Sometimes Being a Writer Should Mean So Much More

What does it truly mean to be a writer? For many, the term conjures images of authors or journalists and their professional pursuits. However, writing is not solely defined by financial remuneration, but rather by one's experiences and the intricate influences of the stories and individuals that inspire us. If being a writer were limited to published works alone, it is likely that most of our voices would remain unheard. 

From an early age, I demonstrated a talent for storytelling, often imagining complex worlds and populating them with compelling characters. My narratives were so convincing that others sometimes questioned whether I could distinguish between reality and the realms of my own imagination. 

At one point, my parents arranged for me to meet with a psychologist, concerned that this issue needed urgent attention. They feared I might struggle to form friendships and that others would misunderstand me due to a perceived lack of awareness about everyday life. In reality, however, my stories were neither harmful nor frightening delusions; instead, they reflected the individuals who entered and exited my life each day, contributing to a complex web of human interaction and natural design. 

My good friend Lindsay often would shake her head and she and her twin sister would take turns trying desperatley to screw my head back on my shoulders to prevent me from being a lone wolf in a sea of people at Westlawn Jr High in Edmonton. I had always told her that one day she would understand that to live a life the way I did was to extract every ounce of who we all are and were. 

Now that we are both seniors and embarking on our respective journeys, she recognises the intent behind my actions and comprehends why I integrated her so significantly into the fabric of our lives, as well as the subjects I addressed in my writings even from a distance of 3,000 kilometres. 

I am not certain that my writing was frequently acknowledged or appreciated by her or others, nor am I sure they recognised themselves as characters in the stories I shared. However, as no one has objected thus far, I believe I am relatively safe at this point. 

You see that is what it is to be a writer its not the money its not the accolades or awards its this this wonderful tapestry that those who have walked through your life many of them never to be seen again 

The most accomplished writers—such as Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Shakespeare—are renowned for their exceptional ability to weave subtlety into their work, often drawing upon authentic experiences. While I do not claim to share their mastery, I acknowledge the inspiration provided by a talented baritone saxophonist, whose self-belief and stories contributed significantly to my creative process. 

I am convinced that if those experiences and the individuals involved had not been permitted to flourish within my imagination, my writing would lack substance and merely consist of words submitted for evaluation at the conclusion of class. 

Contrary to that belief, my words represent countless lives; each one is like a note in a symphony, a life poised to embrace experiences yet to unfold.