Thursday, April 18, 2013

Origin of writing


My earliest true exposure to writing was probably around the age of 27 when I became secretary of a small town Industrial Developmental Authority.  I wrote all the marketing information to attract potential businesses to our little city.  Success brought attention and the invitation to write magazine articles on our success.  That attention planted a seed in the back of my brain to write a mystery rather than read them.  That seed would germinate for the next 15 years as I rose in another career.  That career brought me to Indianapolis as a District Manager, and after I had been here a few years, I brought that seed out of the back of my brain and planted it.  I began my dream of writing.  I actually had burned  100 pages into the novel when the unexpected happened; I lost my job.  Emotionally, my life was devastated.   All my self-confidence was gone.  I was not worthy of another decent job.  I went out and drove a cab.  It would be just temporary.  Weeks turned to months.  Writing stopped.  As I adjusted, I looked around.  The people and the neighborhoods talked to me.  They gave me a different story.  They gave me an idea of a better novel.  They gave me the idea of The Zealot.

5 comments:

  1. Keith,

    I envy your cabbie job. The only job better for a writer might be barbering. Oh, yeah, I forgot, and bartending.

    Kristen

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  2. I know! Bartending, driving a cab, maybe being a therapist--great jobs for writers.

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  3. Agatha Christie got some of her ideas while working alongside her husband on his archeological digs.

    Ok...that one may be unique!

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  4. Nothing funny to say here, my friend. We've both come a long way from those early days. I glad to have you there on the frontline with me. Mainly so you can take the flack, but still....:D

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  5. keith, clear and consise. i liked it! annie

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