It is almost comical. I have been writing decorating articles for a woman's magazine for five years. Yet, all this time, I never really considered myself to be a writer. Even when I began my freelance writing course in July 2001, I thought of myself only as someone who wanted to be a writer. 

In 2002 I began exploring the world of freelance writing on the Internet. That was when I read that a writer is someone who writes. I was writing, so I was a writer. 

I have a full-time job and I write in the evenings. I am a part-time freelance writer. My dream is to be a full-time freelance writer. 

I have no delusions about this at all. Even before I realize that dream, I want to be comfortable writing part-time because I see it as the opportunity to develop the discipline necessary for writing for long periods in order to meet deadlines. 

Now, when I get home in the evenings, just about 6 o'clock, the first thing I do is switch on my computer. I take an hour to tidy the house, shower, and have dinner. Then I sit at my desk. Sometimes, when I am tired, I work with a writing prompt for motivation and inspiration. At other times I dive right in because I have a deadline to meet or I need to develop an idea that has been playing around in my head all day. 

It is so difficult to sit at the computer and write. Some nights, the most awesome feeling of exhaustion overwhelms me. My bed calls; a Harrison Ford movie beckons; a newly purchased book summons. Do I listen? Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't. I know that regardless of how tired and uninspired I feel, I should be faithful to my writing schedule to be successful. 

I drag myself to my computer, face the blank screen for a while, and begin dabbling with some writing prompts, journal. Many times I simply let my fingers dance across the keyboard producing words, phrases, sentences, or just plain gibberish. 

It amazes me every time, how the scales of tiredness slowly fall from my eyes; my mind awakens and is rearing to go. Ideas begin to flow and words begin to appear on the screen via my fingertips. Suddenly I can't type fast enough to keep up with the speed at which my brain is working. Before I know it, I have an article ready to be edited and submitted. That's how it is sometimes. 

Then again, there are the dry times. The infamous and dreaded 'writer's block' manifests itself in no thoughts, no ideas, and no words. Not even writing prompts seem to help. At those times I feel justified to have a cup of coffee and page through a magazine or watch a movie. When I return to my computer an hour or so later, my mind tends to be in a different mode and I begin to write. 

Sometimes I ignore my writing routine and succumb to the temptation to watch television instead. Of course, I sit there with a weight of guilt on my shoulders. When I feel guilty for not writing when I know that I should, I am convinced that I am a writer. 

Like all writers, I often allow doubt and fear to pervade my thoughts and deprive me of the satisfaction of doing what brings me great joy. I allow them to rob me of the drive to 'just write.' I know that it is psychologically destructive to be paralyzed by doubts and fears. But I subject myself to the paralysis until I make a conscious effort to confront them, deal with them, and WRITE. 

I find, though, that the more committed I remain to my scheduled writing time, the less I procrastinate. The more disciplined I am about writing every day, the less I experience writer's block. From the time I begin to skip those appointments with my computer and my muse, my whole system slowly falls apart and it takes we day, and sometimes weeks to get back in writing form. 

Oh, the trials and tribulations of being a writer. But, ah, the glories of writing, submitting, and receiving an acceptance from an editor!

Copyright © 2003 Cheryl Wright.  All rights reserved.

Cheryl Wright is an interior design consultant and freelance writer. She is married with two children (son,18 and daughter, 21) and a cat called Tilly, who thinks that he is the Lion King. Cheryl has been writing interior design articles for the past 5 years.  Her online interview can be seen at www.writersmanual.com/FCherylWright.shtml. She was commissioned by www.designingonline.com to submit articles on interior design for their Dreams Alive Magazine – 2003 Issues. www.changingcourse.com has her first online article in their archives. You can also read her new article in Simple Joy: http://www.simplejoy.org/alone_time.htm.  Although interior design is her writing specialty, she has expanded her horizons to include articles on the writing life, motivation, and self-care especially for women.

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