I walked out the door today, and was almost startled by the cooler air when it hit me. It was about 70 degrees and absolutely gorgeous, in stark contrast to the miserably hot weeks we’ve had leading up to now. Glancing at the calendar on my desktop, I can see why. We have less than a week left in August. Fall is right around the corner.
Although I love this time of year, it’s always a somewhat bittersweet feeling for me. On one hand, the weather is beautiful, and I always try to spend as much time outdoors as I can. On the other hand, I always seem to look at what remains of the quickly-fading summer and think to myself, “Where did it all go?” Right before the onset of the summer months, I always build up my hopes and start imagining all of the fun “summer stuff” that we will all get to do. Images of barbeques, float trips, ballgames, camping, and other summer-based activities run through my head. Unfortunately, life always seems to throw itself between me, my friends, and my plans. We never get to do as much as I hope, due to conflicting work schedules, family commitments, etc.
Don’t get me wrong. We’ve certainly had float trips, cookouts, and ballgames to attend, just not as many as I had envisioned in my mind’s eye. I suppose the whole idea of “summer vacation” evaporates once you graduate from school and enter the real world.
Also, for some reason, I always tend to become very introspective around this time of year. I don’t really know why, and I can’t explain it, but I always tend to take a step back and look at my life when summer begins to draw to a close. I always feel very grateful for my family, friends, and loved ones, and generally feel a twinge of sadness when I stop to look at how I don’t really get to see them as much as I used to. Maybe it’s the fact that I realize how little I get to see everyone through the summer that brings this to the forefront in my mind.
Also for some reason, the whole, “I want to write,” mindset has been creeping up on me over the past few weeks. I’ve always said that if I could choose any job in the world, it would be to be a successful writer. I say “successful” because it’s a known fact that most people generally don’t make a lot of money writing unless they are either extremely gifted or extremely lucky. Still, it’s always been something I’ve loved to do.
It’s kind of like the movie Office Space. The three main characters are sitting around talking about how they hate their jobs. One of them mentions that his high school counselor gave him some advice.
“Our high school guidance counselor used to ask us what you’d do if you had a million dollars and you didn’t have to work. And invariably, what you’d say was supposed to be your career. So, if you wanted to fix old cars you’re supposed to be an auto mechanic.”
My answer? Mine would be, “I would write.” After all, here I am on my vacation, and look at what I’m doing right this second. I’m writing a blog. All through my childhood, I was always writing short stories and showing them to my mom with pride. Even now, I write on occasion, just for the hell of it. It’s just something I’ve always enjoyed.
I’ve always said that I would love to write a book. Lately, I’ve been giving some serious thought to it. I’ve always had little patience for people who are all talk; the ones who carry on incessantly about things they’d like to do. My response is always, “So do it! Either do it, or shut up about it.” Well… I’m thinking of taking my own advice and giving it a shot. I certainly don’t plan on becoming rich or famous, or quitting my day job. If I happen to get lucky, and some publishing company out there decides to pick it up, even better. But for now, it is just something I would do for my own personal enjoyment. In case you haven’t looked around lately, the real world tends to suck from time-to-time. To me, there’s nothing more satisfying than slipping away into your own world that you’ve created in your mind.
I have people backing me as well. I’ve mentioned it to Jules, and she’s said I should go for it if I wanted to. Even Jonny, my friend who I thought would laugh hysterically about the idea, was totally on board. I’ve been doing more and more reading lately. I even spent a few hours at the library today, gathering ideas and jotting down thoughts.
So yeah… there could be a book on the horizon. I’m not entirely decided on the subject or genre as of yet, but I figure things will fall into place once I get going. After all, if it turns out to be terrible, no one will see it but me!
Anyway, this concludes Mike’s self-reflection and goal analysis for today. I’m going to go eat dinner and watch the Cardinals game. I hope all of you are having a great week.
You should write the prequel to your book first. Is that what it’s called? Or maybe it’s an epilogue. The thing at the beginning of the book that kind of explains the book and gives an intro into it? Just remember when you write a book (because I’ve written one before, when I was about 5 years old that my mom has stored away somewhere) it’s going to be edited, probably a few times, so, Mr. Perfectionist, don’t worry about getting it right the first time. Just get your thoughts down on web-paper and then you can expand/edit them later
Or make a bunch of bullet points of things you want to write about/include in your book, that way you have ideas written down that you can look back at.
Another way is to do the idea-tree. Where you start out with the characters at the top, then branch them down into the ‘plots’ for them…then you can tie the characters together in a plot down the tree a ways, then you can develop the story ideas later since you know how different little stories in the book will end.
I’m also a very good idea-tester. So I think you should open up to me about your book ideas. You know how weird and quirky I am…I can give you good feedback and I can help you with ideas (or not, if you don’t like my weird sense of humor).
Okay… I’ve given my twelve-cents. Looking forward to at least hearing about the type of book you want to write!!
P.S. You shouldn’t do spreadsheets.
I have the same feelings for Summer ending. It finalizes in a same way – Make me reflect – Where did it go, and why don’t I live where its all year round!
I have thought of writing. Blogging has shown me that I may be able to write some witty quips or tell a story, but I’m not a writer. But I do communicate and enjoy blogging and meeting new people.
Do the book! See what you have inside you. It can always be a short story!
Not sure if I’ll be writing during my time off next week. weather permitting!
Im sad this summer is coming to an end. It’s been one of the best summers I’ve ever had, inspite of the insanely hot and humid temperatures. However, I am looking forward to the fall. Its my favorite season of the year.
Hey, that is quite a bit of introspection for summer, STOP IT, you will make the rest of us look like numb nuts.
Any post with an Office Space reference is good with me.
You can write and you should write a book if you want to. Do it now, while your free time still belongs to you. After you have kids, it’s hard to find time to do the things you wish you could do. Oh, it’s a very worthwhile trade-off, but now is probably your best chance for actually getting something done. I’ve always wished to write a book, but I can’t seem to find the time, the quiet or the privacy to really delve into it. Or maybe I’m just chicken. So don’t you be chicken. Go for it, Mike! I’ll be the first in line to buy your book when it’s published.
I’d write for yourself first and see if it is really what you want. I’ve written two books and booklet in my lifetime. Two were for business and one was a fantasy for fun. The later was very early in my life and I actually made some feeble attempts and getting it published but it wasn’t done well enough and was a bit kooky. The business book and book let are being used today. I don’t really sell them but use them for business development and marketing. It was a lot of work. It’s not so much the writing but the editing that really takes time in order to come up with a clean, readable, flowing text.
Go for it.