Assignment #1 Dina

My name is Dina, and I'm a writer. Some days, I even believe this; other days, I think I'm deluding myself. I've wanted to be a writer ever since I was a little girl, reading incessantly and writing in my journal that I was going to be a writer when I grew up and travel the world (In my mind, the two were synonymous.). I have the journal entries to prove this!

However, I'm 38 and still writing in my journal that I'm going to be a writer when I grow up. I have the journal entries to prove it! As several others wrote in previous blogs, I have numerous unfinished novels, a finished novella, some finished short stories, poems, and a novel-in-progress all saved on my hard drive, various disks, even a few floppy disks that no longer fit in any of my computers. The only readers I've had so far are classmates, friends, and my ever-supportive mother.

I got serious about my writing a few years ago when I realized how quickly time was passing without my realizing the dream of being a published novelist. I applied to KSU's graduate program and here I am, trying to improve my writing and reach my goal. I'm not going to simply write that I want to be a writer but actually become a writer.

I do technical writing for my job and recently took on some freelance technical writing as well. When I got my first freelance job writing a technical video, one of my friends said, "Oh my god, you're actually getting paid to write!" I had to laugh because he was right. I was getting paid to write; I do get paid to write. But I still don't really think of myself as a writer because I'm not getting paid to write what I want to write.

I don't think I'll think of myself as a "real" writer until I become a published novelist, getting paid to write what I want to write. Until then, I'll continue to write to pay the bills and, in my spare time, I'll write what I want - no matter how hard and hopeless it seems. One day perhaps I'll get paid to write what I want to write, maybe even paid enough to realize my other dream of travelling the world! Then I can proudly say, "My name is Dina, and I'm a writer." For now, I'll continue to mumble it self-consciously and pray that I have the determination and the talent to succeed.