Meet Liz, a terrific gal I met first through online means, then in person two years ago at a celebration honoring Emilie Lemmons, a mutual writing friend who brought us together in a sense after her early death at age 40. It’s been a privilege connecting with Liz and seeing her writing take off these past couple years, and it’s really no surprise, since Liz has a bit of author in her genes. Well, why don’t I just let Liz speak for herself? Without further adieu…
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| Liz Paul, wife, mother, blogger |
When I was in Elementary School my mom had an idea; an idea for a children’s book. Now many people think they can sit down and write a children’s book any old time, but the reality is that much work goes into a “simple” 32-page picture book. My mom’s idea wasn’t entirely out in left field, however. She’d been writing poetry for years with some local success. Still, this idea sparked her journey as a children’s author.
Being her oldest child and an avid reader myself, I became the natural guinea pig for her books. She would read them aloud to me. I would read them to myself, too, and I’d share my opinions. As I grew older, my mother continued to ask my opinion and often took my words and advice to heart. Watching her, I knew that writing was work even though it was fun and creative, too. I’ve seen her spend two weeks agonizing about a phrase or a word of a book. Two weeks spent on a single word, but her work and editing and persistence paid off, and in 1991 her first book was published: Good Night Feet. These have been followed by One for Me, One for you (under her pen name) and Waking Day. She has since moved away from children’s books and into writing hymns and church music. She still has a large number of stories in the editing process and someday plans to send them out again to see if they can be published.
I am proud of my mother and admire her work, but this is not her story. Roxane asked me to share my writing journey and mine feels much different. Growing up with my mother, I knew writing was work but fruitful work, but it wasn’t my work. I was a reader, MAYBE an editor type, but certainly not a writer. In high school papers were agonizing for me, made even more agonizing by having a writer as my proofreader. And yet I have always been drawn to the written word. Though I didn’t write as a child, I read everything in sight, drinking it in.
In college I majored in English (and religion and math, but those are other stories) due to my love of reading. But while my classes all had numerous papers required, I did not take a single creative writing course. Through college and, later, seminary, I was content to read, think and respond.
Then I went out in the working world and my life was shaken. I was working for a church and quickly learned that just because you work for a Christian organization, that does not mean cruel, demeaning and belittling people don’t exist in that world. I felt a little trapped in a job I needed, in a career I enjoyed, but surrounded by a small handful of people who made it clear that my real, whole, self was not welcomed.
As a result, I turned to my online community of friends and, following their lead, began a blog. I honestly didn’t know what I was getting myself into. I felt I wasn’t a writer, but I needed a space to be wholly me. So I began blogging, and while it didn’t lessen the pain of my job, it kept me sane and knowing who I was. I wrote about silly things, political things and all sorts of random thoughts on a variety of topics, including weight loss, pregnancy and eventually motherhood. (I was careful not to write about my job situation, of course. I might have been struggling, but I wasn’t stupid.)
I’ve been writing now for six years on that blog, and little by little it has changed my perspective of myself. I am no longer just a reader; I am a writer, too. I write for me, to help me process life and see things in a new way, but as my blog continues I find I am starting to really identify myself as a writer. Book ideas are popping into my head. I’ve taken a writing class online and have started taking some of my writing offline. I’m a long way from being published, or even having something worth publishing, but the change has begun. I’m not “just” a reader anymore; I have things to say, so I say them.
My blogging has taken an interesting turn lately, which I am working to process. After nearly six years at the job that made blogging so necessary to me, I found a new church last summer; a church that knows and relishes me for who I am. Since then my blogging has been less about clinging to a sense of self and more about growing myself to new and unknown reaches. Writing is a part of that for me now. Suddenly two weeks spent on one word seems a little more realistic. I’m not quite there yet, but at the same time I can’t quite imagine my life straying too far from this writing path. The what and the how may be questions for me, but I’ve settled on the why. I am a writer. It is part of my true self; a part that I didn’t even know was there until I was forced to find it.
Writing saved me from despair. Melodramatic perhaps, but true. So I continue to write and wonder what gifts writing will bring me next.
A few of my favorite posts:
· Soap
Thanks, Liz, for sharing with such honesty! That’s often a huge part of our journey isn’t it, the recognition of our identity as writers.
Q4U: Got any questions for Liz? And while you’re at it, what do you think makes a writer a writer?
Beautiful! My friend(and famous writer) Iain Thomas once said something to the effect of, “You can be the best writer…all you have to do, is tell the truth. It’s the most beautiful thing you can write.” (I’m sure I butchered the paraphrase.
Thanks for telling the truth, Liz. You rule. <3
First of all, of course, you’re a writer. This post alone could be published in a magazine for women. I’m glad you found your voice through writing. That’s how I found mine.
Second, I’m sorry for the unhealthy experience you had in a church. I’ve been there, too, and it’s shocking and hurtful and does make you feel like you’re going to despair. How could people of the church be so cruel? I’ll never understand it.
Third, Geek is the new Cool!
Write on!
M.
So glad that I took a few minutes to catch up on some of the blog posts that I missed…as, I too, have struggled with can I be a writer or not, I appreciate your honesty. I agree with Mary…this post is wonderful! Best wishes on your future writing journey!