I’ve been paid by a few local newspapers over the years for writing an article here and there (as I do now for Elgin Life). I covered Elgin County Council meetings for the Weekly News until a few months before it was sold, and was once paid $850 for writing a murder mystery as a  fundraiser for a local political riding association.

Beyond articles, I write for the same reason I sometimes interrupt people, or dominate a conversation: something’s got me excited and, like a kid in a candy store, I can’t help expressing what’s bubbling up inside. Sadly, that motivation to write tends to pass as quickly as the urge is satisfied.

Considering my typical reason for writing, I can’t say I really have ‘intended readers’.  When I worked in Communications years ago, one of the prime rules for publishing anything was ‘know your audience’. I don’t think that matters much for what I just described. However, I retired early with the express purpose of writing my memoir, and for that I probably ought to figure out who my audience is.

All my life people have been telling me I should write a book. I’ve always tended to be a maverick and an adventurer. One or the other has led me into plenty of trouble and travel… and produced a plethora of fun, funny, and even fascinating stories to share.

But the spontaneity that tends to trigger my writing isn’t there for my memoir. As a result, I’ve barely touched it the last five years.

When I’m in the mood to write, the words pour out of me… in the beginning. Within an hour I generally start second-guessing everything. For that reason I’ve learned to write a bit, then set it aside for a bit. Five years seems overlong, though.

I’ve been paid by a few local newspapers over the years for writing an article here and there (as I’m doing now for Elgin Life). I covered Elgin County Council meetings for the Weekly News until a few months before it was sold. I was once paid $850 for writing a murder mystery as a fundraiser for a prominent local political riding. Oh, and an actress won an award in the London One Act Festival (LOAF) through a script I wrote… if that means anything.

But the memoir? Pfft. It’s all about me. That changes everything.