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Life of a Writer Mom Column November 2002 Column Signs Along the Writing Road Most writers, I know this one for sure, every so often let the what ifs plague their mind. What if the writing isn’t good enough? What if I never sell another article? What if I’m happily plummeting down a dead end road? Yet when the what ifs creep into my mind, I start reading the road signs. They often give me goosebumps and the courage to keep going. Understand it wasn’t me but my daughter who first started noticing these road signs. Let me explain by example. At one point I hit a low spot with Across Lots. My characters, Claire and Micah, weren’t going anywhere no matter how much I wrote and I had yet to find a publisher. As we were driving home from my mother’s I was discussing the situation with Samantha. “Maybe I should just give up on the idea,” I said to her. “Look Mom,” she said as she pointed to a church outside her window. Above the door was a plaque, which I assume was dedicated to the original minister of the church. This minister’s first name? Micah. Perhaps here, I should pause to mention that my daughter’s favorite movie is Sleepless in Seattle. She looked at me and said “Mom, it’s a sign.” “OK,” I said, smiling at my daughter, “to humor you I won’t give up.” Shortly thereafter Newenglandwow.com offered to serialize Across Lots. Coincidence you may say. Maybe. Now though I too am starting to notice the road signs. The phrase “It’s a sign” has become a favorite between my daughter and I. When recently writing a nonfiction article about a Civil War veteran, I found myself strolling through a cemetery. Upon turning a corner what should I see but a grave marked with the name Abbie. Abbie also happens to be the name of one of the main characters in my new book. Yesterday, before bringing my daughter, a Girl Scout, to march in a local parade, I was lamenting the fact that I needed to find someone from the Nipmuc Nation to give me more information on their tribe and customs. Who should I see while strolling Main Street, Athol? A person wearing a t-shirt which proudly proclaimed she was a member of the Nipmuc Nation. Yes and like any good mother and writer, I embarrassed the children, caught up with the woman and introduced myself. We exchanged e-mail addresses and I walked away smiling to myself once again. One more sign to my daughter and I that I’m headed down the right path. Even if I have no idea where I’ll end up. Carla Charter is mom to Samantha (11), Halden (4), and Mathew (3). In addition to being a mom, Carla is a freelance writer specializing in newspaper and magazine journalism. Among her publication credits are Woman's World, American Indian Report and New England Business Journal. Online she has been published in Scubasource.com and Military.com. She teaches creative writing courses at Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner, Ma. Recently her novel Across Lots has been serialized at http://www.newenglandwow.com. She may be reached at cjfreelancewriter@earthlink.net. |
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