Fri, 03 Apr 2020 20:20:46 -0700WeeblyMon, 16 Jan 2017 18:57:37 GMThttp://www.claranilesdorsey.com/my-blogspot/writing-thoughtsA few years ago I retired from teaching and since I love to read decided that maybe I could write a book. Who knows?  I love American history, especially Westerns, so I started with a short scene.  I picked a heroine who I called Lisabeth.  She was on a wagon train and was about to tell her husband that she suspected that she was having a baby.   The story progressed for a few pages and seemed to make sense.  There was no real plot or ending---just a day in her life.  I laid it aside and finished my teaching career. 
One day after retirement I decided to take that story as the idea for a book.  I had no plan, no characters in mind, and no idea where it would go.  I just started writing and eventually it was 50 pages, then 100 pages and I kept adding more and more characters, more and more story, and more and more thoughts that I should add that and that.  Finally I really had what looked like a book without a real ending.  After that I began to add, subtract, research the times, and asked friends to read it to see if it was good or bad writing. 
There were times when I became discouraged with it.  I put it down and let it rest.  I put this book through the ringer.  I took an adult creative writing class at the local career center, attended a writing class at the local public library, and joined a critique group.  These have all been extremely valuable and I thank God for them.  I attended two writer’s conferences in the last few years and learned a lot from that.  I joined the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers).  I also joined Roman Writers of America.
I am not finished with the story yet.  I have a lot to learn about how to write, but I am learning daily.
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