Monday, April 30, 2012

Z is for Zig Zag


Zig zag
Noun
1.
zigzag - an angular shape characterized by sharp turns in alternating directions
a shape having one or more sharp angles
Verb
1.
zigzag - travel along a zigzag path; "The river zigzags through the countryside"

I’ve zig zagged through my entire writing career. The first thing I ever got published was a prayer in True Story magazine. It was called A Prayer from a Divorced Woman. I was paid $25.00 for it. That prayer was the first thing I’d ever mailed out so naturally I thought, “Getting published is easy!” We all know it is not easy.

Sometimes (in my life and in my writing) I feel as though I’ve zigged when I should have zagged. I’ve wandered off on little trails that have taken me to odd places. In 1976 I started the Longview Writers Association which is in Northeast Texas. When I started the group, I wrote short stories and poetry. I submitted faithfully. My writing goals have changed a lot since then. Through the years I’ve zig zagged my way into teaching leisure learning and/or continuing education writing classes, being an editor/writer/photographer of a regional publication, co-editing a literary magazine, writing for newspapers, being president of a writer’s group in Louisiana, writing (and selling) a novel, blogging, being a staff writer for a magazine, encouraging, proofing, editing others and …

I’m still zig zagging my way to a writing career. Doing it all. No, trying to do it all. Every now and then I stop and ask, “Have I accomplished those writing dreams?” Truth is--I have and I haven’t because my dreams are ever changing. When I try to pinpoint why I zig zag, the only thing that pops into my head is that I’ve never taken my dreams too seriously. I stop way too often to smell (and pick) roses along the way, running wildly in other directions when a fresh crop of wild flowers pop up.  

This year in Oklahoma is supposed to be a year of focus for me--a year for some serious accomplishments. There will be: No zig zagging allowed.  



9 comments:

Annalisa Crawford said...

Thanks for visiting my blog today. You've certainly zigged and zagged around, and they all sound so interesting!

Congratulations on finishing the challenge.

T. Powell Coltrin said...

I'm prone to zig zagging instead of staying focused. It's not fun doing anything that way, unless it's a road trip. :)

Nice to meet you!

Teresa

LD Masterson said...

Well, zig zagging is better than circling. At least you're still moving somewhere new.

Pat Carroll Marcantel said...

Good stuff. I'm plum worn out and have another day or so to go on the poetry challenge. Just think if we put as much effort into writing every month, and also into sending our material out, or even getting it ready for Kindle!
Hope you haven't experienced all the stormy weather I've been hearing about in OK.

Brianna said...

I'm zigging and zagging too.
Congratulations on finishing the challenge!
Brianna Bible Bloggers

L. Diane Wolfe said...

You've zig-zagged while I spread myself thing like a ice cube melting into a puddle.

James R Tate said...

Hey Jess,
Congrats on finishing the challenge. I lost steam toward the end. Been promoting the book, Reworking my web site, planning the future of my blog--Oh! and working on the Sequel to BLOOD BIAS. Wohoooo! Come see me.

Shepherd said...

Like all zigzags we begin,looking back the path we have traversed has been exciting. His guiding hand been with us all through.And we continue on, God being our helper. Nice meeting you through AtoZ Blog Challenge

Lynn said...

What I do know of you, you will zig zag your way to your dreams full steam ahead. Love this post. I'd say you already zigged your way to success.