On Writing, Twitter & Connections

I have a friend.

His name is Kevin Pauls. (shameless plug for an amazing talent, but I digress...)

Said friend has always jumped on every new social networking avenue. He then posts that he has joined with these different venues. In order to see what he's posted, you have to create an account, or sign up, or whatever. So basically I have accounts and half-done profiles on all kinds of social networking sites, just so I can see what he's up to these days. (I should say a quick 'Thanks' to the artist formerly known as Kev...aka  @LiveProducer for dragging me along to keep up with what's current...obviously would never have gotten there myself!)

Twitter was one such animal.

I had an account. It was only because he had posted something on there a year ago, or something like that. I never visited again.

Then one of the coolest women I know @CountryDuncan (my sister) joined Twitter and my life has never been the same.

I have to say that I'm kind of happy that this was not around through my teenage years. I would have been lost in my room twittering like mad to every famous person I thought I could be best friends with.....like Lisa Welchel (I actually went so far to write her a letter saying that because we both played the piano I'm sure we could be the closest of friends!!! )

These days, I'm no less star-hungry to find out about people I enjoy, or am interested in from afar. However, I am a bit more realistic about everyone finding in me their new kindred spirit.

Over the years, I've also wanted to try my hand at writing. I dabble, scribble, rip up, shred, journal and outline ad nauseum. Afore-mentioned cool woman, Rebecca, listens patiently year after year as I whine and lament about how I should be writing, why am I not writing, here's my new writing-what do you think? It really is craziness.

So, this is the year. The writing happens. Whatever is clamoring for a voice inside must get out.

What pulls this all together for me is when I discovered that I can connect, be encouraged, and spurred on by other writers via Twitter. So in one day, I'm standing in the bookstore, pretty much overwhelmed at how EVERYONE is writing something or other...where would my voice fit in. Shaking my head, I go home to find writers and authors and publishers are still at it. Still writing. Still finding voices. Still grinding it out day after day. Even the frustrating, non-writing days. Amazing.

So...the voices are calling. The bookstore shelves are full...at least for today. Tomorrow is a different story, however. Tomorrow there will be room for my voice and then maybe I can be that voice of determination and endurance for some poor up-and-comer who laments how all the stories have been written already.

Whoever that might be, they'll find me as @misspamyla

....and I'll still be writing.