Have you ever tried riding a bike and struggled to get the hang of it? Did you find a new craft, hobby, or sport and find the thought of failure easier to contend with rather than to keep struggling?
If so, you will completely understand my post. Due to time constraints, we were asked (at a recent WCCW meeting) to write a short story in the Western genre, which we could share only 750 words during our meeting.
I was born in Texas, lived there for five whole years, was born during a tornado, so writing a Western — not a problem, right? Oh, my stars, it was like trying to get rid of kudzu vines.
I researched, I read Westerns, and I watched Western movies. I can do this. Did you know there is a formula for the livestock-to-acreage ratio? Did you know there are several different styles of wagons used in the Western time frame?
It’s just words; just type the words, I told myself when I finally started my first attempt. I would write and edit, write and edit; the words and storyline would not make sense. It was going nowhere.
I begin my second attempt with a different idea. I channeled my inner Texan and had to git movin’ along puttin’ words on my paper, I told myself.
I had written almost 4,090 words and a complete story when I finished.
Sometimes, it is the attempts we learn the most from, not the successes. I can add another genre to my list of things to write about in the future.
Will it be published? I don’t know. But at least I had the courage to step out and do something out of my comfort realm.
I think I’ll ask Santa for boots and a Stetson for Christmas this year.
- Way Out of My Comfort Zone - December 2, 2024
- Falling Into the Rabbit Hole - October 14, 2024
- Getting Ready to Write - April 1, 2024