Peggy Toney Horton
Nothing excites me as much as writing. When I was a child, I’d lie on my bed and dream up poems relevant to what was going on in my life at the time. Sometimes my writing was happy, and other times, it was incredibly sad. When my dog died, the poetry echoed the despair I felt, and as I became older, it was more about friendships, first love, happiness and heartbreak.
It’s still that way today. Whatever is going on is what motivates me.
Isn’t it like that for all writers? Our writing reflects our moods. And that’s not a bad thing. Perhaps it’s a way to avoid problems. It’s a well-known fact that artistic people are more emotional than others. So, instead of allowing our emotions to turn inward causing ulcers, high blood pressure and other health issues, we pour them into our stories and poems for others to enjoy. Or not.
At any rate, we get rid of them. If we’re lucky, we manage to put something worthwhile on paper. And if we’re very fortunate, others benefit from what we write. I’ve been told many times that a particular story “made someone’s day,” or “made them laugh – changing the direction of their day.”
When I’m tempted to give up because my book isn’t selling well, or when I get another rejection slip from a magazine editor, I think about those dear people who actually feel something when they read my words!
And I go back to my computer.