My FIrst Rule For Writing

We journey through our lives making our choices, dealing with choices beyond our control: life happenings that impact our futures,  and we come to the senior side where we gain a new understanding of “tomorrow is not guaranteed and has never been promised”.

Grab the moments and follow your passions and dreams. It is not surprising that some of our passions and dreams have changed. Some have not. We still want to be with the loves of our lives and pursue the activities and endeavours that have been refined and realistic to the challenges of our old age.

I am almost 76 years old and I am a writer. What does that look like?

• I set my own writing rules.

• I set my own time and place and space

• I know there is not enough time left to become famous and that’s okay

• I share my stories with others

• I submit stories to magazines - print and online

• I wrote a collection of family stories to be published this year

• I write microfiction, flash fiction and have a mystery novel in the works

• I am a lifelong learner, always striving to improve my craft: I will learn from the experts, courses, conferences and fellow writers

Why this blog? Why Gates Open?

I want to connect with you, whether you are a senior writer like me or a young, dynamic author who is setting the literary world ablaze.

I want to connect with you wherever you live and whatever you write as we share tips and tricks, stories and poems, thoughts and reflections on our life-changing role of being writers and published or almost published authors.

We will open all the gates and pathways and travel literary roads together. Perhaps they will be light or dark; quick or slow; well travelled or seldom seen before. Whatever unfolds, it will always be the path with heart.  My nickname is also Gates so let’s do this. It’s time for Gates Open!

Today, I will begin with  this question:

What is your first rule of writing? What is the most important self-imposed rule that works for you?

Here is mine:

1. Write, write, and write. Don’t wait for inspiration. Discipline is the key. Remember that I love writing and it is fun. Work hard. Don’t give up.

Oh, it seems there are several rules in this one. It is fun, but not always. It is hard work, but not always. I like the idea of ‘write, write and write”. This is the key to my discipline. How many times have I said to myself, just start writing and be free and how many times have I been I been surprised at how much I accomplished?

I will not give up because…I do love to write.

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