Writing | Page 2

The WIFM Under the Hats

Yesterday, at the very end of the WIFM post, I suggested that what’s in it for you might be under the hats. You’re probably wondering what in the world that means. So, let me try to explain.

I’ve worn a lot of hats.

(Not literally. Hats don’t look too good on me usually. Unlike one of my favorite bloggers, Havi, over at The Fluent Self who appears to be stunningly gorgeous in any hat she puts on.)

But I’ve done a lot of different things in my life. I’ve occasionally been surprisingly successful. Sometimes, I even meant to be. I’ve also stood in my own way with truly astonishing frequency.

You might find some of what I’ve learned helpful in your own journey. There’s a good chance that something in my life might resonate with something in yours. I’ve certainly done enough different things.

I’ve been a cashier and a secretary.

I’ve been a business owner.

I’ve been an actor and a director, an award-winning playwright and an audition coach.

I’ve written fiction and non-fiction—and gotten some of it published. (More to come!)

I’ve done some programming, website design and software training.

I’ve been down the Intercoastal Waterway in a 20 ft boat. (19 days on the water. On a 20 ft boat. With my husband. Still married. Achievement comes in many forms!)

I’ve been on my co-op board for like half of my natural life. (Maybe it just seems that way.)

I’ve been an extra on a Law & Order grand jury, and I’ve actually been the foreperson of a real jury. (Wow! Was that an experience!)

I took up exercise at the ripe old age of 44 (or 45). (Part of that “ripe old age” thing is that you don’t always remember exactly when something happened.) So, I’m not a jock, but I know some things about physical (un)fitness.

I’ve chickened out of lots of opportunities and seized a few. Some of them worked out great! (For example, I once stood at a stage-door and asked one of my favorite actresses in the world to read my play and got so incredibly lucky that she did a reading of it. Talk about taking a fire walk! There’s gonna be a fire walk post. Count on it.)

I’ve met with Broadway producers and Bowery bums.

I’ve lived in Sunnyside in New York City and creekside in Florida.

I’ve been married for 20 years. Or more. (Sometimes, it seems like a lot more. Those of you married any length of time know what I’m talking about.)

The whole thing has been quite an adventure – for someone who is basically a couch potato. Then again — “All serious daring starts from within.” –Eudora Welty

And this blog is another adventure. If you want to come along, we’re just going to set out on the Yellow Brick Road and see where it takes us. It’s probably going to start out in a tiny, tiny spiral pattern, almost turning in on itself. And then it’ll open up and branch out into cornfields and forests and castles with Wicked Witches and Wonderful Wizards along the way. Or head off into some other worlds entirely. You never know what you’ll find!

See you tomorrow! On the road. Wearing our hats.

Welcome to my very first blog post!

It’s a little scary to launch a new endeavor–especially one so fraught with narcissism as blogging. You know those voices in your head? The ones that like to shout–or, more often, whisper insidiously–Just who do you think you are?

Well, they are working overtime today.

Who do you think you are to start blogging? To have a website? A bookstore? Who do you think would ever be interested in anything you have to say? What’s wrong with you?

But I’ve decided to tell the Tyrannosaurus Chatterboxicus to sit down and shut up.

I would like to point out to that garrulous TC that I am interested in what I have to say, and that’s enough. If nothing else, this should get me writing a bit every day. And if other people decide to come along, that will be great.

There may be interesting things here.

I’ll be talking about writing and creativity and what gets in the way. I’ll be talking about theatre and what I’ve learned as an actor, a director, a playwright. I’ll be talking about computers and website design and the bruises I’ll be getting from beating my head against the brick wall of trial-and-error programming.

I’ll be talking about visibility–oh, the shame of poking your head up and saying, “Here I am. Look at me.“–and having to combine all manner of esoteric business-like disciplines (marketing, pr, research, compliance, data design, accounting, etc.) with all manner of other esoteric creative-like disciplines (plot, theme, structure, imagination) into the more or less coherent whole of an Artist Entrepreneur.

Sometimes I’ll be talking about how hard all that is, and sometimes I’ll be pointing out some tricks and tools that have made it easier for me–and might work for you. And sometimes I’ll probably just be talking, and we’ll all wonder what the heck I’m talking about.

I’m learning this blogging software as I go along. Weird things will happen. The TC wants me to wait until I understand it perfectly, but you know and I know that just means it will never get off the ground.

Leap, and the net will appear. — John Burroughs

I’m leaping.

Bookmark this site if you want to see what happens next.

Elaine Smith Writes

Anything She Wants

Tag Archives: Writing

Hats

And. . .we’re off!