty draft' of the manuscript of my humourous memoir 'Right From The Start' and am thoroughly enjoying editing it into something that I hope will one day become a New York Times bestseller and blockbuster movie - well, I have been divinely prodded after all!

I uploaded the first three chapters onto Scribd (the first shitty draft, you understand) and so far they have had nearly 14,000 reads. It was such fun to have so many people read and comment on my writing that I have now uploaded 20 documents and had over 80,500 reads. Very validating for a fledgling writer, let me tell you. Click on the Scribd button on the right if you fancy reading a chapter or two. I will be uploading my revisions soon, which I hope are a vast improvement.

Ok - that's my story. What's yours? Why and how did you start writing?

22 comments:

  1. Well who are we to agrue with the spirits..haha...looks like they were right too. And boring geesh, at least you got over that. I started as a rhyming cat and I'm still at that..haha

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  2. I've read a number of these blogfest posts this morning, but I've gotta say, I've enjoyed yours the most so far. I really like your honest voice. Please count me in as your newest follower. Nice to meetcha!

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  3. I LOVE Reiki! And I believe in guardian angels, too. GREAT story!

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  4. I love hearing origin stories...glad you came around and realized how not boring writing is! Great post!

    P.S. Awesome last name.

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  5. Pat - the quickest cat off the bat, as always :)
    Susan - wow, thank you, nice to meet you too.
    Emily - Thanks. I can do Reiki too but I just don't do it often.
    SL - Us Hennessy's gotta stick together!

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  6. That was a really unique post. I think there's a lot going on out there that we have no comprehension of. I once had an Indian Head Massage where the guy massaging almost threw up because of the intense emotion he was getting from me! New follower here, looking forward to reading more of your posts.

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  7. Oooh. That's a very interesting origin story! It sounds like you've become prolific once you finally gave in to the writing bug (or--the urgings of those spirits?) :)

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  8. That's funny that our starts both came from Enid. :D I was surprised this weekend to discover she died the year after I was born.

    Awesome story. This is the most original (coolest) one yet!

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  9. Great story, very different from most. Who can argue with the Spirits? Nice to meet you. I'll be back.

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  10. I saw your bio: "A Brit living in CA" and I knew I had to follow you! My MC is a Brit living in the Bay Area and that is a huge part of the story. And my origins story is about my own spirits who wouldn't let me NOT write. Funny how that works sometimes. And I've never checked out Scribd before. Maybe it's time I do.

    Glad I found you through the Origins bloghop.

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  11. Annalisa - arrgh! To be vomited over whilst being given a head massage - what a horrible thought! Thanks for following.
    Sarah - yes, once I get started, it's difficult to stop!
    Stina - Thank you - high praise indeed.
    Farawayeyes - Thank you - the weirdness will go on ... and on and on!
    Nancy - Ooh that sounds good, must read your book. Those Angels are hard to ignore at times (thank goodness!).

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  12. What a refreshing story! I'll have to visit you at Scrbd soon! So glad to have met you via the blogfest, and I'll definitely be back for more! Julie

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  13. Great! I also read much Pollock, but preferred The Secret Seven. Did you know that "Noddy" was also her creation?

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  14. That is an absolutely amazing story. Very cool and original. Thx for sharing.

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  15. Okay...you win the award for the most unusual ORIGIN. The spirits made me do it! LOL Thank you for sharing it with us. :)

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  16. Empty Nest - thanks and hope you visit Scribd. It is such a great resource and place to find and connect with other writers.
    Unknown (lol) - Noddy is my fav - I don't think I knew that she created him! Secret Seven was my top one too, along with Mallory Towers.
    Mina - thanks :)
    DL - Ha ha I am totally blame-free for my writing!

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  17. Awesome Origins. Those spirits sure are smart for pushing you to write. :)
    Great to meet you on this blogfest.

    your newest follower,
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  18. What an interesting story. Hmm, maybe you should write about that too! Thanks for sharing Claire!

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  19. Nutschell - Thanks for coming past and reading my story and following. Nice to meet you too.
    Kerri - Thanks - yes, I would love to hear your origins. It's a great idea and has been so interesting to read everyone's inspiration to start writing.

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  20. Wow, advice from the Beyond! That's amazing. Glad you started -- because yes, it is fun!

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  21. Thank for sharing your story! keep it up and don't stop writing.

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  22. Interesting post but not what I had in mind for my blogfest. I meant to link to your first blog post or write about that first blog. This is someones elses party.

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