Way Out In Left

Point 1: If the journal is only to force yourself to write, then make it part of your weekly routine, much like paying the bills. For instance, you mentioned that Friday is set aside to pay your bills, otherwise you would forget. By that same token, you could take Tuesday (a non-softball night) and set aside an hour or 2 to just write. Or, instead of watching TV, write. Or, instead of writing constant emails (case in point: today), set time aside to write.

Point 2: If you love the finished product, just think of the gratification that a novel, book of short stories, children's book, or even a poem could bring should it ever get published. Let me use this analogy if you will: You say that you hate the writing part (i.e., working to get a finished product), but you like the feeling that you get when you actually do write. Now compare that to softball. Much like writing, you seem to like/love softball. Each takes work to get to the end product whether it is a well-written story or a win, correct? However, on Sunday night (the first game) you showed disgust by accepting the victory by defeat when the other team had to forfeit. Why was that? If you are only satisfied with the result, then that should have been the ideal way to go about achieving it, but that was not the case. What makes the victory better is the effort that it takes to achieve the victory (see game 2). Okay, now how is that relevant? Let me summarize: If you love to write, then don't let the little things stand in the way of the big picture. Also, look at it in this perspective: If it was easy to write something worthwhile that made you feel good and also that other people enjoyed, don't you think that everyone would be doing it?

Point 3: Can you honestly tell me that the only reason that you consistently write Way Out in Left is solely for your friends or a handful of people to read? I didn't think so. If that was true, then couldn't you very easily just leave the writing in a Word Document and email it to Matt and Max and whoever else? By putting your journals out there shows initiative to me (at least) and if you actually read any of what you wrote, then you would notice in that a great many of the entries you mention that you don't want to be a CVS babysitter the rest of your life. I don't mean to be blunt, but how is that going to happen without a conscious effort? Now, I'm not in any way saying stop writing the journal because I--like your other friends--enjoy reading it, but if it truly is your dream to write for a living then don't give that dream up because you say you are too lazy. Stick to your guns with the last statement in your email: "And maybe--just maybe--through this journal I'll either hit on something that I write that I actually like to write *and* am good at writing." You deserve to do something in life that you have a passion for and the capability to achieve.

Now that I have probably totally offended you, I will actually attempt to do some work. I bet you're pleased now that you had to stalk an opinionated over-achiever, aren't you?? How's that for an email? Remember that you said you didn't mind my pestering… :)

-B

To: Beth
From: His Royal Dorkiness
Subject: Re: Have An Email

Wow.