Why am I doing this?

Why am I writing a blog?

The short answer is that it is supposedly a good way to get your name out as a writer and an easy way to market your work.

The long answer is a little more complicated. Well..... if I'm honest to myself, I would probably consider it a lot more complicated.

I spent lots and lots of money I didn't have to get a "fabulous" college education from a magnificent institution that would open worlds of opportunity to me. Let's just say that fairy tale didn't come true. I did get a job and was making the money I was promised, but before I had worked three years in this supposed lifelong career, I lost my job to a computer. To say I was disappointed, was an understatement.

What do I do now?

I started to look for work that matched my college degree and while I was searching took a minimum wage job. I finally was offered a position in my "career" which was part-time, very part-time. Now I have all this time on my hands and a limited budget.

How can I make some extra money in my time off from work?

Write a book! I naively thought I would be able to do this easily.  I have thought about it many times and didn't want to dedicate any of my time to it. Now, I'm sitting at home twiddling my thumbs trying to decide what to do with my time. It's the perfect opportunity to write my best-selling novel I've dreamt about. I'm an intelligent person. I've read lots of books. I know what I like when I read. This should be no problem for me.

WRONG!

I sat and stared at the blank paper. I have no idea what to write about. I love to read fantasy and science fiction, but I have no ideas for a plot or even a good character to start the story. How am I supposed to get to 500 pages when I can't even come up with the first page, not even a first sentence? Maybe I should start with something easier. My goal then changed from a best-selling novel to a 24 page illustrated children's book.

OK, I've now got an attainable goal. I think. I might be able to do this. How hard can it be to write a few pages with just a couple of sentences on them? The answer: harder than you think. I did eventually muddle through and a year after I self-published this "masterpiece" I have now made about eight dollars, but I am an author! (Cue trumpet fanfare and confetti shower).

I still hope to one day write an entire novel. I do finally have some ideas rolling around in my brain, but as of yet have not put a syllable on paper.