Welcome to the Writer's Den. Where you'll find some interesting facts, and hopefully have a chuckle or two. Thanks for

stopping by, and feel free to drop me a line. I can be reached at tavonreiman@tavonreiman.net.

Write What You Love, Love What You Write

I'm sure you've all heard this before, but I really think it merits another word or two.

Let's face it, we all write because we love to, but it's nice to make a few sales along the way. This is why it's so easy to fall into the current trend of writing. One day it's mysteries, the next it's fantasy, and the list goes on. Unfortunately, trying to follow what's in can be the death of a promising writing career. Not to speak of the fact that it takes all the fun out of writing and can be very unfulfilling.

I recently fell into this black hole, and I can tell you I'll never do it again.

I'm a fiction writer, and this is what I love to do. Bringing out the vivid characters that my imagination creates and giving them a purpose is what it's all about for me. However, I have read many articles and been on various writer's blogs that plainly state that getting a fiction story published is near impossible. They all advise that a new writer should start with non-fiction. It made sense really. They say that you should focus on a subject you know and write about it. Sounds easy enough. So I decided to give it a try. I put aside the various pieces of fiction that I was working on, and decided to write a management book. I was in management for many years and I have several techniques that I was sure would be useful, so I began to put my notes together. Writing down all that I knew wasn't hard at all, so I began to feel some excitement about my new project, that is until I sat down to write.

I stared at the blank pages for hours. Then I would write a few sentences and look it over. I hit the delete button and started over again. I agonized with this ordeal for several weeks. All the time missing the time I had spent with my lively characters and exciting stories before I took on this monster called non-fiction.

I was frustrated to say the least. I had been a very good manager, and I had forms and notes that had helped me through many trials, but for some reason I just couldn't put them on paper. Finally, I decided to go back to my fiction writing and let my notes set for awhile.

I cannot describe to you the thrill it was to return to the writing that I truly loved. I wrote for hours on end and finished off two of the books that I had started. It was like coming home, and I vowed to never leave this sanctuary I had found.

As far as my notes. They are still neatly filed away. Perhaps some day I'll find someone who can put them together in the manner they deserve. It won't be me, but maybe there's someone out there that thrives on the true words of non-fiction.

I did learn a valuable lesson though, and one I won't soon forget. As any writer knows, writing is a very personal experience. What thrills one, may repulse another, and if you can't enjoy what you're doing then why do it at all. We're sure not in it for the money, so a little fulfillment is the least we can expect. So from now on I'll be writing what I love and love what I write instead of shopping around for the newest trend.

Thanks for the read, and I hope to see you again real soon.

T.A. Von Reiman