I Want to Write Fiction

Growing up, I wanted to be a storyteller of some sort. I wanted to write short stories, novels, comics, and games. I was the sort of kid my parents would describe as having "an active imagination." And yet, I haven't really put that imagination to work in a long time.

I've always had difficulty labeling myself as "a writer." Sure, I've "written" things. As a scholar of theme parks and video games, I've written journal articles and book chapters and blog posts. I co-authored a book. I wrote a dissertation. My primary output for nearly two decades has been, as one would expect of an academic, the written word. But those words were always in service of conveying what I had learned in my research.

Or, so I thought. When I left my job and looked back on what I had accomplished, I felt proud of my writing. In every piece, I attempted to tell a story about something I found interesting to convey its significance. But even when working to craft paragraphs that would compel the reader through my ideas, the tenure-driven "publish or perish" goal was always to publish something "worth citing."

But I'm free from that! I can write for the sake or writing. And, while it will be easy enough for me to keep up my scholarly practice, I want to try my hand at something new. I want to write fiction.

This is my process journal. A place to both compose and to reflect. An outlet for writing exercises. A way to collect feedback. If nothing else, it's a bit of public accountability.

Would you like journal updates?

Technically, this journal is a newsletter. If you subscribe today, you'll get early access to my entries, exercises, and works-in-progress. Let this be an email you look forward to reading.

I'm unemployed. But, until I feel I have an offering worth paying for, subscriptions are free. I would like to grow this if people are into it, though.

Feeling generous?

Ghost costs $9 a month. If you're willing to help me offset that cost, I'd be appreciative! Ghost has recently implemented a Tip Jar and payments are processed by Stripe.

Thanks,

Bobby