Before I was a writer...

Before I was a writer I never pretended to eat the dog. Um...... maybe I did. Writing can't be blamed for all my craziness. Can it?! Here's a random list of other things that may or may not have happened before I was a writer.

Before I was a writer....

1. I burnt dinner for all sorts of reasons. But never because there was an amazing scene in my head just begging to be typed.
2. notebooks were for writing shopping listings and reminders. We had one. Two at the most and they lived on the kitchen bench. Now we have... oh, a million. And they are hiding in every nook and cranny.
3. Feelings welled up inside me and had nowhere to productive the vent. Journalling is great, but creating a whole world of characters that are held captive in my head and are forced to deal with whatever crap I want to throw at them is pure bliss.
4. I had a job that paid.
5. Something gnawed at the back of my mind. Like there was something I had forgotten to do or someone I forgot I wanted to be.
6. I thought punctuation and grammar were for the weak. Now I appreicate my weakness with punctuation and grammar AND I try my level best to get it right. I'm still trying... I have an editor now. God knows I need one! Thank you, my wonderful sister-in-law.
7. There was a waste land in my life begging to be filled with words. I breathed, but it was very shallow.
8. My family were never sure where to find me. Now it's a sure bet that I'll be in front of the computer.
9. We didn't run out of coffee cups because they were languishing on every possible surface in my office.
10. My abusive childhood had no way to be seen. My pain had no words and my memories no safe place to express themselves.

Was there life before writing? Hmmm....