How quickly resolutions go out the window.

It was only a measly ten days ago I announced to all five of you that I was 'back' and set you up for all sorts of web goodness to come.

Sigh.

I guess it's taking a lot longer than I thought to get back up to speed. Joel has been harassing me, my Mom wants to know what the heck is going on, and I lost one person off my notify list (I can only assume it's because I haven't been posting. You certainly can't offend someone when you don't write anything).

Of course, writing for my readers is only part of why I do this. Certainly, it's a big part. The thought of readers coming back here on a regular basis to read my deathless prose makes my ego purr like a fat Tribble.

Nevertheless, really, this is for me. I've always had this creative streak in me that has never found it's true outlet. I lack the fortitude to make a try for the stage; I don't have the true gift to be a musician. The only place where I really shine creatively is in play.

When I was young, we'd have large family dinners with my family over at my Grandmother's house darned near every Sunday. Most times my cousins would be there and, once we'd squared away dinner, we'd head down in the basement for a good game of Movies. 'Movies' was the most structured version of Pretend I've ever encountered. We'd come up with characters and script out the entire session. I, of course, was the director, handing out roles, defining scenes, creating the plot. We'd rehearse scenes, test things out, and then we'd run it all the way through from end to end. I think we even showed the rest of the family once or twice.

Bizarre, huh? An exercise of the imagination mixed with the outlines of the craft. Most kids just wanted to 'be' a character. I wanted to build the world around them.

It figures that I went into role-playing so heavily. It's almost a natural extension of what I was already doing. Here was the opportunity to fantasize within rules and guidelines. And, as a bonus, here was my opportunity to direct others through my own fantasy worlds.

Oh, baby.

Moving on to writing is the next logical step. Writing is just a form of storytelling, and what does a storyteller do but lead people through the fantasy worlds of his imagination and make them see things through his eyes.

I have a writer's soul, but lack the dedication and some of the skills of the craft. Which, in a roundabout way, brings us back here.

I'm still a clumsy writer. I'm somewhat dry and far too attached to my adverbs and passive tenses. I wander aimlessly sometimes, and have a lot of trouble finding my point. If I have one at all.

I have so far been unable to keep to a regular schedule. If I ever want to make money off my writing, I have to be able to treat it like a job and do it every day.

So, dear reader, this is my practice zone, my testing page. Where I can write about what I know best -- my life -- and learn to improve myself thusly.

Feel free to comment on anything you read here, either to me personally or on my forum.

Have a good year.

Tell me about me.

What about Christmas?

So how's your car?

Take me home, big fella