Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor…I remember
going through the list of trades and wondering what I’d be when I grew up. I even let my fingers “do the walking”
through the yellow pages. When I
graduated from high school, I thought a job, any job, would be fine as long as
I earned some money to have my own apartment and a car. Banking gave me that at the age of nineteen but
there was no satisfaction; no happiness; no fulfillment. In my early thirties,
I began searching and pondering what I should do with my life. Tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor…
Then in 1986, an advertisement caught my
eye. Take this test, it read, and see if
you have the potential to become a writer.
Wow! A writer! It sounded romantic and exciting. Maybe I would become a famous writer. My books would hit the top of the best seller
list world wide. I’d travel first class
everywhere, dodging flashing cameras and fans fighting for my attention. Naturally I signed up for the test. After all, I had future fans waiting. I
scored well on the test. Apparently I
showed some promise. Whether I actually did show talent or not, I did learn
much from the correspondence writing course through the Institute of Children’s
Literature. It was my beginning to the
world of writing. I’m glad I enrolled.
I continued learning by taking various
courses, attending workshops, reading books about writing and joining writing
groups. I practiced and practiced, and
finally one day I had a piece published.
I was excited to see my name and work in print. But it wasn’t the big
times. I wasn’t famous. Probably only a hand-full of people read my
work after which they couldn’t remember my name. Shirley who?
Since then, I’ve had numerous pieces
published and I’ve won a few awards. Obviously,
someone thinks my writing has some worth or that I show some hint of
talent. But I’m not famous; hardly
known. I’ve enjoyed this learning path
and continue to enjoy learning about writing.
Even if, someday, I write the world’s best novel, article, or whatever,
will it really be “the best”? I doubt
it. Someone will find fault with
it. I probably will find fault with
it. Writing is about learning, growing,
and improving. Now that I’m grown up,
I’m a …tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor…writer!
Yes, a writer! I’m not famous but
very happy to be a writer.
I think one's satisfaction is the real measuring stick. Thanks for the post and the reminder.
ReplyDeleteFamously happy to be a writer! Life is really a multitude of learning. Thank you for making writing a focused subject!
ReplyDeleteLove your content, Shirley. But I especially enjoyed your design in this piece - the running thread of tinker, tailor, soldier, sailor. I was thrilled when you brought it to the final conclusion, adding 'writer'. Design in writing! Powerful!
ReplyDeleteSounds like you are content right where you are as far as popularity but not as far as learning and growth. That's a good reminder for me. Thanks for keeping me honest with myself.
ReplyDeleteI too liked your Tinker, Tailor. . . refrain carried through and adding writer at the end. I too am only a legend in my own lunch box, as a friend of mine would say, but I too have many a mile to go and I have travelled more miles than I have left. That is a reality, but my striving is in God's hands and will have to follow his schedule. Thanks for composing your thoughts for us.
ReplyDeleteIt's not the number of people that read our work that's important. It's the people, however few, that God has prepared to read our work and receive new life from it that matters. To fulfill that call to us is success. I think for most of us, that's all that is required
ReplyDelete